Question
What does the bible say about predetermined destiny?
Answer
Addressing Christians in Romans 8:29–30, Paul writes, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Individual predestination is not specifically what is under consideration in this passage, but a predestination of God’s purpose. It was God’s purpose before the foundation of the world to choose a people who would be conformed to the image of His Son (see also Eph. 1:1–4). Anyone who heeds the call of the gospel is predetermined to become conformed to the image of God’s Son, for that is what God has decreed. But in His plan, it is not the person who is predestined,but the “mold” into which the person puts himself. When I was a child, we had a mold in which lead was poured and when the lead cooled, out came little lead soldiers! That molten lead was “predestined” to become conformed to the image of a soldier. With human beings, God does not “pour us” into His mold, but when we heed the gospel call, we choose for ourselves to enter that “mold.” No one can be conform himself to Christ by doing his own will. If we are to be conformed, it must be on God’s terms.
The parable of the sower in Matt. 13:3–23 shows that the word (the seed) falls on all kinds of different soil. Whether a person accepts it or not, stands firm or falls away, depends upon the person, not the word. When Jesus said in verse 9 “He who has ears, let him hear,” He was issuing a warning for people to take heed at what was being said. Some say that a person has no choice in the matter; that his destiny is determined before he is born, and that if God hasn’t chosen him, that’s just too bad (of course, the people who believe that, all tend to believe that they themselves have been chosen!). But if you notice the explanation of the parable that Jesus gives in verses 19–23, you will see a person has a choice as to which “soil” he will be. As you read those verses, keep in mind what Jesus said in Matthew 7:8: “Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.” You see how this fits with conforming ourselves to Christ? We must actively seek.
This is the only kind of “predetermined destiny” spoken of in Scripture. A person is not destined to be a plumber or a carpenter; a person is not destined to be a thief or a doctor; an extortionist or a philanthropist. If a person obeys the gospel of Christ, however, it is as though Christ “knew him” from the foundation of the world. The opposite is also true. If one has obeyed Christ, and then fallen away, it is as though Christ “never knew” him (see Matt. 7:21–23).
By Doug Focht
