It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul
Sounds impressive. Sounds courageous. Sounds determined. Sounds like something my younger self would have bought back in the day when I said things like, "Come hail or high-water, I'm going to..." Yep, I was large and in charge until the realities of life and the truth of Scripture began to sink in.
Things began to happen over which I had little to no control. From little things like a tire blowing out on a dark and rainy night traveling through a bad part of a large city to big things like the untimely death of my first wife from cancer, not to mention Tandie's courageous battle with the beast. My plans and my provisions are at best only provisional plans.
The truth of Scripture reflected in the reality of life is, "… you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that" (Js 4:13-15"
We don't get to choose where or when or to whom we are born, and those things set the pace for our lives. We don't get to control the environment in which we live or the choices of others who impact our lives so. We are not in control of the markets or the weather or the geo-political climate in which we live. We often have a hard time changing our minds, let alone the will of others.
We do have a certain degree of freedom and we are allowed to make a number of choices - choices limited by our mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and/or our financial health. There are so many factors over which we have limited to zero control that to think we are masters and captains of our outcomes is simply laughable.
What we are truly in charge of and have freedom in is our response to circumstances and that response will help to propel us along life's pathway. Responding favorably to the education provided for us in our youth, opens doors of academic opportunities later in life. Refusing to respond well to the challenges of your occupation can close doors later on.
And, most importantly, responding to the invitation of Jesus Christ with grateful humility leads to an eternal destiny in heaven. Responding negatively leads to a different destiny altogether. We don't simply choose our destiny, we respond to the times and circumstances afforded us, which will determine our future. "Come unto Me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest" (Mt 11:28). Our destiny is not self-determined. It is based on a response to His offer of grace. Jus' Say'n.
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