Summary5 min read

The Bright Lion Podcast: EP 11 – Free Will

Host: SSG Bright
Date: July 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives headfirst into the complex and often contentious topic of free will, examining whether humans truly have the autonomy to choose their path, or if every step is scripted by divine decree. SSG Bright brings both scriptural analysis and personal conviction, arguing—with passionate biblical references—that much of what people perceive as free will is instead the unfolding of God’s preordained plan. The conversation is rich with energetic encouragement, scriptural citations, and the signature lionhearted inspiration that defines the podcast.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Setting the Tone

SSG Bright opens with spoken word and rap, setting the theme of resilience and spiritual empowerment, invoking imagery of “rowing like a lion” and “bringing light to the fight”. (00:13)
After a powerful prayer acknowledging God’s sovereignty and the importance of faith, the episode’s theme is introduced:

“So today’s topic, everybody is free will. The power of acting without the constraints of necessity or fate, the ability to act on one’s own discretion. So, do we have that or not?” (02:36)

Scriptural Examination of Free Will

Absence of Explicit Scriptural Support for Free Will
- SSG Bright challenges common beliefs:
  
  “There’s no scriptures in the Bible that says we have free will. Well, I’m also trying to learn myself as we go…” (02:44)
- He draws a distinction between faith-based teaching and opinion not grounded in scripture.
God’s Omnipotence and Purpose
- References Psalms 115:3:
  
  “God does whatsoever he pleases in the book of Psalms, chapter 115, verse 3. But our God is in heavens, plural heavens. He had done whatsoever he had pleased.” (04:51)
- Cites Romans 9:10-12 to show God’s choices precede human action:
  
  “It’s not about what you do or what you want, it’s about what God wants… what we have here is an illusion of choice.” (06:05)
Predestination vs. Human Planning
- Jeremiah 10:23 and Ecclesiastes 6:10 underline the lack of human control:
  
  “I know Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.” (07:00) “Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there is no use in arguing with God about your destiny.” (07:26)
- Proverbs 16:9 is quoted for further clarity:
  
  “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” (07:51)
End-Times and Divine Separation
- Matthew 25:31-41 is explored as prophecy about destiny being determined, not chosen:
  
  “…he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goat on his left… inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (08:05)

The Example of Jesus and Judas

Luke 22:20-22 and Psalms 41:9 are cited to reinforce predestination:

“Truly the Son of man go as it was determined, but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed.” (09:05) “Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me. Pause. No free will there.” (09:40)
Ultimate Conclusion:

“It’s not what you want, it’s not what you desire. It’s what God wants. Period. End of subject. No feedback.” (09:45)

The Nature of Time and God's Sovereignty

SSG Bright reflects philosophically on God as the Creator of time:

“A God that literally create time. You can’t even understand that. We know that God created everything, okay? That means he created time. Well, how long did God wait to create time? … If there was no time to measure, how long he waited to create time? Let that sink in.” (10:20)
- Emphasizes the futility of worrying about destiny:
  
  “…don’t waste your time. Ironically, worrying about these things, if that makes sense." (11:20)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On Choice and Divine Will:

“What we have here is an illusion of choice… as finite, finite beings as we are you and everything has already been set in stone. But you don’t know that.” (06:22)
On Arguing with God:

“…there is no use in arguing with God about your destiny.” (07:28)
On the Human Experience:

“Because you don’t know what your destiny is, there’s no need of worrying or wandering about it. You live your life and you do what… you have been instructed to do.” (10:00)
On God Creating Time:

“Time is a thing and God created time. You can’t possibly phantom that.” (10:45)

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:13 | Spoken word/rap intro and podcast energizing opener | | 01:19 | Prayer and introduction to the theme of free will | | 04:51 | God’s sovereignty in Psalms 115:3 and beyond | | 06:05 | Romans 9: God’s choices and “illusion of choice” | | 07:00 | Jeremiah 10:23 and Ecclesiastes 6:10 on destiny | | 07:51 | Proverbs 16:9 on planning vs. God’s direction | | 08:05 | Matthew 25: End-times, destiny, and separation | | 09:05 | Luke 22 & Psalms 41: Foreordained betrayal | | 10:20 | Philosophical reflection on God creating time | | 11:20 | Practical advice: don’t worry about destiny |

Closing Energy

The episode wraps with SSG Bright’s signature exhortation to “be a bold lion”, encouraging listeners to embody courage and faith regardless of what is or isn’t within their control.

