PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU
(REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies);
ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
THE
BIBLE AND THE DESTINY OF MAN
Presented by: Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu
Devotional Text: Isaiah 1
INTRODUCTION:
According to the BBC English Dictionary,
“someone’s destiny is everything that will happen to them, especially when it
is considered to be controlled by someone or something else.’ In the beginning
GOD created mankind with a destiny of fortunes and prosperity, conditioned by
choice, {Gen 2:8-9}. However, man’s wrong choice earned him a destiny of
misfortunes and retrogression, {Gen 3}. Since then, the destiny of man has been
conditioned with good and bad. Good, when he obeys GOD {Deut 28: 1-14}, and
bad, when he disobeys, {vs. 15-45}. To this end, GOD’S WORD upholds that, one
who becomes wiling and obedient, eats the best of the land, but one who resists
and rebels is devoured by the sword, says the LORD, {Isaiah 1:19-20}.
GENERAL
REMARKS
{1} Man’s destiny goes positive when GOD is
obeyed, {Deut 28:1-14}
{2} Man’s destiny, however, goes negative
when GOD is disobeyed, {vs. 15-45}
{3} Man’s destiny cannot be controlled by
demonic powers or evil men, as they can
only attack or fight
it, and this eventually leads to its fulfilment, {see Gen 45:4-8}
{4} Man’s destiny, at times, may appear to
be negative, but GOD uses all things to work out the good of the destiny, {vs.
4-8; Rom 8:28}
MAN’S
DESTINY AND FATE
The biblical concept of destiny does not
connote “fate”. Fate is usually considered
a predetermined course of events beyond human control, and a typical response
to a belief in fate is resignation, since nothing can change it. This idea of
destiny is called fatalism, and it is not biblical. In Hinduism, for instance,
it is the fatalistic view of life that keeps India’s caste system in place, a
practice which is certainly “man’s inhumanity to man”, which the Holy Bible
kicks against, as it says, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in CHRIST
JESUS, [Gal. 3:28}. GOD’S WORD, shows that destiny is a matter of choice, which
can make or mar an individual who makes a decision. In this connection, the
Holy Scripture clearly teaches that, one who keeps GOD’S WORD goes with a
positive destiny, as one who thinks otherwise carries a negative one, [see Deut
28:1-45]. By this, therefore, this lesson reaffirms that:
(i)
Obedience to GOD’S WORD brings good to one’s
destiny, as rebellion brings misfortune to it, [Isaiah 1: 19-20]
(ii)
It is the LORD GOD who controls man’s
destiny, and makes appropriate changes based on one’s attitude, [vs. 19-20]
(iii)
A negative destiny can be redirected to the
point of fortunes and prosperity if a deviant turns a new leaf, [vs. 19-20]
MAN’S
DESTINY AND HIS FREE WILL
From a Google source, the writer gathers
that, the
Bible teaches that Man was created with the ability to make moral choices and
that he is responsible for those choices. The Fall of Man was not a
predetermined event in which Adam and Eve were hapless victims of a
Puppet-Master God. On the contrary, Adam and his wife had the ability to choose
obedience (with its attendant blessing) or disobedience (with its consequent
curse). They knew what the result of their decision would be, and they were
held accountable (Genesis 3). This implies that man’s destiny is
certainly in man’s hand, and equally shows that he possesses the power to
exercise his GOD-given will for his good or channels it to his hurt. In other
words, people often have a destiny they bring upon themselves. For, “he who
sows wickedness reaps trouble” (Prov 22:8a). “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk
leads only to poverty” (Prov 14:23).
Therefore, those who exercise their will:
[i] As enemies of the CROSS of CHRIST have
a destiny of destruction, [Phil 3:18-19]
[iii]
Wrongly should better be informed that they will be judged according to
what they have done, [Rev. 29:13]
MAN’S
DESTINY AND THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVER
The Christian believer is called for the
purpose of GOD, which is often characterized by good and bad, which the Holy
Scripture says will altogether work for the good that GOD plans for him, {Rom 8:28}.
Therefore, the believer needs not to worry when the seemingly undesirable plays
up, since GOD in His sovereignty controls all things, and would by such things
work out the believer’s expected end, {Jere 29:11}. However, the believer
should equally know that sin is a breach of GOD’S plan for one’s life, and so,
should avoid it, as GOD’S WORD remarks that, “righteousness exalts a nation, by
sin is a reproach”, {Prov 14:34}. According to our source, “many who choose to sin often reap its
negative consequences, and foolishly blame it on the LORD or fate” {Prov 19:3}.
The above narrative simply shows that:
(i)
The Christian believer can mar his destiny by
way of indulging in sin, {Prov 14:34}
(ii)
One should not blame the LORD or fate when
one is the cause of one’s negative destiny, {Prov 19:3}
(iii)
The Christian believer should, as well bear
in mind that the choice to sin, is equally the choice
to a negative destiny {Prov
14:34}.
In
conclusion, let it be reaffirmed that GOD originally created man with a
destiny of fortunes and prosperity {Gen 1:26-28}, but man by his choice of sin
brought upon himself a destiny of misfortunes and retrogression, {Gen 3}. But,
JESUS CHRIST our BLESSED LORD and SAVIOUR through HIS atoning death on the
CROSS brought restoration and hope back to man, that is, those who would
believe and receive HIM as the LORD of their lives {See Col 1:27}. This means
that believers in CHRIST are by HIS atoning death restored to a destiny of
blessings, but can lose it by returning to a life of sin. RESTORE YOUR DESTINY TODAY!
