Fate vs. Faith

Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year as we celebrate the unspeakable gift of God in His only begotten Son, Jesus. 2 Cor. 9:15, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (NIV) It is truly indescribable how our creator could love such a careless and wicked world. We take comfort in the Word in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” We recognize that promise and celebrate it's beginning in the birth of, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:19. Our salvation took on earthly form just over 2000 years ago in a little town in Judea called Bethlehem.

Everything of this season should point us toward Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus, the Christ. Our traditions should revolve around that theme and when it is over we should have been touched by the presence of God. Moved by the manifestation of His Deity in the same way that the shepherds, the wise men and all that witnessed the fulfillment of His revelation.

The Reason for our celebration is the gift that God has given to humanity. We have not earned this gift. It is a blessing handed to us despite our unworthiness. And because of God's grace and mercy, we can come before Him repenting, believing and receiving forgiveness by faith. It is that faith that saves us and that faith which will deliver us in this present hour. Faith is an indispensable element in our journey here. Heb. 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

The fact of our need and desire for faith was impressed upon me recently while listening to traditional Christmas music. One phrase really stood out to me and it is for that reason that I want to share my thoughts. The song was “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” and I have included it here.

Through the years we all will be together and
If the fates allow, oh yeah
But 'til then we'll have to muddle through somehow,

And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

For the purpose of my discussion the entire stanza is relevant but the line that really impressed me was, “if the fates allow,” with particular emphasis on the word “fate.” I have included a definition of the term by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Fate

(noun)

a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand <the belief that it was this country's fate to extend from sea to sea>

Synonyms circumstance, destiny, doom, fortune, kismet, lot, portion

Related Words accident, casualty [archaic], chance, hap, happenchance, happenstance, hazard, luck; predestination; aftereffect, aftermath, conclusion, consequence, development, effect, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot

What is the difference in our lives being directed by fate or faith? People who allow fate to be their compass in life will go with the flow. Their lives are driven by the events that surround them. Much like rivers and streams rise and fall with the ebb and flow of the seasons. In the summer months, when there is less rainfall, these bodies of water remain restricted within their banks and appear to move effortlessly because water will choose the path of least resistance. In the winter and spring, when there is typically more rainfall, the rivers and streams can escape their banks but still seek the path of least resistance. They escape their banks because of the sheer volume of water. The ebb and flow of the rivers and streams is determined by the events in weather and will respond accordingly always moving down stream with gravity.

Followers of fate live a reactionary life, simply responding to the events and conditions in their lives as they occur. We all react to the circumstances around us but circumstances cannot be our compass in life. As followers of Jesus Christ, faith is the driving force in our lives. We cannot seek the path of least resistance and most of the time we are called upon to move against the current. God's Word requires that we fight against the onslaught of public opinion and stand for the Truth. As Believer's in Jesus Christ, we must call attention to the moral depravity that is running rampant in this world. With faith as our compass we can move ahead with purpose, God's purpose. We will not be deterred by the negative events and conditions around us. Because of our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, we can see beyond our immediate future to our promised end.

Jer. 29:10, “For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”

God's promise to Israel was “restoration.” After all they were to suffer because of disobedience, He promised to bring them back to their land with a renewed relationship with Him. God will fulfill His purpose in this world and in this age. Restoration has already begun and those people who will put their faith in Christ have an appointed end.

We can embrace our determined end because of the eternal nature of God's promises. His covenant is forever settled in heaven. What He has spoken will never change. We can put our faith in every word! 2 Cor. 1:20, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” As we walk in the Holy Spirit, we can discern the events of our time as pieces of a much larger picture of God's eternal plan. Faith rises up in us. Faith compels and propels us forward into a future we don't completely understand. But because of our faith in the infallibility of God's Promise, we move with purpose, assurance and confidence.

Faith places each person in charge of his own destiny. Our future is determined by our faith in God or lack thereof. Our faith in God will determine our obedience to Him and His plan for our lives. Subsequently, we determine our destiny by our submissiveness to His leading.

A ship adrift in calm seas is helpless. A ship adrift in stormy seas is catastrophic. We are facing the most tumultuous times of this age. We cannot risk our engines being dead in the water. Our survival is dependent upon the power of the Holy Spirit to help us navigate the raging seas just ahead. My cry is, “God fill us again and again with the power of the Holy Ghost.”