GOD DEFINES DESTINIES

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” – Romans 8:29

An infallible Biblical truth of life is that GOD DEFINES DESTINIES: “to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Rom.8:29a). Destiny refers to God’s Plan for a life – Life’s Path and ultimate destination. Life is like a Journey to be commenced, experienced and completed. Life is like a Project to be pioneered and perfected. Life, like a Building, is best ‘built’ with a Plan or Blueprint. God is the Architect – the Designer, Detailer, and Developer of Destinies – the Master Builder of the Project called Life. God is not accidental with life. He is intentional. And that’s how He wants us to be. God never intended our lives to be left to chance or to the whims and caprices of other creatures or forces. God defines Destinies!

God defines your destiny; you decide your destiny! The Lord is set to perfect that which concerns you (Psa.138:8). But that’s to the extent that you are personally aware that He has a unique destiny for you and choose to walk with Him for its fulfilment. The Father’s great desire is for you to have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, having received His forgiveness. Then, you are ready to fulfil the rest of His plan for your life. Your destiny will unfold as you obey the daily prompting and guidance of the Holy Spirit. God has a specific plan for every believer, but the details of where He leads each will vary – and He rarely gives us a complete picture of our destiny from the onset. However, God desires at least three things for every Christian: to know His Word; to keep His commands; and to live as a witness for Jesus Christ.

Know God’s Word: there are immense benefits and rewards in knowing and applying God’s Word: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). His Word renews our minds: God transforms our thought patterns to honour Him, and to know “that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” – His specific, perfect Plan (Rom. 12:1-2).

Keep God’s commands: Part of your destiny is to consistently live righteously before God. Love is our motivation for keeping His commands: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jh.14:15). Love is the summation and fulfilment of the Law (Mt.22:37-40). The pleasant benefit to being a New Covenant person is that God has added a “want to” to the “have to” aspect of His commands. The indwelling Holy Spirit convicts, prompts, and inspires a desire to follow God totally. The believer is “an epistle of Christ…written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, the heart” (2 Cor. 3:3).

Live as a witness for Jesus Christ: “you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8b). We are each called to active ministry of being a Witness for Christ, through words and conduct. The leading of the Spirit is very practical: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom.8:14). The Lord will show you the direction to go, as well as His timing and methods. He will provide guidance for you to take the next step wisely. You can trust Him to instruct you on the specific action to take as well as the “green light” – when the time is right.

God’s specific destiny for your life has a twofold nature: to further His kingdom on earth, and to transform you. God has a daily blueprint for your life that He is unfolding in phases. Nobody else can fulfil your specific destiny. Trust the Holy Spirit to lead and empower you, and you will succeed in fulfilling the Lord’s Vison and mission for your life.