“Destiny or Success”

“Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:12

Paul passionately lays out his all consuming desire and motivation for life; to become “That.” To fulfill his destiny, the reason he was created.  It captivated his whole person and attention, so much so that every decision and emotion was filtered through it. Destiny best describes the significance of what were dealing with here.  We need to understand what destiny is and what it’s not.

Two Basic Motivating forces in Life

A look at the two basic motivating forces in life is essential to explore the subject of destiny. Briefly they are found in two Greek words for the same English word-- love.  They are Eros and Agape. Please read the previous article that I posted called “Regaining Life’s Purpose” for more detailed explanation. Here is a brief explanation.

Eros- is a self-serving self-referential kind of love its motive goes something like this, I love you but I love you for what I can get out of you. The agendas are usually hidden or cloaked with an external show of love much like baiting a hook. The whole approach to life is first “me” The basic concern is summed up in “what am I going to get out of this.” It’s love and life with a hook in it. Two words that best describe the tools that Eros uses to accomplish its agenda are control and acquisition.

Agape- is God’s love, no hooks, no hidden or self-serving agenda’s, just genuine concern for our best interest. When working through a man agape changes the whole reason why he lives. It goes to the basement of the soul and changes the basic concern of ones life from a self-centered approach to a very real and passionate desire to become that for which we were created and to serve Father’s purpose. We’re talking about nothing less than a nature change, a real reformation.

The Unveiling of Eros…

To illustrate how deeply Eros and it’s nature has gone largely masked even in church let me create two columns:  on the left we will have Eros on the right we will have Agape, down the middle I will list certain bible doctrines. What I want you to do is to envision each of these doctrines as they are motivated by Eros and than by Agape. In doing so ask yourself if it changes the application of these truths in anyway.

Perhaps it would bring even more clarity by envisioning Jesus operating in these truths with either an Eros motivation or an Agape motivation.  Which one looks more like the nature of Christ? Now let me assure you I am not after the validity or accuracy of the doctrines or beliefs. I am after the hook behind the doctrines. Are you ready?

EROS  <------------- FAITH----------------> AGAPE
CHURCH GROWTH
PRAYER
GIVING
CHURCH GOVERMENT
GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
MARRIAGE
WORSHIP
SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Well, how did you do? I simply submit to you the real issues of the gospel have to do with a man’s heart and why he does what he does.  Isn’t that what Jesus was after with the Pharisees who had the word and much of the behavior but the motive was wrong.  Is it possible that Eros has hidden itself in Christianity today far greater than we would have imagined.  Remember Eros always seeks to conform the Word of God to my desires and Agape always seeks to conform my desires to His Word.

God’s Measurement for Ministry…

Do you see how it’s possible to use the bible in a self-serving manner?  Even the gifts of the Spirit can be used in an Eros manner.

Matthew 7:22-23
"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' [23] "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'  Think of it! You who live life, using my gifts, miracles and word in a self-serving manner, living the Christian life on your own terms doing your own thing. That’s EROS. Jesus says “depart from me I never knew you” The word knew in the Greek means intimate knowledge.  I was never able to have any intimacy with you. Notice Jesus didn’t say anything about the people who did get saved, healed, and delivered. That’s great, but His concern was for the disciples. “You do all this work but I’m losing you.” Remember when Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it.  He disobeyed God yet water still came out of the rock because Father loves His people and wants to meet their needs.  We judge ministry by how much water is flowing out of a man’s rock but God doesn’t, He looks at the heart.

Was Paul Reaching for Success or Destiny?

Paul was possessed to find “that”, let me mess with your head for a minute, would you call “that” Success or Destiny? Was Paul reaching for success or destiny?  The answer to this question has far reaching implications.

Webster’s definition of Success is:  “success is the gaining of fame, prosperity, or rank.” Let me add one word to shed even more light, security. So there you have it I couldn’t have said it better myself. Success from the world’s point of view is summed up in 4 words: Fame, Prosperity, Power (rank) and Security.

Today success seems to be the motivating force that has gripped our entire civilization.  Whether it’s success in the natural or success in the spiritual the motive is the same.  Success by its very nature is self-serving.  Its tools are utilitarianism, (the use of people, situations and things as pawns in a self-serving agenda), competition, greed, accumulation, control, position, power, deception, and manipulation to name a few. Gotta get more stuff and protect the stuff I got!

Success breeds all kinds of emotions

When one’s motivation for life is success it breeds such emotions as anger because things didn’t go the way we wanted! Depression happens because things didn’t go the way we wanted. Worry happens because things might not turn out the way we want, you get the picture. To seek success is to attempt to take life into our own hands and determine the outcome according to our own self-serving agenda’s.

