What Does The Bible Say About Destiny?

What does the Bible say about destiny or our destiny? If so, how can we learn it?

Our Election

The Book of Ephesians makes it clear that you were not called to Christ by your own efforts but by God Himself. The Book of Ephesians says “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Eph 1:4-5), “having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph 1:11). It was God Who “lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ” (Eph 1:8-9). Even our birth comes from above (John 3:3, 7).

Our Purpose

Another amazing fact found in the Bible is that we were called for good works but these works we are to do for God’s glory were foreordained long before the earth existed. Paul writes that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). We are not saved by these works (Eph 2:8-9) but we are saved for these works “that we should walk in them.” God told Jeremiah “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11) and even though this was meant for Jeremiah, can any Christian honestly say that God does not offer them a future and an eternal home and plans for their best (welfare) and not evil?

The Immediate Destiny

Every one of us grows closer to the day of our death with each and every passing breath. Every heartbeat ticks one step closer to eternity and the time of our judgment. The problem is we don’t know when that day will be. One out of every one is going to die. Being human is fatal. In due time, we’re all going to die as it says in Hebrews 9:27; “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” That is the ultimate destiny of everyone who has ever been or ever will be born. There are no exceptions. Only God Himself is without beginning and without end as it was written about Melchizedek “without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever”(Heb 7:3).

Final Destiny

Daniel wrote thousands of years ago about something that is yet to take place and is found in Daniel 12:2 which says “many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” but “those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Dan 12:3). The final destiny of all who have refused to repent and trust in Christ is also mentioned in the Book of Revelation where it says “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:12-15). That is a destiny I wish for no one (Rev 21:8).

Conclusion

God says that your birth was no random, blind chance accident but a divine purpose determined before time and matter existed. Why you were born is expressed by Isaiah the prophet; “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (43:7). Yes, this was written to Israel but who does this “everyone” include? The “everyone” is anyone who repents and trusts in Christ. We were created for God’s glory, just as the universe was (Psalm 19:1) and “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1st Thess 5:9). Our destination more than our destiny was determined by God’s effectual call and we’re not destined for wrath but for salvation and that is only “through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our destiny is the kingdom of heaven. It will be the beginning of something that has no end.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.