Some people believe that each event in our lives have been determined for us before we were born. Fate or some god has determined when and how a person was to die, what trials were to come, who we would marry and so on. This kind of thinking can make a person somewhat fatalistic - and filled with the belief that they have no power to make choices in given situations - even when those choices would change the outcome. It also means you don't accept responsibility. The Bible tells us that time and chance happens to everyone (Eccl. 9:11). You can be in the wrong place at the wrong time or the right place at the right time - depending on whether you lose or win. Events in our lives can sometimes implant superstition or the sort of thinking that makes us believe someone bigger than us is guiding each step of our lives. Many outstanding athletes have superstitions about various things - some go through rituals while getting ready for their sport. These rituals may have taken hold when they had a particularly successful event during which they were wearing a certain item of clothing, tied their shoes a certain way - and so on. There is no question that someone bigger than us - our Creator - is involved in our lives and in our destinies. There are times when God really does guide our destinies. But it is wrong to think that we have no say in what happens in our lives. Jesus Christ had to control His will and conform with that of the Father (Matt. 26:39,42). He was destined for that precise moment and yielded to God's will by choice.
We can choose to do the work of God - or not do it. A preacher can decide whether or not to preach. The act of repentance, accepting the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ, stirring up the gift of God's Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 1:6) and continuing steadfastly to obey God (Heb. 3:14,15,18) are all areas in which we have been given the ability to choose. There are numerous encouragements to choose to do the right thing. These would not be needed unless we could make choices. There are also consequences of our choices - both good and bad. Our choices may please or not please God. Obviously since God truly is God, we should seek to please Him (I John 3:22). That is just plain common sense because He controls entrance into eternity - and all of our futures. It would be good and wise to have Him on our side - or for us to seek to be on His side.
Some people, however, are destined for a moment. It seems that there were and are times in which God has a certain task He wants someone to do for Him. He prepares the way for that person to be able to serve, but still allows that person the final say. God wants willing servants - not slaves He must constantly control. Naturally there are great rewards for those who do strive to please God. The circumstances may not be of our choosing, or even of our liking, but the choice to serve or not to serve Him is ours.
Let us consider the example of Queen Esther. Esther was a beautiful young Jewess who was used by God to save the Jewish people. Although she was only one of many wives of the king, she was granted special favour. God's intention has always been that a man was to have one wife only (Matt. 19:14-16, Titus 1:6). Esther may have wished for a better circumstance, but God used what was available. He gave Esther great favour with her husband and when her uncle Mordecai came to ask Esther to intervene with the king due to the proclamation of death to the Jews, Esther hesitated because she knew of the dangers that she would have to face. Mordecai told Esther to consider that she may have come to this kingdom just for this moment (Esther 4:14). Yet, Esther was given the choice. Mordecai told her that if she chose to refuse, help would come from somewhere else, but she and her father's house would perish. It seems Esther was destined by God to be ready to serve Him at this moment in time. God did set this scene in place.
There was an unusual statement that Jesus made about a woman who He had just healed of an 18 year long infirmity (Luke 13:16). God knew she was ill for this long, but this was the moment He chose to heal. Another incredible healing of a well-known cripple at the temple stirred the minds of many (Acts 3:1-13). This may have been that man's moment. God knew the man as He knows us all by name and so well that He knows the hair on our heads (Acts 27:34). Acts 14:8 relates the story of a man who was crippled from birth and then was healed when Paul told him to walk. This healing was a great attention-getter in Lystra. In verse 17, Paul stated that God has left a testimony about Himself. We can muse and wonder at the moments God has been planning and waiting for. When was Mary chosen to become Jesus' mother? Why did God wait until Zacharias and Elizabeth were so old before He told them they would have a son named John. God does His works for a number of reasons and purposes. Everything glorifies Him and shows His nature as well as His power. Prophets like Jeremiah, Elijah and others were chosen by God and used at special times. Like Jonah, they could refuse, but God has a way of showing us what we are to do and why. Through our yielding to Him, we grow in understanding and are closer to being in His image and having divine nature. By allowing us to choose, we also reveal what is in our hearts.
The story of Lazarus is also remarkable. He was the brother to Martha and Mary and a friend of Jesus. When Lazarus lay terminally ill, Jesus purposefully did not go to pray for him. Only after Lazarus had died did Jesus respond to the call that had come. It seems God was showing something special to many people by allowing Lazarus do be dead for several days - and then resurrecting him to life. This moment was used and Lazarus and his sisters seem to have been those destined to be witnesses. In this case, of course, Lazarus could not refuse because he was indeed dead. But God does have a purpose for people and works to bring about the circumstances that will cause that prophecy or statement of His to come to pass. God may be fulfilling a prophecy by choosing a person for the right moment. He will put them in the right place at the right time. God has even chosen some who do not follow Him. Gentiles may be used as well as Israelites.
The remarkable look into the future in the book of Daniel also shows us that some are destined for their moment in history. Alexander the Great was prophesied to exist and have great success against Persia. His kingdom would then split into four kingdoms (Dan. 8:5-8). God stated there would be a Cyrus who would be the king that would issue the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Isa. 44:28, 2 Chron. 36:23). He told of Joseph and the saving of the house of Israel. The list is lengthy of those God used at a given moment in time. All could have refused and God would have found another way. But because He is God, He can do a lot to ensure the fulfillment of that moment in destiny. God still leaves a choice as in the example of Esther. He rejoices in willing obedient servants.
We are left to wonder in awe and amazement at the work of God. In every generation God may have assigned a responsibility to a certain individual. Perhaps the soldier who thrust the spear into the side of Jesus Christ was brought there for that moment. Perhaps the preparation of Samuel led to the moment he would anoint the first king of Israel. Although Saul was the first king, God's first real choice was David. David's appearing at the time of Goliath was no accident. There may be many such moments in the life of a servant of God, and there may be only one important moment. Is it possible that we could be exactly where God wants us to be for a specific reason and for a moment in time? When we humbly and gladly strive to serve Him, He grants us many moments in which to act and serve. Our time is our own and God does not direct each minute. He does tell us to study and prepare ourselves to serve Him when He has a task or responsibility for us. We are destined for eternal life at the moment of the resurrection (I Thess. 4:17). You have had a moment, whether you knew it or not - and you will have many more if you are willing. Be ready every day (Matt. 25:10).