What is destiny?
Destiny can be defined by in many ways, but the following are the synthesis of various views on the very important concept. These views include the Biblical examples that can be presented to delineate the word. Firstly, one can infer that destiny means somebody’s pre-ordained future. It is a pre-determined inevitable series of events that happens to a person.Secondly it could also be deduced that destiny is the inner realizable purpose of life. It has to be discovered than realized. In other words, destiny is not only a pre-determined inevitable series of events like the bitter pill one has to swallow when one is sick, but it has also been giving to every person to engage these series of events in such a way that they will fulfill God’s ultimate plan in one’s life, and glorify Him who initiates it.
The Yoruba believe that it is the individual that chooses from heaven what he or she would like to become or achieve when he or she reaches the earth. We all know that this is extraneous to the Biblical view about this concept.
God is a God of destiny. He has purpose for everything He has created – Eccl. 3:10. For instance, destiny, purpose, plan precedes building, and it must be referred to always, to be able to have the desired building. The Hebrew word for plan is tabnit. I Chron. 28: 12. Ex. 25: 9. This means pattern.This has a connotation of model, prototype, a copy of the original. God showed Moses and David certain things in heaven, which they drew as plan, to interpret as they build.Your life is a building of God. There is a tabnit in heaven about your life. To be able to realize this, heaven must be referred to now and then. He who must fulfill God’s plan for his or her life must have access to heaven, and that cannot be done without Christ. He is the only way to the Father and to heaven: John 14: 6; Ephe. 2: 6. Our place in heaven could be reached only in Jesus Christ. To accept Him as Lord and Saviour means we are ready to be able to fulfill our heavenly destiny. Through Him we can access this plan day by day, and with faith and prayer actualize it.
Fulfilling Your Destiny
In this life, there are many people living their lives as if they do not have a pre-ordained future, because the inner purpose of their lives had not been discovered. Therefore their lives are full of struggles. They cut themselves with the knives of frustration, deceit, disappointments, because their heaven is closed, like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18: 26 – 29. The last part of that passage says ‘no one paid attention.’ Living one’s life apart from heaven’s plan will remove the attention of heaven.
Furthermore, it is pertinent to reveal to parents that they play an all important role in bringing the heavenly tabnit of their wards to realization when they themselves are in connection with heaven. Many parents have resounded the statement ‘no one in your family bears that name’ Luke 1: 61, without knowing that they have special children, on whom God wants to showcase His wisdom, grace and glory, more excellent than what they use to know in their family.
Finally, you need the following in other to be able to fulfill your destiny
- Coming to the knowledge of Christ. Col. 2:9&10.
- Growing in the Lord who reveals secrets Dan. 2:28.
- Fear of the Lord (live in holiness). Ps. 25:14.
- Anointing of the Holy Spirit. I Chron. 28:19.
May God showcase your life and that of your wards in excellence in your generation. Amen.
This article was written for Yemi Ogunbiyi Anglican Schools (YOAS) Magazine-2014 YOAS TRADEMARK