We watched a movie last night, Prince of Persia, that made me start thinking about "destiny." Is destiny up to fate or God or is it up to us?
I've been wrestling with that question today. And when our son was lost in Hawaii we also struggled with it.
There are some things, I believe, that are "destiny," especially for a child of God. The scriptures are full of declarations of our destiny. Ephesians 1 says: "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."
Romans 8 says: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son."The Bible is full of declarations of destiny. In fact, at the memorial service for John, we sang a song by Michael Jernigan titled, "This is My Destiny." In his song, Michael pulls in many declarations of destiny pulled from throughout scripture such as: servant, warrior, redeemed, chosen, bride-to-be, cleansed, a new creation, overcomer, victorious, crowned and many, many more.
So on the one hand, while there is a sense of destiny that includes eternity for each and every person who makes Jesus his or her savior and Lord, I wonder how our choices affect the destiny we live out here on this earth. We know for certain that our son's choices enabled him to live a life of integrity while pointing others to the eternal hope and eternal destiny that awaits us.
What do you think? Is our destiny beyond our control or do we make our own?
Sharon,
ReplyDeleteI think we "make our own," but that's as difficult to understand as Jesus' words "if your hand offends you cut it off..."
but that needs to be looked at in the framework of other verses:
In John 14:2 (from Young's Literal Translation)Jesus says,
"in the house of my Father are many mansions; and if not, I would have told you; I go on to prepare a place for you;"
Impossible to understand many mansions within one house, until you compare it with Jesus' command in Mark 11 -
"24 Because of this I say to you, all whatever -- praying -- ye do ask, believe that ye receive, and it shall be to you."
and also with the scientific proof of quantum physics, in which a particle can be in two places at once.
What Jesus taught, that we only need to know that He is, and He is the author and creator of our world, He taught quantum physics (faith is as a grain of mustard seed-choosing the smallest particle his hearers knew instead of telling them quarks existed).
In science, energy does not dissipate in a closed system, it only changes form. I know you miss your John, but he is in the energy of the universe, with God. The material that was his body was not him. He is not in the grave.
So, there's my belief that as long as we know how the universe works, because Jesus taught us, that we make our future. Our ultimate destiny, because Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever, is eternity - we decide if it's with God or without Him.
Amen, our control is within all we choose. Joy and Praise to God in the highest! He is able to make all things for good for those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)
Hugs, Sharon! Karen
Sharon, I think that since God gave us the freedom to make our own choices that our destiny depends on those choices somewhat. Also though when we accept Jesus as part of our life, our destiny is chosen to follow and be with Him. It's such a tragedy about your son but God provides a blessing through the knowledge of the eternal hope and destiny awaiting all who believe. Thank you for sharing this post and your faith!
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