William Ernest Henley, an English poet who lived in the 1800s crafted a small poem with the famous quip, “I am the master of my fate captain of my soul.” This phrase is the last stanza of his famous poem known as Invictus:

Out of the night that covers me 
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul. (First stanza)

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul. (Fourth stanza)

Henley wrote these now famous words while he received news his left leg might have had to be amputated due to complications from tuberculosis. Henley decided not to heed the medical advice given to him and sought the help of a renown english surgeon by the name of Joseph Lister who was able to save his leg from being amputated! While in recovery Henley wrote his poem as a testament to remaining resolute in the midst of adversity and trials. Today, the famous line from his poem has been interlaced with postmodern thought as a new “mantra” for those who espouse the anthropocentric view that we are in control over our lives no matter what.

It is easy to see how the narrative of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and self-adulation appeals to postmodern culture. Though Henley thanks “whatever gods may be” in his despair, his coined phrase is now used to appeal to one particular God: the self! Ironically, however, the first line of the 4th stanza of his poem “It matters not how strait the gate” appears to have been borrowed from Matthew 7:14, from Jesus’ sermon on the Mount. In the context of the Gospel of Matthew, Christ is referring to ultimate eternal fate. Those who walk through the straight, or narrow, gate will ultimately find eternal life, while those who choose the broad, or wide, gate will be led to final destruction.

A short reflection on the juxtaposition of Jesus’ words and Henley’s then leads to one question…”Am I really the master of my own fate, and the captain of my soul?” At a certain level, yes. We can safely assert that the decisions we make lead to certain predictable outcomes. We can also safely assert that no one else makes decisions on our behalf. That folks is called the doctrine of Free Will, which asserts that not even God would force us to make decisions that are outside the realm of our personal choice. There is just one problem with the assertion that I get to determine my destiny…death!

Though we can certainly strive, and should strive, toward being better at what we do, loving others well, seeking to improve in life, we must also realize that life is not ours to keep or to give. God is the giver of fate – “I charge you in the presence of of God who gives life to all things… ” (1 Timothy 6:13). God is the captain of all souls – “The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up” (1 Samuel 2:6). This theocentric idea is the key to living life to the fullest. Why? Because being in the center of God’s will, under his authority and rule, and his loving care is what we were created for.

I know this goes against what the world preaches to us on a regular basis. It goes against the idea that I get to be completely self-sufficient no matter what others think or do. But ask yourself…has any human being been able to conquer death? NO, except one … Jesus! (1 Corinthians 15:54-56) If you surrender to his rule, humble yourself before him, and believe in his name, the ultimate fate of your soul is forever secure! Will you let him be the master of your fate and captain of your soul?

Written by Daniel Messina