Our entry into this world is not decided by any one of us. We do not get to choose our parents, neither can we opt for any colour, race or religion, yet we were born of our Father’s will. The only thing that is guaranteed is that God will accomplish His Purpose in our lives.

God Decides Everything

you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Because it is God who decides everything beforehand. If God made us to be born in a well-to-do family, who are we to feel proud of it. Or, if He made us to be born in a poor family, who are we to feel ashamed of it.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13-14

The Bible tells, that even the place where we live is earmarked by God beforehand.

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

Acts 17:26

Not only did He give us a womb to our fetus as our dwelling place, God has also predestined our redemption through His only begotten Son, Jesus.

People who Trusted God

The Psalmist trusted God and he confessed his faith in the following verse.

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Psalm 138:8

Job was well aware of the provisions of God and he boldly acknowledged his loss. While the below statement is being used only during funeral services, to acknowledge the truth that God has taken it.

..“Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Job 1:21

Whereas, Job remembered that God had sent him into this world as a naked person without anything and now God was calling him back empty handed to provide eternity. Job accepted the Sovereignty of God and declared his faith by saying that, God who has taken away, also has the ability to give it back.

Jesus, while on earth, handed over His life in His Father’s hands. God can, not only give us back our earthly blessings but He has also done everything to give us back the eternal life that we had lost because of our sins. Job utilized all the mishaps to prove himself trustworthy before God.

But he knows the way that I take when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Job 23:10

With complete trust on God, Job was eager to receive His eternal life and to meet his Redeemer on the other side. The losses, sicknesses, shame and abuses of this world could not stop him from receiving his ultimate reward because he had a clear understanding that God will provide him with another glorious life. Job proclaimed that God’s work can never be hindered.

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Job 42:2

It is not we, but God who is doing everything for us. We are not saved by our own righteousness but by the righteousness of Jesus. Many people think that as God has saved us through His Son’s righteousness, He will also make us enter into His kingdom even if we continue to live in our sinful ways.

We cannot earn salvation on our own but at the same time we have to retain the salvation earned by the righteousness of Jesus, renewing it daily by His grace. In this short lifespan, we should prove ourselves worthy of His righteousness. Paul was confident that God who began a good work in us will also help us finish it till the end.

being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

We are Created to Fulfil God’s Work

The Psalmist, Job and Paul were able to trust God, because they had understood that God had a purpose in their life, and they were eagerly waiting and surrendered their lives to accomplish the purpose of God in their lives. Every trial, sickness or betrayal is not accidental but is according to God’s plan to accomplish His purpose in our lives.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

How do we Trust God?

In spite of knowing the truth that God has done everything for us, in our day to day life, we are still choosing everything according to our own whims and fancies. It shows that we are not satisfied with what God has done so far in our lives. We are unable to trust Him completely, while making important decisions. When we don’t trust Him, it is impossible for us to understand His plans for us.

It is God, who gave His Son as an atonement for our sins. It is Jesus, who fulfilled His Father’s will with complete obedience. It is the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead. It is Holy Spirit who helps us to know Jesus and equips us to speak His word and perform miracles. When everything has been done by God the Father, Son and Spirit, how are we able to take credit for our salvation? We expect that people should respect us instead of giving glory to His name. Because of this, we are not able to teach people to accept and respect God in all situations.

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplace.”

Luke 11:43

Initially, we commit our lives to Jesus Christ with sincerity but when we start experiencing the power of God leading our lives, we get distorted. We long for an identity and hunt for fame. Instead of proclaiming the name of Jesus, we highlight our achievements, our personality, our family lineage, our organizations, our traditions, our Church and our religion. Instead of keeping our focus on acquiring the truth, we start trading the wisdom that God has given us for promoting all the above aspects.

Buy the truth and do not sell it—wisdom, instruction and insight as well.

Proverbs 23:23

How do we Handle the Word of God?

Jesus brings out the mistakes that we commit while handling the word of God. He says that the word is being used to attract people’s attention on us. Sometimes we serve the Lord to make more contacts and for our recognition.

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long.”

Matthew 23:5

Mostly the above verse is used to make someone feel guilty in order to cover our own guilt. We don’t want to get rid of our guilt but always want to cover it, with the freedom that we have in Jesus (1 Peter 2:16).

They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Matthew 23:4

In the above verse, Jesus is emphasizing that as we are not applying the truth in our lives we are shutting the doors of heaven for others. As the gentiles do not see any difference in us, they continue to walk in darkness. Jesus is sad about our eagerness to convert the religion of a person and condemns our lack of desire to transform their heart.

Why Do We Fail?

We fail in accomplishing the good work of God, because we trust ourselves more than trusting God. Even after knowing very well that He controls us, we do not want to be controlled by Him. We are controlled by our own evil desires and selfish ambitions. Because of these, we fail to understand that it is not we but Jesus who saved us. It is He who is capable of accomplishing every good work in us. If we understand this, we can boldly declare that our Lord will fulfil His purpose in us.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—  to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Jude 1: 24-25

The best self examination is that we have to often ask ourselves a question that how am I serving God if no one is around me to appreciate my deeds. God has the ability to give back everything that we have lost because of our near-sightedness. We must maintain an exclusive close relationship with God, so that we can become worthy to enter into His Kingdom.

Jesus, Keep us from stumbling and present us before God without fault.