“Be a bold lion. Roar like a lion and test like a lion. Great like a lion. Hone like a lion. Trenches like a lion, bright lion. Until next time. Good night, everyone. SSG Bright. Shalom.” (12:11)

Summary

This episode of The Bright Lion Podcast masterfully explores the subject of free will with scriptural depth, personal conviction, and dynamic energy. SSG Bright urges listeners to embrace faith over anxiety about their destiny, emphasizing God's ultimate control and the illusions of self-determination. Listeners leave inspired to “roar like a lion”—with faith, humility, and the wisdom to focus on what they’ve been tasked to do in the moment.

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Transcript4 lines

[00:13]
A
I was down in the dark down in the dark I was down in the dark Now I'm living with the truth God broke the chain yeah I'm walking in proof I'm rowing like a lion I ain't playing to say Crouching down on the mic putting fear in his place I'm smelling the freedom I'm smelling the freedom my friend Be dripping means I'll never be Slipping a bright line bold with the Bible tag I speak the booth in the truth Leading the pack SSG Bright. Bringing light to the fight. Tune in now as we roll through the night. Bright live podcast with SSG Wright. Rich in faith, courageous debate, as brave as a lion and I'm telling you not ferocious doubt don't let me find out I'm smelling the freedom I'm smelling the freedom my friend Be dripping means I'll never be slipp Bright line bow with the Bible attack Speak the truth in the boot Lean the pack right Lying.
[01:19]
B
A Black Love Story of Loss in Life after the Military by Dr. Zenobia Brian Wright is a powerful memoir that follows the journey of a remarkable black woman veteran. Offering an unfiltered account of her life in the military. With raw honesty, she shares the sacrifices of leaving family behind, enduring grueling deployments with a little recognition and surviving relentless sexual, verbal and physical harassment. Her transition to civilian life brings its own battles. Homelessness, financial instability, legal struggles in the weight of severe mental health challenges all face in isolation. In her darkest moments, she clung to God's Jehovah's promise, finding strength, peace and guidance through her prayers and the pages of her Bible. Through unwavering faith and relentless, relentless determination, she rebuilds from the ground up, finding stability, reclaim her voice and becoming a fierce advocate for her fellow veterans. And this is a story of unbreakable courage, profound resilience and the life changing power of hope. Faith in God's love. So pick up your copy today. Draw courage, strength from her struggles so you won't have to. And take a powerful take your power back. Good day, Good day everyone and welcome to another exciting, edifying and exegetical season of the Bright Line podcast. I'm your host, SSG Bright and let us pray. Mercy, mercy, oh Lord, I would like to give all praises, honor, glory to the most high Yahuwah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, our God that we sing to and dance to our God that we lift our hands up in prayer to our God that we get down on, on our knees for. And we do so by the way of the Anointed the. The Passover lamb, the spotless one in which the world collectively calls Jesus Christ. Amen. All praises. So today's topic, everybody is free will. The power of acting without the constraints of necessity or faith, the ability to act on one one's own discretion. So do we have that or not? Let's see here. There's no scriptures in the Bible that says we have free will. Well, I'm also trying to learn myself as we go through the teachings and the preachings of the volume of the book of the Law that I so truly give thanks and all praises to the Most High. And on the contrary, on the contrary, we're not giving thanks to a scoffer nor a mocker or someone with puffed up knowledge talking about a lot of nothing with no Bible in their hand or in front of them, therefore not showing any proof whatsoever. They just talk, talking, talking, talking. Because you see, I'm from the show me state.
[04:28]
A
Show enough.
[04:28]
B
Show your right for sure. They just want to talk over you like, like they've been there and done that. Like, like they ain't missing the boat. But keep living that way and we gonna all see that God does whatsoever he pleases in the book of Psalms, chapter 115, verse 3. But our God is in heavens, plural heavens. He had done whatsoever he had pleased. In the book of Romans, chapter 9, verse 10. This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebecca, she gave birth to twins, verse 11. But before they were born, before they had not done anything good or bad, she received a message from Yehovah. This message shows that God chooses a people according to what his purposes are. So when people ask, well, why this or why that? Because God has a purpose for everything. That's why. Like, like we all know that scripture in Romans 8, chapter 28, all things work for the good of those who love God and those who are called according to his purpose. First of all, what that means is God has a purpose for everything. But those whom he has called everything. No, no matter what happens in their life, it is going to ultimately work out for their good. But what about the people who are not called? Everything