The concept of “dead destiny ” implies that God has predetermined certain aspects of life. For example, we are born as Indonesians of Manadonese descent. However, whether we become a good or evil Manadonese is not determined by God, and this is where human responsibility comes in—each person chooses their own moral state. If absolutely everything were predetermined by God, then God would appear to be the scriptwriter of every event, including disasters and evil. Yet the laws He has given reflect His own mind, feelings, and holiness. From these laws, we are meant to discern and experience the holiness of God, because we are created in His image and likeness, endowed with a moral nature that mirrors His own.
Therefore, we must never imagine God as the author or director of all events, including disasters, evil, or even eternal hell for those supposedly “predestined” to perish. If that were true, then humans would bear no responsibility for their actions. Such a view is dangerous because it portrays God as directly involved in every event, even in acts of evil. This kind of fatalistic concept is common in some belief systems around us—that humans are mere puppets and God is the puppeteer. But if that were the case, then humans could not be held accountable for their deeds. It would be unjust for people to be asked to take responsibility for something that was never their choice.
Indeed, we all have a dead destiny—in the sense that some aspects of life are divinely set—but there is also a living destiny, a realm in which humans are responsible for their own decisions and choices. God can’t fix everything; there must be a part in which humans develop themselves and order their lives according to His will. The Lord Jesus Himself said, “To sit at My right or My left is not Mine to grant. These places belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.” (Matthew 20:23). Yet how much a person can be trusted with God’s calling depends on how they use the freedom that God has given.
The parable in Matthew 22:1-14 makes this clear: a human response to God’s call is crucial. Jesus concludes the parable with these words: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” This means the call to salvation is universal, but only those who respond rightly become the “chosen.” Being part of God’s chosen people depends not only on God’s sovereignty but also on human choice and response. Many hear the Gospel, but not all respond sincerely to it. Without response, the Gospel remains only an empty message.
God’s Word itself will be the judge of humanity. As written in John 12:48-49:
“Whoever rejects Me and does not accept My Words has one who judges him; the very Words I have spoken will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own, but the Father who sent Me commanded Me what to say and how to say it.”
This means that salvation is not determined merely by professing faith in Jesus Christ, but by how one responds to His Words.
Therefore, if Christians do not earnestly study the Gospel, respond to it correctly, and live according to the Word, they should not blame God for their shortcomings. The Gospel is the power of God that brings salvation, and salvation is God’s work to restore humanity to His original design. But without response, the Gospel remains an empty message. A person may claim to have received Jesus, but if they do not accept His Words, their acceptance is false. The valid proof of receiving Jesus is the willingness to receive, learn, and obey His words.
To receive the Words of Jesus means to be willing to learn, understand, and live them out in daily life. Understanding and practicing God’s Word transforms a person into someone excellent—a chosen person who is pleasing to God. Conversely, those who do not understand the Gospel will live with low moral and emotional quality. Yet we must give thanks, for through a long process God is shaping us, deepening our understanding of the truth, so that we may grow more mature, wiser, and more like Christ.