Other religions say that human destiny is predestined in previous lives or arranged by God. Among Christians today, some people say that salvation and destruction are all determined by God. In fact, the Bible clearly tells us that the destiny of mankind can be chosen and controlled by ourselves.
The Bible does talk about predestination, but it does not predestine people’s salvation and destruction, but predestines Christ’s redemption plan.
1. Predestination
The Bible tells us that the plan of redemption was predestined before the creation of the world. "Just as God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him; in love he also predestined us to the name of his sons through Jesus according to the good pleasure of his will. "(Ephesians 1:4, 5) Here we are told that the election of us in Christ before the foundation of the world does not refer to a certain person, but to a plan. Because God gave all creation, whether angels or humans, free will and free choice. What if humans commit a crime? Therefore, God set up a redemption plan in advance, and once humans sin, the redemption plan can be implemented. Therefore, the coming of the Lord Jesus into the world to save mankind was also a plan drawn up before the creation of the world. The Bible says: "Christ was foreknown by God before the creation of the world, but he appeared for you in these last days?" (1 Peter 1:20)
Therefore, it is not that a certain person is predestined to be saved. Or predestining a person to perish, but predestining a plan of salvation, no matter who has the hope of salvation must believe in Jesus Christ. "For God has not predestined us to be punished, but to be saved through our Lord Jesus Christ." "(1 Thessalonians 5:9)
2. Election
Some people say that the people chosen by the Lord Jesus must be saved. If so, the Lord has not chosen people, they They can only perish. Isn’t that unfair? In fact, the people chosen by the Lord are asked to work for the Lord. The Lord said: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit. that your fruit may remain. "(John 15:16) Moreover, it is not certain that all those chosen by the Lord will be saved.
Saul, the first king of the Israelites, was chosen by God himself," Samuel told the crowd The people said, "Look at the man whom the LORD has chosen. Is there anyone like him among all the people?" ’ All the people cheered loudly and said, ‘Long live the king! '" (1 Samuel 10:20-24) But as a result, Saul embarked on the road of destruction.
Jesus' twelve disciples were also chosen by the Lord. "Jesus said, I am not chosen. Did you kill your twelve disciples? But one of you is a devil. "(John 6:70) It can be seen that the people chosen by the Lord still have free will and the right to choose freely. They can choose to serve God and be saved, or they can choose to serve the devil and go to destruction.
3. Freedom of choice
"God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life?" (John 3:16) God does not want to One man perishes, but may all repent and gain eternal life. The key to the problem lies in people's own choices.
The Bible says: "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Shall I not do to you, O house of Israel, as the potter makes clay?' says the LORD, 'what is the clay in the hand of the potter, O house of Israel? , so are you in my hand." (Jeremiah 18:5,6) God is the potter, and man is the clay vessel. The apostle Paul also said: "Has the potter not the authority to make out of the clay one piece for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?" (Romans 9:21) Although God can do whatever he pleases like the potter. God shapes people, but God does not do that. He gives people the freedom to make choices. God spoke through Moses: “Behold, I set before you today life and blessing and death and disaster, commanding you to love the Lord your God and to walk in his ways and to keep his commandments, statutes, and judgments. , that you may live and increase in number, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess it.
…I call heaven and earth to testify against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and blessings, so choose life so that you and your descendants may live?quot; (Deuteronomy 30:15, 16 -19)
God planted two special trees in the Paradise of Eden: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Jesus showed us two ways, the broad gate and the narrow gate, and we can choose freely. So life and death, misfortunes and blessings are placed before us. The question is for us to make wise choices ourselves.
The two results of the destruction and preservation of Jerusalem and Nineveh (see Luke 13:34, 35, Jonah 3:1-7) illustrate a problem. God says, "Whenever I speak of a nation or a nation, to uproot and destroy it, and to destroy it, I will repent if that nation of which I speak turns from its evil ways. I will not bring about the calamity that I intend to do." Give it to them. Whenever I say to a nation or a nation, "Let it be established and planted," and if they do evil in my sight and do not obey my voice, I will regret it and will not bestow upon them the blessing I have spoken of. "(Jeremiah 18:7-10) It can be seen that human destiny, life and death, blessings, salvation, and destruction all depend on the results of our own choices.
