Destiny and Fate

Do you believe you are destined for that one individual who is specifically meant for you…your soul mate? If so, how will you find them?
[Oops. Sorry…Silly question! If you are ‘destined’ to be together, it will all just work out: right time, right place, right person. You’ll just know. It’s all played out in the movies.]

Let’s go further...
Who or what is the source of destiny?

If you are destined for that one specific soul-mate are you also destined for just the right career? Just the right kids? Just the right city, house, friends?

Why stop there…? Are you destined to see the movies you will see? Read the books that you will read? Do that project around the house that you are destined to do? Get sick? Tell a lie?
Or does destiny only work with…LOVE?!

Destiny denies God, unless you believe that God destined all activities in life to play out a certain predetermined way. Either way, if destiny truly exists, choice is not a reality. And if we do not have the ability to choose, then we have been deceived. After all, God calls us to choose!

• “Choose life,” Joshua called to the Israelites.
• “Choose Jesus,” the apostles preached.
• “I am the way,” Jesus announced.

Destiny is the fool’s way of removing the guilt and responsibility of choosing to deny or reject God.

• Fate cries out, “It’s not my fault; I can’t help it.”
• Fate is arrogant, “That’s just the way I am.”
• Destiny is an excuse for pure selfishness.

What will happen if you awaken beside your destined soul-mate only to discover incompatibilities in your marriage? Did destiny make a mistake? Will destiny demand that you leave your first love behind and launch a search for a true soul-mate. [Oops again, no searching; fate just happens.]

And what if you discover some incompatible ugliness in your true soul-mate? Is there a truly true soul-mate?
What will you do when reality collides with destiny!?!

Belief in destiny will lead a person down a path of sin in a quest for a life that simply does not exist.

Young people! Wake up!
  Life is difficult.
  Life is not fair.
  Life does not always go YOUR way.

The wise Solomon tested life in order to find meaning. He tested wealth, work, wisdom, foolishness; and he even tested laziness and the party life, including getting drunk and having sex. He said it was all meaningless – empty.

The book of Ecclesiastes is Solomon’s final report of his research on ‘The Meaning of Life.’ His conclusion was that there was no meaning unless one looks beyond this life. It was only when he humbled himself before God that he found meaning. He wrote the book of Ecclesiastes so you would not have to do your own personal research.

An unknown remains: Are you are so infatuated with destiny that you cannot see reality? Does destiny make you so smart or clever or wise that you know more than your Creator knows?!

If your thinking collides with God’s Word, you are choosing self-centered arrogance over the God who made you and loves you, the God who pleads with you to choose Him.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” 

—Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

Destiny is a lie. 

The Fates come from mythology.

In humility, CHOOSE Life!

Mark Stinnett

January 28, 2024

Destiny or Faith?

One of the best ingredients for a good love story is destiny:

“We were meant to be together.”

Boy meets girl. They fall in love. “You are my destiny,” one says to the other. Difficult circumstances throw uncertainty onto their relationship. They separate, yet ultimately, fate brings them together again...and they live happily ever after...The End.

With many variations this storyline has been the basis for novels, short stories, movies, and songs. We laugh, we cry, and sometimes…we actually believe...we actually believe in destiny.

Those who have spent a few years on this earth living the reality of life understand the stark difference between life and fairy tales. We know there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There is no glass slipper or pair of ruby slippers. There are no enchanted forests, no magic potions, no spells, no charms, no magic wands and no Jedi force. There is, however, life, a seemingly endless succession of events stitched together by time; good, bad and ho-hum (or heigh-ho’ if you’re one of seven dwarves).

However, many young people still refuse to set aside the fantasy of fate and in doing so set out on a quest for Prince Charming (for girls), or the beautiful Princess (for boys). After marrying their destined mate life soon unmasks a troll with irritating habits, inconsistencies, and imperfections. Some fall for the tempting plan of Peter Pan: never grow up (yet more sage wisdom from the world of fantasy).

Reality is difficult. It consists of choices, responsibilities, unexpected events, pain, needs, people, and the irreversible passage of time. Even the rich and famous are not exempted from reality; they just have enough money and glitter to hide it. It would appear that our society prefers the example of our hollow Hollywood heroes.

The Bible tells the truth. And from the beginning man has been hiding from reality, that is, the reality of the presence of his Creator. The Bible is full of men and women whose lives are laid bare before us as people living reality before God. Even those of great faith are covered with ugliness because of sin.

The Bible does not teach destiny, fate, or fantasy, yet, amazingly, it does teach happily ever after.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

--John 3:16

God has revealed his true nature to mankind through Jesus Christ. Your eternal destiny is determined by your choice in this life. You can choose by faith in that which is revealed or guess-choose fickle, unknowable fate.

Choose Jesus!

He’s real.

Mark Stinnett

January 21, 2024

More Important Than...

Do you remember the apostles’ argument about who was the greatest among them?
(Read about it in Luke 9:46-48.)

