Dear Church Family, an update for the week of March 21, 2010…
Thank you to Dr. Vernon Kam for the message from Jeremiah 1:1-5, “Your Destiny”. People often wonder, “Why am I here? What is life about?” The Bible talks about this as your calling.
1. The Call. Jeremiah 1:4-5 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” What God says is amazing. He tells Jeremiah that before he was born, God knew him and chose him. What is true of Jeremiah is also true for us. Way before we were born, God chose us. Paul tells us this was before God created the world. Ephesians 1:4 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. Jeremiah had a destiny. He was appointed to be a prophet. We too have a destiny. God has something for us to do. God has a plan for everyone. Our responsibility is to know what that plan is and to fulfill it. Joseph was soldinto slavery by his brothers. But through God’s providence, he became the prime minister of Egypt. There was a great famine, but Joseph had prepared for that. When his brothers came to Egypt, wanting to buy grain, he finally revealedwho he was to his brothers. And this is what he said, (Genesis 50:20)…You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good toaccomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Joseph is saying this was his destiny. When we use the term “destiny,” we are saying that it was meant to be, and for believers, we mean God is behind it.
You are not here in the 20th-21st century by accident. When you look back at the 20th century, what is the biggest event of that century? It was WW2. During this time, Americans could not believe that Japanese Americans could be loyal to America. The 100th Battalion/442 had to prove to America that Japanese Americans could be loyal to America. You Niseis who had to suffer through this time in history were not put here by chance. It was your destiny. In God’s plan, you had a role to play. God is always moving to fulfill His purposes, and God uses people to accomplish that.
2. Appointed Time. God appointed the day, the time, the country and the family of our births.
Ecclessiastes 3:2 “…a time to be born and a time to die,…” Paul, when he was in Athens, told them that God created people and that…He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. (Acts 17:26) The Four Spiritual Laws state, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” This is true. This plan has a beginning point, and for you on this earth, it also has an ending point, and that end point is the day you will die. In God’s plan for you, He decided when you would be born and also when you would die. Some are afraid of flying an airplane. Why are they afraid? Because the plane might crash, and they will die. But God has already determined the date of our death. It does not matter where you are – on an airplane or hiding in your house, on the day that God has appointed for you to die, it will happen. And if it isnot your time, then it won’t happen. When you believe God is in control, that He has appointed a set time for you to be in this world, you can live with a sense of freedom, freedom from fear.
3. Predestination. Ephesians 1: 5 …He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will… Paul tells us that God predestinedus to be saved through Jesus Christ. The concept of predestination is not completely clear cut, so there are disagreements. Predestination (election) has to do with God choosing ahead of time. Predestination has to do with God’s plan for you (your calling, your destiny, your purpose) God chooses, but you have a choice. You don’t have to accept God’s plan for you. It is convenient to see our destiny in two ways: a general destiny and a specific destiny.
a. General destiny. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 1 Peter 2: 9 (NASV) that we exist for this reason: “that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
What are these good works, these excellencies, that we Christians are called to? Fourthings can be mentioned:
1.To be more like Christ. 2. To give God glory. 3. To be His witnesses 4. To point people to God’s salvation.
Every Christian has the same general destiny. This is our calling as Christians. This is what God wants us to do.
b. Specific destiny. Your specific calling may be to be a pastor or engineer or school teacher or homemaker. Usually, it is not just one thing. It can change.
c. You can miss your destiny.People have a choice. They can accept or reject God’s plan for them.
If you miss your destiny, you will not have joy.
If you don’t know God’s purpose for your life, pray and ask God, He wants you to know it.
Have a blessed week in the Lord as you obey His call on your life,
Stan, for SLZJCC