Success Cloaked in Religious Clothes

Here is where the confusion comes in, we thought when we got saved that Eros and all the self-serving agendas died out there in the world only to discover that it some how resurrects itself in church, except now it’s wearing religious clothes and quoting bible verses.  It’s exactly the same motivation we had in the world only it’s going to church.  It’s success cloaked in bible verses and human potential theology, motivated by the same greed, lust and desires as in the world except now believing that God and his word will help us get our desires fulfilled.   I‘m not saying that fame, fortune, power or security is bad in and of itself.  It’s what we seek that determines the direction of our life.

…Leading Me Into My Destiny

Paul pressed on to become “that,” he was reaching for his destiny.  To seek ones destiny is to find God’s created purpose for you.  Destiny by its very nature recognizes there is a God out there who had me in His mind before the foundations of the world. He is the creator I am His creation. Only He can lead me into my destiny.

Romans 8:28 illustrates this in a powerful way 
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

The word love here is the Greek word Agape.  To any man who approaches the Father without a hook or hidden agenda God says I will work all things together for good, using everything in his life to ensure that he find and fulfill his destiny.

Destiny Brings Rest..

When a man seeks his destiny it brings rest, it releases him from the fear of man. We don’t have to be anybody anymore.  It’s non-judgmental, it doesn’t need to criticize, and there is no more need for competition.  Nobody on the planet can be what I’ve been created to be and no one can be what your created to be. Man didn’t give it and man can’t take it away. I can be a broom in the broom closet but if I complete my destiny as a broom I‘m going to hear the same well done thou good and faithful servant as the Apostle Paul.

Two Totally Different Approaches to Life…

Our Father doesn’t judge things the way the world judges them. It’s not how much stuff you have or how famous you are or how big your church is the only question asked is were you faithful to your destiny. Did you complete Father’s purpose for your life.  Seeking destiny or success are two totally different approaches to life.  Jesus said “my meat is to do the will of my Father”.  Whatever He touched in the Father completely satisfied Him. Oh Father, let us touch you this way!

Living Life From an Eternal Perspective…

Were talking about living life from an eternal perspective.  If I could give my little girl one gift it would be the gift of eternal perspective.  I have found that when I set my heart to reach for my destiny the first thing He does is begin to give me eternal perspective.  The ability to begin to see life from His perspective changes everything.  If you could see your life and everything that has ever happened right now from an eternal perspective do you suppose things would look different?

Living Life Before an Audience of One…

Seeking destiny will also cause you to begin to live your life before an audience of one, that one is your Heavenly Father. Your only concern will be whether you have pleased Him with your life each day. Not whether you measure up to the world or the church’s idea of success but to Father’s created purpose for your life.  This approach to life will set you free from the fear of man and the vice grips of false expectations forcing you to live life in a way that conforms you to a system of success that is not God’s standard for judging life at all. You’ll be free to be what He has created you to be.

Success driven people are full of anxiety while seeking destiny brings rest because you begin to cease from your own works and start doing His.  It’s a wonderful way to live. I’m not promoting some passive doctrine of lying down and giving up while you let God do it all.  Just the opposite Paul was very passionate concerning his destiny.

Destiny Can Involve Prosperity, Fame, and Power…

On the flip side destiny may involve fame, fortune or positions of power.  The difference is these things are but tools in the hands of God that fit into His universal purpose.  Our job is to maintain a position of stewardship that lets God run the show the way He wants.  In the latter part of Acts 4, I was reading about great grace and great power coming on the disciples and I said Lord I’d like some of that.  He spoke to me to read the previous verses “ neither ought any man possess anything as his own” the Holy Spirit is not asking us to go out and sell all we have and lay it at the Apostles feet as He did then but he is asking us to have that same heart.  Possess nothing as our own, let go of the title deeds it all belongs to Him even the air I breathe.

It’s a Tough Job Trying to be God…

Success is something we try to possess and control while destiny belongs to Him. It’s a tough job playing God and trying to run your life to determine the outcome.  I received a new slant on the scripture where Jesus said “come all ye that are heavy laddened and burdened and I’ll give you rest” perhaps what He was saying is come all you that are tired of playing God in your life, trying to control every situation to make sure everything turns out ok. Come all ye and I’ll give you rest.  It’s a tough job trying to be God!  I have enough hours logged in to know. What about you?

Can a man have success without God? Sure, they do it all the time. Can a man have destiny without God?  No, to seek destiny is to automatically recognize there is a God in heaven who created me for His purpose, to find that purpose I desperately need Him.

The Most Powerful Prayer a Man can Pray…..

Let me invite you to pray the most powerful prayer a man can pray it moves heaven like no other prayer.  Father I want to be that for which you created me to be, move mountains open heaven but do whatever needs to be done just help me fulfill my destiny.  Father let your love fill my soul and straighten the hooks out in me so the basic concern of my life is to serve your purpose for my life.  Pray that prayer every day and then marshal all that is in you to reach for “that” and Father will move all of creation if He has to order your steps to Him and His purpose for you.

In His Agape,
Doug