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Dates with Destiny

I care not for any theory that makes me an evolutionary end product, a random accident of nature, or some kind of mutated monkey.

My friends, we are the children of God, born of love with purpose in our being. The day of our birth, our life’s mission, and the day of our death are planned and prepared by our loving Father. And all of His designs are for our greatest happiness. Yet – you know, sometimes we fail to recognize that the obstacles of our present course can be a shadowed pathway to greatness. And if we’re not careful, we may in our kickings and flounderings ruin Heaven’s plans for us. The Almighty has given us that privilege.

This reminds me of a very talented young man many years ago who almost missed his eternal appointment. You see, he was elected to congress at the tender age of 32, becoming its second youngest member. He quickly distinguished himself in what were then very turbulent times. Well, congress adjourned, and he went home for much needed rest. But while at home, tragedy stuck. His 18-month-old daughter Jane suddenly died. Stricken with grief, he returned with a heavy heart to his duties in congress.

His wife, however, became very low until he begged leave to go home and care for her. He worried about her constantly. As he made preparations to return to congress, his mother died unexpectedly at he age of 57. Now the weight of it all reduced him, and he was incapacitated for weeks with terrible headaches.

And then, after he returned to congress, he learned that his home-state of Virginia was writing a new constitution. Considering that that was a work of greater import than anything going on in congress, he wanted to be there. There was perhaps no man more qualified with learning, truth, and pen to contribute to such an undertaking as Virginia’s new constitution. He tried to get himself called home to participate, but no invitation was forthcoming. So, reluctantly he remained behind in congress worried about his ailing wife, but attentive to his responsibilities. And well for us that he did.

You see, within just a few weeks this junior member of congress would be called on to speak for his country in her greatest national decision. He would write these words:

“These united colonies are and of a right ought to be free and independent states.”

It was the Declaration of Independence – and that reluctant congressman, Thomas Jefferson. No one in 1776, including Mr. Jefferson, had any idea how deeply his eloquence would change this world.

And so my friends:

“If ever I become too stubborn about where I want to be,

“I may miss that choice position once ordained for me.”