Jesus used a child as an object lesson on humility. I can only imagine that the apostles felt ashamed.

Have you ever been in a situation when someone else was receiving the attention and you were being left out? Perhaps they received recognition when you had also made sacrifices. Perhaps someone was promoted, but you were overlooked even though you knew that you were equally or better qualified. Perhaps you have been overlooked at home for doing all kinds of mundane tasks you perform…repeatedly. You want to feel appreciated; you want to know that you are important.

What would happen if everything were reversed? Really reversed!?

Married couples, what if you came home and greeted your spouse as if he/she were more important than yourself: “You are more important than my needs. What can I do for you?”

Instead of insisting that your needs be met; instead of struggling to be appreciated, instead of manipulating things for your personal advantage, instead of forcing your responsibilities onto someone else, instead of rationalizing your own importance...what if you literally adopted the attitude that your spouse is of greater importance than you?

It is a rather expensive prospect. By that I mean that your spouse could take advantage of you, your time, your energy. You might forfeit some relaxation; forfeit your favorite television show or ball game; forfeit some personal reading or computer time; forfeit an activity with your friends. You might find yourself doing some tasks that you normally leave for your spouse. You might attend a function/dinner/outing that you would not prefer. You might need to keep the kids or entertain your in-laws. You might have to spend your money on your spouse to buy something he/she needs instead of what you want. You might have to listen when you think you already know.

It could be expensive but...what if?

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.

—Philippians 2:3

The apostle Paul did not write this specifically to married couples, but to all Christians. This is the key that unlocks contentment. It applies to all of our relationships: spouse, parent, child, fellow Christian, elder, Bible class teacher, class participant; young, old; single, married; adults, someone else’s children; the list goes on and on.

It is natural to want to be treated as important by other people. However, I think that most of us would feel just a little embarrassed if someone said aloud: “You are more important than I.”

Knowing the plan, Jesus prayed to God asking if there was any other way than the cross. Even without a recorded answer in scripture, we know the answer was, “No.” Jesus was determined to do God’s will.

Jesus regarded you as more important than Himself and He died in your place. Jesus came to your home (earth) and said, “You are more important than I.” And He has turned the world upside down with that attitude!

What if…
              ...in this world…
                                         ...we acted just like Jesus?

What IF...?

Mark Stinnett

January 14, 2024

Discipline Isn't a Warm Fuzzy

Whether it is the discipline of a child, self-discipline, or even church discipline, it is not supposed to be fun. Discipline is not a warm fuzzy. And yet, in our day tolerance is king and we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I prefer to be tolerant. I was never excited about disciplining my own children. I never relished the thought of the next discipline event. Sometimes the discipline of my children was also painful to my wife and me. And yet…

Near the end of the book of Hebrews is an illuminating passage about discipline (12:4-11). Discipline in the home is used as an illustration to help us understand God’s discipline. Read that passage and then consider these observations.

We respect our earthly fathers for disciplining us (v. 9). Not everyone has had parents who disciplined in a good, constructive way. Television documentaries on ‘corporal punishment’ have consistently highlighted parents who were harsh, short-tempered, and who publicly humiliated their children. I think I know why we never saw good examples of discipline in the home in the documentaries. Discipline is intimate. In other words, it is a personal and private matter. Parents must not discipline in anger and must discipline in a way that fits the offense. They must ensure understanding before the disciplinary action is carried out. And they must show their love and acceptance afterward. That is part of the reason that we respect our fathers for disciplining us.

Discipline is to be expected because it is for good. Solomon has many things to say about discipline in the book of Proverbs. Many people reject his teachings because of his strong wording. However, the simple point is that proper discipline demonstrates love. The absence of discipline is a sign of the absence of love.

Discipline is not joyful in the moment, and that is true of every kind of discipline. Yet it has a purpose of making a person better. Of spiritual discipline God says that…

He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness (v. 10).

To those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (v. 11).

In Peter’s list of Christian attributes are self-control and endurance (2 Peter 1:6). Self-control is the discipline of stopping. Stop talking to avoid gossip. Stop listening to avoid being a busybody. Stop anger before it becomes sin. Stop looking to avoid lust. Stop longing to avoid covetousness. In general, we need to stop before we give in to temptation and sin. Discipline is the opposite of temptation (James 1:14).

Endurance is the discipline of continuing. It is forgiving yet again, serving when you are tired, loving the unlovable. It is enduring the trials of life. It is doing good and continuing in righteousness when there seems to be no positive result and those around you prosper in sin.

Discipline is rooted in faith and hope. It is faith in God’s word realizing that you are not missing out on anything of significance when you do not possess all the things you wish or participate in all the activities you like. It is steadfastness when there is nothing in the present to validate your faith. Discipline makes sense when you keep your focus on the future promises of God.

Discipline yourself (and your children) so God doesn’t have to. 

Don’t give in to the fuzzy illusion of tolerance.

Mark Stinnett

January 7, 2024