Topic(s): Christian Life, God's Will

Todd Clippard

This is a serious matter today as so many people reject the idea of God and Divine guidance, especially among our young people. Using the popular definitions of the words destiny and fate, I can say with all confidence that no such thing exists. We are not simply creatures of chance. Such denies the free moral agency of man and his ability to know and choose between right and wrong.
 
Ultimately, we are the sum of all the choices we make. Since God has given us the power to choose (Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Joshua 24:15), who we are or what we become largely rests within each individual. If man has no power to choose, God would be foolish to give him commands to follow. Yet, this is exactly what God has always done (Ecclesiates12:13).

Proverbs 4:23 says "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Note the responsibility of each to keep his own heart as God intended. Jesus showed concern for the keeping of our hearts when He said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34), and "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies"
(Matthew 15:19).

Also, just because God knows the future does not mean He interferes with it, or at any time suspends our power to choose. Such would be against His character. God could force everyone to obey Him, but where is the joy in that? God loves us and desires our loving obedience in return.