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Destiny Are our destinies written in stone? But since the Reformation, the system known as Calvinism or "reformed" or Monergism has held to an even stricter definition of fatalism: that we don't even need to find our purpose, because God has every moment of human history scripted to the last detail, and we are all just puppets on strings, acting out the play. This idea of destiny is prevalent in the world as well. Many religions ascribe to it in one way or another. But what does the Bible say about it? In both Testaments we see time after time where God implores people to choose. Some would say that God is known to tell us to choose even when it is impossible for us to do so, but this ignores the context of those few instances used as proof-texts. In the vast majority of cases, God literally expects us to weigh the options and make the right choice. Look at the very first instance in Genesis, in the Garden of Eden (ch. 3). Adam and Eve had a choice to make regarding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. There is nothing in scripture to indicate they were forced, either directly by God or indirectly through their "nature", to disobey. Had this been the case, then we could rightly accuse God of being the real author of sin. But instead we see that God held them accountable for their choices. And where there is accountability, there must be free will. Granted, we are not free to do that which is impossible for us, but scripture clearly indicates that we are all free to choose whether to obey God or reject him. This is not beyond us at all. Some would try to make a special case for Adam and Eve, but look at how God pleaded with Cain to resist sin: Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." (Genesis 4:6-7)No one can claim God didn't know whether he had predestined Cain to sin! Yet here he is "witnessing" to Cain, telling him he has the power to choose. It wouldn't be God but Satan if Cain was being fooled into thinking he had a choice when he really didn't. Yet within that choice to obey and follow God or not, we do have a destiny. But it is still not etched in stone; it can change with each choice. This concept has been given the name "middle knowledge" and it can be illustrated by the game of chess. The number of possible moves in a chess game changes with each move. That's why it's so remarkable to see "masters" who can anticipate many moves in advance, given the complexity and constant changing of possibilities. It involves knowing not only what the possibilities are, but also guessing the strategy of the opponent. But with God, he never needs to guess! And he easily knows all the possibilities in life. He who has numbered the very hairs on our heads certainly also knows how we think and what choices we will make. This is the essence of foreknowledge. Some claim that in order to know the future, God must necessarily scr1pt it. But how much divine power does it take to predict the outcome of a game you rigged? The idea is ridiculous. There is no point in calling foreknowledge a divine quality unless it does NOT involve scripting! Instead, God knows all our possible "moves" with each one we make, and he knows all our choices before we make them. That's why he can "harden" someone's heart without violating their will. He knows their choices, he knows their wills, and he knows they would never repent. Since they have decided their eternal destiny, God can either take them out or use them for his purposes. In a similar way, God "softens" the hearts of those who willingly obey him. He has a destiny planned for us as soon as we choose to accept salvation: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:8-10)So God has a plan for us who are saved, but we can choose how far we'll go in that plan: For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved— even though only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Cor. 3:11-15)To summarize then, a Christian's destiny is an ideal, a goal— not an order! God has the right to give us this freedom, to give us free will within limits. So the lost are not forced by God to be lost, and the saved are not forced by God to be saved. Within those groups, no one is forced to fill up the full measure of their destiny, but must choose daily how far to walk along that path. Ironically, those who believe in strict, scripted destiny never wonder why they try to persuade others to change their minds about anything. What's the point, if they are powerless to change? And isn't it futile to berate people for being what they are if God forced them to be that way? If you take it to its logical conclusion, fatalism is self-contradictory and absurd. The consistent fatalist should never be anything but a passive robot. And it fosters apathy in those who believe it, since there is no point in trying to change. Thankfully, God is not a puppet master or a cold-blooded tyrant. He loves the people he created and wants us all to be saved: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)Faith in Jesus determines your eternal location, but actions in this life determine the degree of reward or punishment within that destination. That's what Judgment Day is all about. It's not to determine heaven or hell, since that's decided strictly on the basis of faith. Instead, judgment is all about paybacks, to determine how good you'll have it in heaven, or how bad you'll have it in hell. Your destiny is up to you. Add This Entry To Your CureZone Favorites! Print this pageEmail this page  Alert Webmaster
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