William Ernest Henley suffered from tuberculosis since he was 12 years old. In 1875 at the age of 25, Henley wrote the poem Invictus (which is the Latin word for undefeated) from a hospital bed after having the lower half of his leg amputated. Invictus is a gut-wrenching oracle of his courage in facing pain, darkness and misery that culminates with these often-quote words: I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.
As inspiring as these words may be, they sadly represent one of the biggest lies ever told. No human being; no matter how rich and powerful, no matter how intelligent and thought provoking, no matter how brave and confident is ever the master of their fate or the captain of their soul. History doesn't record the spiritual condition of Henley when he finally died at age 53 but no amount of bravado could have prepared him for what he faced apart from knowing Jesus Christ.
As God's men, we have the confidence in knowing our eternal destiny is secure (Revelation 21:4). But we must guard ourselves against our human tendency to do things our own way and on our own terms. 1 John 2:24-25 provides us this rich and powerful promise: Let what you have heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you have heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise he made to us--eternal life.
Who can master their fate or captain their soul any better than that?
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