ON THE list, the only person who did not believe in fatalism was Jesus Christ. What was his view?

The first-century biographical accounts about Jesus (the Bible books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) point up his belief that individuals can influence their future, simply meaning what happens to them.

For instance, Jesus said that God will “give good things to those asking him” and that the person who “has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.” Similarly, when Jerusalem’s inhabitants ignored the warnings that would have saved their lives, Jesus did not blame their reaction on fate. Instead, he said: “You people did not want it.”​—Matthew 7:7-11; 23:37, 38; 24:13.

We can also discern Jesus’ outlook by what he noted concerning a deadly accident that took place in Jerusalem, saying: “Those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, thereby killing them, do you imagine that they were proved greater debtors than all other men inhabiting Jerusalem? No, indeed, I tell you.” (Luke 13:4, 5) Note that Jesus did not ascribe the death of those 18 men to fate, nor did he say they died because of their being more wicked than others. Rather, unlike the Pharisees of his day who tried to harmonize fatalism with belief in man’s free will, Jesus taught that man can influence his individual future.

Jesus’ apostles likewise taught that salvation is an option attainable to all. The apostle Paul wrote: “You have known the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation.” And the apostle Peter said: “As newborn infants, form a longing for the unadulterated milk belonging to the word, that through it you may grow to salvation.” (2 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 2:2; see also Acts 10:34, 35; 17:26, 27.)

An article in the Nederlands Theologisch Tijdschrift (Dutch Journal of Theology) notes that such a fatalistic view “presupposes an image of God that, for Christians at least, is untenable.” Why? Because it contradicts the image of God presented by inspired Bible writers. Note, for instance, these quotes from the inspired book of Psalms: “You are not a God taking delight in wickedness.” “Anyone loving violence His soul certainly hates.” “From oppression and from violence he [God’s designated Messianic King] will redeem their soul.” (Psalm 5:4; 11:5; 72:14) Clearly, fatalism’s implications and God’s qualities collide head-on.

What makes passivity so dangerous? It often leads to a stultifying attitude of defeat. This may hinder the fatalist from taking any initiative or even from reacting to God’s marvelous invitation: “Hey there, all you thirsty ones! Come to the water . . . Incline your ear and come to me. Listen, and your soul will keep alive.” (Isaiah 55:1-3) If belief in fate underlies a failure to “come” forward and to “listen,” it will result in missing out on the opportunity to “keep alive” forever in the coming Paradise restored on earth. What a costly price to pay!

So where do you stand? If you grew up in a community where fatalistic ideas form the basis of people’s thinking, you may have accepted the belief without question. Yet, the objections discussed in this article may have helped you to see that to a large extent your present and future life is shaped by your own actions.

As you have seen, reason, facts, and, above all, the Holy Scriptures show that you must not succumb to an attitude of fatal defeat. Instead, as Jesus urged: “Agonize . . . to enter through the strait door.” (Luke 13:24, The Emphatic Diaglott, interlinear reading) What did he mean? Explains one Bible commentator: “The word [agonize] is taken from the Grecian games. In their races . . . they strove, or agonized, or put forth all their powers to gain the victory.” Instead of your bowing to defeat in life, Jesus was urging that you strive for nothing less than victory!

Hence, shake off any fate-inspired passivity. Enter the race for life as God’s Word urges, and do not let fatalism slow you down. (See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.) Speed up the pace by swiftly responding to the inspired invitation: “Choose life in order that you may keep alive, you and your offspring.” How can you make that choice? “By loving Jehovah your God, by listening to his voice and by sticking to him.” Doing so will lead to victory, for Jehovah will prove to be “your life and the length of your days.”​—Deuteronomy 30:19, 20.