Destiny is not pre-determined

Pastor Arnie Wyllie

The person you see walking down the street is more than flesh and blood. The person you see is more than a doctor, a farmer, a criminal, a student, a homemaker, a homeless person. This person could be a highly respected citizen, or, this person could be the most notorious gangster in town. Whoever this person is, she/he consists of an eternal component which the Bible calls “the soul.” No matter what you think of this person, this person’s soul matters to God. Your soul matters to God. Sometime after you were conceived in your mother’s womb, God instilled you with a unique, eternal soul. According to Jesus, the most important part of your whole being is your soul. Jesus said, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26) Why is your soul so important to God? Your soul is indestructible, imperishable. Your soul will exist somewhere eternally - forever. Your body you now inhabit will cease to exist someday. The moment you die, the eternal destiny of your soul is determined. There are two - and only two - eternal destinies for your soul to reside in - heaven and hell. There is no “in-between, grey area”. According to the Jesus, once you are in either place, you are there forever - eternally. Jesus said, “There is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.” Read the entire story in Luke 16:19-31. God does not want you, or anyone, to exist in hell, eternally. Jesus also speaks of a resurrection of the body. Jesus said, “Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.” (John 5:28-29) Sometime, after your physical death, your body and soul will be brought together again. Wherever your soul is destined to exist in eternity, so your resurrected body will also exist. Your soul and body will experience the “landscape” of either heaven or hell. The Bible offers a “guided tour” of heaven and hell. Hell is a bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1). Hell is a lake of burning sulfur (Revelation 20:10). Heaven is a city of pure gold (Revelation 21:18). Heaven has pearly gates (Revelation 21:21). The physical landscape of either heaven or hell will be the least important feature. The most important feature of either heaven or hell will be the eternal presence of God. God will not be in hell. The Bible tells us that God will reside only in heaven. “God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:3-4) Since God will be eternally in Heaven, He will never, never, never visit hell. Residents of hell should never, never, never expect a visit from God. Who qualifies for hell? The Bible says, “Anyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15) Who qualifies for heaven? The Bible says, “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.” (Revelation 20:12) You need to get your name in God’s Book of Life before the choice is taken away from you. By not making a choice to be God’s child, you are making the choice, by default, to willingly exclude your name from His Book. If you exclude God from your life now, the only time you will meet Him will be on Judgment Day, for a brief moment. Then you head into eternity without ever again having the opportunity to see Him again. Getting your name into God’s Book of Life is not a matter of dumb luck. Your eternal destiny is not already determined. You do not have to be a special person like Mother Teresa. God loves you. You matter to God - just as you are. God will personally write your name in His Book of Life if you have a personal relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. God’s Book of Life consists of God’s family tree, His adopted daughters and sons.