What Is Your Destiny?
Have you ever wondered why you are alive? Many people don’t really take the time to ask the hard questions about life and death.
Introduction
Perhaps while attending a funeral for a loved one you might have noticed that people are more reflective.
1. Have you ever attended a funeral service?
2. What questions did you have about life and death?
3. Explain some of the theories people that you know have about what happens when you die?
In Psalm 8:3When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;,4 King David marveled: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?”
4. What do you think King David was thinking?
5. Does it seem that there is more going on than what man often sees? How so?
Clue to our destiny
In a prophetic passage in the book of Daniel, God inspired a clue to our destiny that is overlooked by many. Speaking of the resurrection of the dead, read Daniel 12: 2,3.
1. What does it mean in this passage to be “asleep”?
2. What is the difference between “everlasting life” and “everlasting contempt”?
3. Who are the wise?
4. What does this scripture imply about a reward after death?
Purpose of human life
Read Hebrews 2:10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.,11 (NIV) and answer the following questions.
1. Who are “sons to glory”?
2. What family is being discussed?
3. Is it possible that God wanted to add members to His family?
Read Romans 8:29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. and comment.
4. What does “first” imply about more to come after?
5. Who are the “many brethren”? Are they angels?
NOTE: God has designed us to be members of His own family, His very children, possessing His own divine nature (2 Corinthians 6:18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty., 2 Peter 1:4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.).
Is lifestyle important?
God wants us to be a part of His family and to live long and enjoy good things.
1. Do you think God would give the gift of eternal life to anybody no matter how they treated others? Why or why not?
2. Do the commandments make it easier to keep relationships healthy? Explain and give an example.
Note: Take ANY commandment and show what impact it would have if everyone in society followed it.
Satan’s Influence
Satan deceives the world according to Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him..
1. What does Satan have to gain if people are deceived?
2. Are Satan’s goals to help or hurt?
(1 Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:,9).
3. What does it mean to devour?
4. What kind of being is Satan? Read Isaiah 14:12-14 [12] How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! [13] For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: [14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. , Ezekiel 28:13-16 [13] Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. [14] Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. [15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. [16] By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. .
5. What do these scriptures tell you about Satan the Devil?
Note: Satan is responsible for deceiving and leading the whole world astray and for corrupting and polluting the minds and hearts of people. Satan is called the “god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.).
Hope for mankind
The knowledge that God is working in the lives of man is most exciting and helpful. Continue your study of God’s way of life to find wisdom and understanding about YOUR future!