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Will We Still Have Free Choice When Moshiach Comes?
Discuss (41)
Question:
Will we still have freedom of choice when Moshiach comes? From what I've read, it seems like we will automatically do the right thing. And without any decisions to make, won't life be pretty boring?
Response:
I like this question. When Moshiach comes, there won't be the many layers of confusion that make life so difficult. Priorities will change. We will sense the importance and beauty of the Torah and Mitzvot. Being generous with others will be natural. Divine wisdom will shine through every aspect of the world. In the words of the prophet, "The entire world will be filled with knowledge of G‑d as waters cover the ocean."1
And with the truth so obvious, who will be able to do anything wrong?
However, good versus evil is not the only decision we make in life. There's another sort of free choice too--one that will even apply even when Moshiach comes: Good versus better.
Today, the question is often whether or not we do a certain good deed. When Moshiach comes, it will be to what extent we do that Mitzvah. Will we push ourselves to the max or just be satisfied with a regular job. Today, we choose between using our talents for good things or bad things. When Moshiach comes, we will choose between nurturing those talents even further or just letting them be.
I think this answers your second question. You are right. Obstacles give us excitement. They provide us with a drive for life. When Moshiach comes, that drive will be there--only in a different form.
Think of both an airplane and a rocket. They both require a form of resistance in order to fly. In the airplane, this resistance is provided through interplay with an external factor: the varied degrees of air pressure on both sides of the wings. Now, above a certain elevation this is no longer possible. You have to create your own resistance that pushes downwards. This is the rocket.
Today, our battle is between good and bad. With evil working against us, we make the right decisions and propel ourselves forward. But when Moshiach comes, we'll leave this atmosphere. Evil will become a no-brainier. We will need our own rockets - the challenge of good versus better. And we will use freedom of choice to decide just how high we want to soar.
As the Talmud tells us, "Tzadikim have no rest, neither in this world, nor in the next." In the words of the prophet, "They go from strength to strength."2
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | |
| 2. |
Talmud, Brachot 64a |
By Yisroel Cotlar
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The central question that must be answered is how will GOD create the conditions on Earth to fulfil your enlightened vision?
There is only one answer to this question: Judgement Day on Earth ! And in the time it takes for a single heartbeat GOD will destroy evil ! In the words of the prophet Isaiah " But with righteousness shall he judge the poor,and decide with equity for the humble of the Earth; and he shall strike the Earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked."
November 24, 2012
Ballwin, Missouri
From G-d's perspective all is one, and we do not have independent existence, so cannot die. From our perspective, we have bodies/vessels that can die, and feel separate from Him. When the Moshiach comes, and we will be able to see the unfiltered light of G-d, and still exist. The subject of death then becomes irrelevant. Hope this helps?
Miami, Fl
ny, brooklyn
It's here now, so many people are already striving for this.
"Today, our battle is between good and bad. With evil working against us, we make the right decisions and propel ourselves forward. But when Moshiach comes, we'll leave this atmosphere."
"Good versus better." What a blessing that will be. Imagine the news then that may be tweeted, twittered, texted, or whatever around the globe! Greater goods and betters! What a choice.
When the Moshiach comes, not only will we know that everyone shares the same arm, but it will really, really hurt if we bite it, and thereby we will not do it!
Miami, Fl
But again soon even quantum physics will 'See" why the finer details of Kosher and Shabbos for eg are so vitally important. Subtle realities are becomig clear to all and not only to those who have toiled to make their souls great. Sad and sweet
We have Jewish history, quantum physics, explosions of consciousness and technology all which make knowing G-d as real virtually impossible to deny and make learning Torah much easier to understand. If you can use a computer program to completely within seconds homiletically understand Torah on all the levels our effort goes out the window so how do we grow?
The beauty of Torah and mitzot is already clear and really we are already in the Age of Moshiach in the sense that we are growing from strength to strength in our consciousness. Anyone at all spiritually aware can not deny the oneness of G-d and what follows is the beauty of Torah.
And if there is no evil, can human beings physically exist?
And if there is no evil how can there be any choice or free will?
When we pray for Moshiach to arrive, are we not essentially praying for the precursor of the extinction of our species in this world?
I'm sure the answers are in the Zohar.
Can someone who is pure in faith answer without speculation?
????