There’s a turn of phrase that is used quite commonly – even amongst those who are Christians. The phrase sounds religious and even well meaning. However, it has no basis in truth. The statement is: “If it is meant to be, then it will happen”.
Now let’s take a closer look at the words “meant to be”. These three words eliminate accountability, inspiration and plain old hard work. They imply that it doesn’t matter what one does – if it is not meant to be, it will not happen. As I sit here writing this on a cold Sunday morning in the Almonte Arena, I watch my son fall to the ice and struggle back to his feet time and time again. What an encouragement it would bring to his eager little face if I were to tell him that no matter what he does, if it’s not meant to be, it won’t happen. No one would ever accept this in the things of the world and yet when it comes to the things of God, logic is again cast aside.
The truth is that you always have a choice to make. The choice you make determines what will or will not be. Moses once set a clear choice before the Children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God”
There was no room here for waffling – one way led to blessings, the other to curses. It wasn’t a matter of meant to be or not. It was a simple matter of choice.
The Word of God sets forth the promise; you believe it, you get the results, you don’t believe it – no results. It’s usually at this point that the destiny gang will take up the chant of “well it was not meant to be”. This unbiblical and erroneous doctrine of destiny kills all hope. It renders the promises of God as nothing more than happenstance when just the opposite is true.
Matthew 21:22
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
There is nothing in this verse about “meant to be”. There’s nothing about, “well if it fits into God’s plan for your life, then it will happen”. It simply says: whatsoever you shall ask, believing, you shall receive. The only bound on this promise is that it is whatsoever the Word of God promises. Beyond that, you just start believing what the promises of God say and watch God go to work.
Don’t let the destiny crowd relegate your life to being a pawn that is shoved around by an unseen force that is beyond your control. Use the freedom of will that God has granted you to believe His Word and enjoy all the blessings that He has available for you. You make the choice if you want them or not. Just remember, if God has promised it, “it IS meant to be” – that is, for anyone who chooses to believe Him.