that they go through may not be for their good. Ultimately, it could be for the good. You know, maybe temporarily let that sink in. The point is God has a purpose. Even with the example of Jacob and Esau before they had done anything good or evil. God chooses people. Verse 12 he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works. So you see, it's not about what you do or what you want, it's about what God wants and this kind of ideal that you have free will outside of what God has already decreed. What we have here is an illusion of choice. So as finite, finite beings as we are you and everything has already been set in stone. But you don't know that. We do not know what our destiny is going to be. We do not know everything, every action, for example. So in the book of Jeremiah, chapter 10, verse 23, in the New living translation, it will give us a better understanding. Verse 23. I know Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. Therefore, people may have taken what they heard about free will, possibly using minimum resources and references, took that what they had and ran with it, spreading it around like with no intentions of free will, no intentions of helping out their fellow man to help his family to recover from his reconstruction, instead of helping him demising his destruction. That's the kind of free will follows what followers of the truth. You don't want only someone who's not promised to get the promises due some people living for today and not for the promises that God wants you to have for tomorrow. So some people may think you can argue with God. Let's look at that. In the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 6, verse 10 and NLT everything, verse 10, everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there is no use in arguing with God about your destiny. So it says, there is no negotiation, there is no change in your destiny. In the book of Proverbs, chapter 16, verse 9. In the NLT, verse 9, we can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. In the book of Matthews, chapter 25, verse 31 to 41. This right here is the end time prophecy. Verse 31. When us, when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. Verse 32. And before him shall he gather all nations, say all. And he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats. Verse 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goat on his left. Verse 34. Then shall the king say unto them on the right hand, come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Okay, then we'll jump down to verse 41, verse 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, debug those. The goats depart from me, ye curse into Everlasting fire. Prepare for the devil and his angels. Still no, still think you have a choice? What do you say about this Scripture and verse in the book of Luke, chapter 22, verse 20. In the new Testament, it describes Jesus instituting the Last Supper, also known as communion during the Last Supper, verse 20. Likewise, also the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you. Verse 21. But behold, the hand of him that betrayed me is with me on the table. 22. And truly the Son of man go as it was determined, but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed. Now take a look at the Old Testament. Of course, the Old Testament is prior to the New Testament. And so the New Testament is like a summary of the Old Testament in the book of Psalms, chapter 41, verse 9 in NLT, which predetermines the previous verse, verse 9. Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me. Pause. No free will there. It's not what you want, it's not what you desire. It's what God wants. Period. End of subject. No feedback. It's. It's not my will be done. This is what the Messiah said. But your will be done. Because he knows ultimately the Heavenly Father will is what is going to be done on earth. That will be done in earth as it is in heaven, you know, so you can't add homonym attack person's character over this. If it's coming from the Bible that we all say we believe in. Because you don't know what your destiny is, and because you don't know what your destiny is, there's no need of worrying or wandering about it. You know, you live your life and you do. What is that you know, you have been instructed to do? Because we're talking about a deity, you guys. A God that literally create time. You can't even understand that. We know that God created everything, okay? That means he created time. Well, how long did God wait to create time? Well, hold on, wait a minute. How long God waited to create time? If there was no time to measure, how long he waited to create time? Let that sink in. Don't hurt yourself. Just breathe and just. Just let it go. So today for Exodus, your mind and now in your finite brain, the way that it measures things is with time. What about when there was no time? Because God. Time is a thing and God created time. You can't possibly phantom that. So that's why you don't waste your time. Ironically, worrying about these things, if that makes sense. Well, that's my time. I got to get back to some on the grill and red snapping and grinding to shallow. Come all glory. So listen folks. Be a bold lion. Roar like a lion and test like a lion. Great like a lion. Hone like a lion. Trenches like a line, bright line. Until next time. Good night, everyone. SSG Bright Shalom.