Question 7 – Is fate or destiny real?
Or what is the destiny of man?
If the Christian God exists, then no, it does not exist. This question deals with two completely different philosophical models. Besides, the teaching of fate/destiny contradicts many other religious systems. The concept of fate/destiny is not easily defined in an unambiguous way. A person could imagine all kinds of things under this term. In my opinion, it is generally understood as an impersonal force that determines the course of all events that exist to people, animals and to the universe. The events of our lives have been written ahead of time and cannot be changed or even resisted. The only thing that a person can do is to submit to them. Others understand this term to be an order of events that which will happen and which have been arranged by a god or the gods. Nevertheless, even this understanding is in opposition to the characteristics and nature of the God revealed in the Bible.
From my point of view, this theory (an impersonal force) has one great flaw – that is to say if something like fate existed (and at the same time no God existed), we would be dealing with a perfect intelligence that is driving everything in a specific direction so that things happened in a certain way and in no other way. However, how could something impersonal that does not have a plan/purpose, reason or intelligence arrange something like this and keep it alive?
As a Christian, I profess that my life is not run by an impersonal force which determines what will happen to me in 14 days at 2:20pm. As a Christian I believe that my life is in the hands of the living God. Purposefully, I don't write that God 'runs' my life. Well, to a certain extent, He does. God enters into the life of every person and many times He intervenes in various ways. However, He doesn't make robots of us, so that we are programmed for specific actions and work. He gives us, as was already mentioned, free will to decide which direction our lives will take. Of course, this freedom has its wages, the consequences of our behaviour. God commands that I not murder. Nevertheless, I have the possibility to break this commandment. The results, however, will be harsh not only for me but also for everyone else that this actions affects. We can fill in 'murder' with any other violation of God's commandment (infidelity, lying, disrespect for life and God, bribery, hatred, a false accusation, etc.). A whole range of events unfold around us and negatively affect us, our surroundings as well as the whole planet. In fact, we acquire a picture of our world today…
If however you want to believe in 'fate', in my opinion, you must in that case, also believe that no intelligent Creator exists. If you believe in fate, you must believe that this Creator is not really interested in you, you are just a puppet and you do not have a free will or you have a distinctly limited will.
Summation
From a Christian perspective, nothing like fate exists. Human beings are not slaves of the stars, horoscopes nor of any previously written script by fate. To a certain extent we shape our attitude toward God and others by our own actions.
"Yes, God has a plan for our lives—but He also gives us the freedom to reject it or ignore it." (Billy Graham)