4. How to control your own destiny
1. Make the right choice (Job 34:4)
"We should choose what is right for each other. Know what is good? (Job 34:4) Since God has given us the right to choose freely, we should cherish this right and carefully choose "what is right" and "what is good". Choosing carefully is the most important thing in determining our own destiny.
2. Mary chooses the best blessing (Luke 10:38-42)
Both sisters Martha and Mary were loved by Jesus, and they loved them very much. Jesus. One day when Jesus was passing through Bethany, Martha saw the Lord and took Jesus into her home. She went to the kitchen to prepare Jesus. But Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to his message. Duo, feeling very busy, came forward and said, "Lord, don't you mind that my sister has left me alone to serve her?" Please tell him to help me. ’ Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen that good blessing which will not be taken away from her. "(Luke 10:38-42)
Although Martha was hospitable, she chose to be "worried and troubled about many things" and lost "the best blessings." Let’s talk about Martha again. But Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to the Lord’s words. She kept every word of the Lord in her heart and followed Jesus closely from then on. Even when the Lord was crucified, even the disciples ran away. Even after Jesus died and was placed on the tomb, she would go to fetch Him (see John 20:11-15). . This shows how truly she loves the Lord! All of this is inseparable from her sitting at the feet of the Lord Jesus that day and listening to His words. It shows that the Lord gives us equal opportunities. The problem lies with us. There are many examples in the Bible. Cain and Abel, Esau and Jacob, Saul and David all received the same opportunities given to them by God, but the one who grasped the opportunity got the best.
3. Don’t choose the immediate benefits (2 Corinthians 4:18)
“It turns out that we don’t care about what we see, but what we see. Unseen, because what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal. "(2 Corinthians 4:18)
As a Christian, it is not that you don’t know these principles, but when you encounter real life problems, you will sometimes be carnal and choose immediate interests, which will end up causing you a lot of trouble. Lot's choice is the most significant example of this.
Abraham and Lot couldn't live together because they had many cattle, sheep, and possessions. Abram complained to Lot. Say: 'There shall be no strife between you and me, nor between your shepherds and my shepherds, for we are all flesh and blood. Right, I'll go left.
'Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered as far as Zoar. The land was like the garden of the LORD before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, and it was like the land of Egypt. So Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan River and moved eastward, and they separated from each other. Abraham lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, gradually moving their tents as far as Sodom. The people of Sodom were extremely sinful before the LORD. "(Genesis 13:8-13)
The tragic fate of Lot's family: his wife disobeyed and looked back and was destroyed; two sons-in-law and daughters who married his daughters were burned; two Although the daughter left Sodom, she was influenced by the sin of Sodom and committed the sin of rebellion and was cursed. Although Lot himself was saved, he was like a stick pulled out of the fire (Amos 4: 11). All this misfortune that befell Lot was the result of immediate interests.
Since God has given us the right to choose freely, we must not only cherish this precious privilege, but also control our own destiny.
4. Strive to be valuable vessels (2 Timothy 2:20, 21)
"A wealthy family not only has gold and silver vessels, but also wood and earthenware vessels, and has a lot of achievements. Noble things have despicable deeds. If a man purify himself from what is despicable, he will be a vessel of honor, holy and useful to the Lord, prepared for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:20, 21)
The congregation can be called a big family. Believers come from all walks of life and have different habits in society. As Paul said, there are gold vessels, silver vessels, wooden vessels, and earthen vessels, but they are by no means the same. . To be a vessel of honor or of dishonor depends on each person's free choice. Paul puts forward to us the condition for being a vessel of honor, which is that we must be holy and free from vile things. "We should always thank God for you, brethren whom the Lord loves, because he chose you from the beginning to be saved through sanctification of the Holy Spirit through faith in the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2: 13)
Having good behavior and relying on God will lead to a good marriage.