I need help understanding why direction of motion either away or towards equals past or future. How do we know someone traveling towards you has a “now” equal to your future?

By saying “No, I am not totally convinced” and following it with a question suggests confusion. You should instead withhold any answer because saying you’re not convinced is simply an emotional opinion. And yes, Einstein did believe (understand) that the universe is designed. “Time is only an illusion, however persistent” Albert Einstein.