What does the Bible say about destiny?

Question:

Please, answer to my question: What does the Bible say about destiny? Is it true that nothing happens to us randomly?

Yes, it is true that nothing happens to us randomly. The things that happen to us are the consequences of our choices (good or bad) but also the manifestation of God’s love for us. If you wrote me the specific case you refer, I think I would have given a more specific answer, but I will present the general aspects that God’s Word tells us on the topic.

All things work for good … but not for everyone

I think you have heard that phrase and I hear often that all things work for good. Always when I hear it, I intervene to bring clarity and I tell people that in the Bible it is written so:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:28-31)(NASB)

The wicked will be caught in his evil

These days, a pastor from Russia told me how a former thief repented in the church. To show his zeal, he went to his friends to tell them the Gospel and he also told them that they must tithe to the church from the amount they got to help the imprisoned and their families, in Russian called obshchiak. Thieves were amazed and said they have never heard anything like that, but they asked what would they get if they gave tithes. At this, the Christian who had recently returned to the Lord answered: “For every wrong you have done, you will go back to prison sooner or later. But, maybe God will have mercy on you to put you in cells with windows towards the sun.” This is the fate, or the destiny of the wicked, that are consequences for their bad choices:

For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He watches all his paths. His own iniquities will capture the wicked, and he will be held with the cords of his sin. He will die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray. (Proverbs 5:21-23)(NASB)(NASB)

The goodness of God urges us to repentance

Human nature is full of discontent and lack of gratitude. When they have troubles, people complain to God and to other people, but they do not come to thank for the good which they have had up that moment. Let’s take my case. In childhood I was upset over the fact that God took my mother when I was 9 years. When I grew up and read the Bible I realized that I had more reasons to thank God than to rebel against Him. He gave me the grace to have a good mother and to spend with her 9 years of my life. Then, He took care of me and my sisters miraculously and in all things He showed us His love. Any one, if s/he thinks well, can see that God was so kind with him and made him much good and through this, he encourages us to repent, as written in the Bible:

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. (Romans 2:4-8)(NASB)

All good things that happen to us and that are not always related to our choices are a manifestation of God’s love, who calls us to repentance. God help every reader of this article to repent as soon as possible.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru