By "destiny" we mean that which will eventually happen to us after this life is over. All of us are headed toward an eternal destination, and there are only two places to go, and all of us will go to either one or the other. We will either spend eternity with God in a wonderful place called "heaven" (Rev. 21:1-5), or we will spend eternity in a place of "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41).
But the wonderful thing is that we have a choice while we are on this side of eternity as to which place we will go. God has always given folks a choice.
In the long ago Joshua challenged his fellow Israelites to "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (Josh. 24:15). And then he continued by saying, "but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." And we have that same choice today. God, in His love and mercy, sent His Son to die on the cruel cross, and shed His blood in order that we may have a choice.
We can either get serious about our salvation and choose to enter "the narrow gate" with the "few" in "the way which leads to life" or choose to go with the "many" who choose the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14).
And whether we know it or not, we are making that choice right here and now. If we choose not to make a choice, then we are actually making a choice. Because Jesus said that "he who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad" (Matt. 12:30).
If you are among the many who think that just because you believe in Jesus that is all that is required in order to be saved, you have another thought coming. "Even the demons believe - and tremble" (James 2:19). It is said of Jesus that "He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:9). Please don't wait until the judgment to find out that is true. Read your New Testament for yourself, and take the advice of Jesus' mother concerning Jesus: "Whatever He says to you, do it" (John 2:5). Begin today, time is short!
- The Northside Exhorter, 9/25/11