Forward and Upward:

A Parable of Destiny

By:  Alan Smith

Dan 5:23: But you have not praised the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny!

Have you ever felt that your “destiny” would never be fulfilled?  Could you consider that “destiny” is the road traveled unto your heavenly destination?  I have written a short parable on this subject.  In the parable there is an angel whose name is “Destiny”.  “Destiny” is full of life, given to him by his Creator; but his gift of life needed a little direction.  Come with me as we fly away into the heavens and meet the one called “Destiny”.

“A Parable of Destiny”

As the angel, “Destiny”, gazed through the heavens at what God had made for all of His creation; he also reflected on the past regarding his earthly and spiritual relationships, and how important it was to make corrections through life’s journey.  As a young angel in training, there were times he did not listen to his instructors and thus, he would end up at the wrong place at the wrong time.  As a result, confusion and sorrow filled his life; and his inability to end up at the proper destinations brought much sadness and many unanswered questions.  But “Destiny” was learning…learning to be a messenger: one who would chart a course in the next direction.  It wasn’t that he didn’t always have the correct coordinates; sometimes he did.  Unfortunately, he constantly ignored these new instructions!

All of the instructors in his life loved him greatly.  They had spent long hours with him, but he just could not seem to grasp this lesson.  The Heavenly Father also loved “Destiny”.  He was one of His favorite angels.  He was so full of life and mischief.  It was because of this eternal love of the Father that He sent his Son to personally help “Destiny” in his training.  The Son declared to “Destiny” that He had been sent to show him the way.  “The way?” said Destiny.  “Yes,” said the Son.  “I will send you a friend and he will help you.  Always remember that a true friend is the most longed-for relationship in the heavens and on the earth.  This friend will give you an electronic book to hold in your hand which will show you the way to go.”  “When will He come?”  Destiny asked.  The Son replied, “When I leave, He will come.  You will not be able to see Him, but He will be with you.  This I promise.”

As the Son left, a little book suddenly appeared in Destiny’s hand.  Looking like no other book he had ever seen, it had a monitor, numbers, and the alphabet within its covers.  It fit perfectly in the palm of his hand.  He punched buttons and different things appeared on the monitor screen.  Excitement so overtook Destiny over the gift, that he sang, ran, and danced across the heavens.  Never before had he been so confident that he could complete the tasks that were given to him.  As he came to a stop, he noticed the name of the book…G-GPS, God’s Global Positioning System.  Instantly, he heard a voice, but saw no one.  The Voice, who was the true friend spoken of earlier, and who is also called the Comforter, called out, “Destiny?”  Trembling, Destiny replied, “Yes, what do you want?”  “I am here to comfort you and to show you how to use the G-GPS,” said the Voice.  Winds surrounded Destiny, blowing into him peace and comfort.  The Voice then responded, “This book is to show you how to move forward.  It will also show you where you have been, where you are, and where you are going.  Listen as I give you these very important instructions.  First, I will give you the latitude and then the longitude.  These are the coordinates that you will need to put into the book.  These coordinates will tell you where you are now.”  Destiny asked, “What do you mean by the latitude and longitude?”  The Voice responded, “The latitude is to the natural what vertical is to the spiritual.  Longitude is to the natural what horizontal is to the spiritual.  Vertical is your relationship to the Father and horizontal is your relationship to your brothers.  I will tell you about your vertical and horizontal positions as you go.  The key to your going is that you do not overlook or skip any set of coordinates.  If you do, I will not give you another coordinate.  You have to complete the requirements of the previous settings to go to the next settings.  These settings will guide you, even around danger in your goings.  So, therefore, you must listen to My voice and be obedient to every vertical and horizontal setting as you walk in a straight line with no variance.  When you reach where I want you to be, I will then give you another setting.  Your movement will be forward and upward.”  Destiny then asked, “What is the key to this understanding?”  Wisely, the Comforter replied, “When you reach each setting on the G-GPS, repent.  The act of repentance turns you to proceed in a new direction and allows you to receive new vertical and horizontal settings.  Repentance will turn you to the way I want you to go and establish your path to the next settings.  Forward and upward: the ways of the Spirit.”  Destiny then asked, “Where am I going?  Where will this G-GPS take me?”  The Comforter breathed the words, “To your Heavenly destination.”

Could repentance be more than being sorry for something?  Could repentance be the very coarse correction needed to send us to our next destination?  Just a thought for another day.

Blessings,

Alan