Don’t we all have to keep beginning our lives over and over again? Aren’t we all forever getting into trouble and getting out of it? A man is as good as he makes himself.”
–William MacLeod Raine (Gunsight Pass)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”
–Psalm 111:10 (NKJV)
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I have often had thoughts regarding “destiny” and have written several times on the thought. Have you, or I, really been selected for a particular destiny in this world? If that is true, wouldn’t it also be true of everyone else? I hear Christians cite Jeremiah 1:5, to declare their destiny.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (NKJV)
Perhaps they cite this verse to declare that they are called to a particular position that they covet. But if everyone’s has been given a destiny, then why are people living in sin? For sure, God did not destined a person to a life of drugs, lust, and addiction. Was Hitler then destined? That means he couldn’t help but be himself and destroy millions of lives.
Look at the verse, God was speaking to Jeremiah. Does that mean that God has selected certain people for Himself? For example, there was a time when Moses appeared in history to deliver Israel from the hands of the Egyptians. Wasn’t he destined for such a time, wasn’t he chosen particularly by God? John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Messiah, he surely must have been destined to be born for a certain time.
You see, we are walking the top fence rail between predestination and foreknowledge. God knew that Moses would be the deliverer. However, Moses could have chosen to stay in the courts of Pharaoh rather than face the hardships of the wilderness. God knows, but He does not force. He does not sit in the heavens pulling mystical puppet strings. But in saying that His purpose and plan will come to pass.
So, here we are, on earth plodding along, trying to survive. Some people mock God, some say that He is dead or doesn’t exist. Others have chosen to accept Him as Savior. Now, the question is, since you are “chosen” that means you are destined for heaven. Why then do so many Christians seem to walk along aimlessly? As a believer you have a mission in life and it is to fight darkness and the forces in evil in whatever sphere of influence you have. Some, have only their neighborhood, some have the burden of the nation on their shoulders. In either case, they are called to serve God in that realm.
When I was growing up our youth group, in fact, all youth groups in the Assemblies of God has a particular name, “Christ’s Ambassadors.” WOW, such a name! Now it is simply, “youth”. Something drastic has happened. Were people ashamed to be called Christ’s Ambassadors? An ambassador is “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as it official representative to a foreign country.” This is a person who works in a foreign country and speaks for and represents the country of his home. “Youth” don’t quite cut it. Paul writes, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NKJV). We serve the creator of all things, the Lord God Almighty. We are to guard the Truth, speak the Truth, live in the Truth–we are then to be ambassadors.
“We are Christ’s Ambassadors; And our colors we must unfurl.
We must wear a spotless robe, Clean and righteous before the world.
We must show we’re cleansed from sin; And that Jesus dwells within.
Proving duly that we’re truly Christ’s Ambassadors.”
–Mrs. George Wagner
When you look at the words of the chorus perhaps that tells us why the song, nor the designation is not so popular today. “We must…” Too often Christians, or should I say pseudo-Christians are part of the world, they have made this their home rather than speaking the words of God to the evil and darkness that is in the world.