BETWEEN FATE AND CHOICE

Since it’s 1st December, let’s talk about the bible and it’s position on fate and choices, actions and consequences.

Remember the 5 foolish virgins?(Matt 25:1-13) What was their offense? They simply didn’t think it through to get extra oil for the coming of the groom. They were ill prepared. So they missed out.

Then there was David, on the most important day, he was out in the wilderness, taking care of the sheep. Dude did not come to school on the day he was to defend his final thesis. (1Samuel 16:11).

Guess what, instead of treating him like the ten foolish virgins or like Esau and other absentees were treated, the prophet Samuel declared that they must wait until he comes before the ceremony begins.

Again, Peter lied 3 consecutive times, betraying Jesus in his most difficult moment, despite being WARNED earlier. He lied and betrayed his Master just for self preservation (Luke 22:54-62). Guess what happened to him? He was rewarded and made the leader of the church. Today, he is recognized as the first pope.

Then you have kind hearted generous Ananias and Sapphira, whose only sin was that they donated almost all they have to the church and kept a little for themselves. They simply lied about it but didn’t betray anybody. (Acts 5:1-11). Guess what happened to these cheerful giving couple? They were killed immediately. They weren’t given a chance to repent.

There are many other examples where people who committed serious sins were rewarded with something great and people who made harmless mistakes were punished severely for it.

This makes you wonder if God has chosen some people in this world to bless while the rest must suffer.

Just like the innocent young man who was born blind. Dude did not do anything wrong. His parents didn’t do anything wrong. God just decided to make his childhood and half of his youthful life miserable, just so God can show workings and do doings. Is it fair 🤷

Just like Job. After a life of devotion and faithful service, his reward was to be used as experiment in the department of suffering, sickness and death related matters.

Then you have Solomon that marriage foreign wives who brought in foreign gods to desecrate the land of Israel. He was rewarded with wealth, long life and peaceful reign.

This makes you to question if what you do really counts or you have been fated to either suffer or succeed.

From the point of view of Christians, I ask, are we the ones deciding our destinies or are our destinies already planned and handed to us, such that we do not know what we are doing as suggested by Jesus ChrThen

Una Happy New Month