AJC wrote:

Quote
but what about the lost, those that never had a chance, our dear ones that we care about and pray for - in reality the prayers mean nothing (they have more to do with our faith) but in terms of affecting the outcome, it's a lost cause becasue the end result is predetermined.

If the "decision" is up to the will of men, why ask God to violate "free will" or "influence" an unsaved person to accept Christ?

It is because of predestination that we can pray for the lost with real confidence because we know that if that one is elect, their conversion is certain. A person who believes that it's all up to the individual would be "praying to the wrong person."

The image of God as a frustrated diety who must pace heaven's floors wringing His hands and hoping that someone on earth will "let Him" have His way; that one who accepts Christ has done God a huge favor by "allowing" Him to spare them from His justice; that Christ stands outside in the rain, longing for the warmth and coziness of our hearts knocking on the door - should be patently offensive to anyone who believes in the sovereign, almighty God of the Scriptures.

The human heart, first of all, is no place that the Most Holy should desire to dwell, because it is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked! Secondly it is we who are outside in the cold, longing to be let into the warmth of fellowship of God - not the other way around. And third, accepting Christ as Lord is the duty of every man - and failing that duty is the only reason that anyone has ever gone to hell.

Further suggested reading: Romans (the whole book)

-Robin