Thought for Today
Ecclesiastes 9:11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful; but time and chance happen to them all.
Isaiah 14:26 This is the plan that is planned concerning the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.
Luke 10:31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Acts 2:23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.
As I read one of my devotionals this morning, I was struck by the word ‘random.’ When I was a ‘commuter warrior,’ I would occasionally see a bumper sticker encouraging folks to perform “random acts of kindness.” The devotional writer this morning wrote, “While we might think we are accomplishing random acts of kindness, there’s nothing random about them. They were God’s idea all along.”
I wonder. Presbyterians often speak about predestination and double predestination. When I was in Saudi Arabia, I sometimes heard the word ‘Inshallah.’ “Inshallah . . . is an Arabic-language expression meaning ‘if God wills’ or ‘God willing’. It was mentioned in the Quran which required the use of it when speaking on future events. In an Islamic context, it expresses the belief that nothing happens unless God wills it, and that his will supersedes all human will.” (Wikipedia)
Surprisingly to me, the word ‘random’ does not appear in the Bible. Neither does the word ‘unplanned.’ Scripture does seem to me to offer both ideas. The Prophet of Ecclesiastes may well be the source of our common English idiom about time and tide, “The phrase “Time and tide wait for no man” is a timeless proverb that emphasizes the relentless passage of time and the unstoppable movement of tides. Its origin is ancient, predating modern English. The earliest known record of this saying dates back to St. Marher in the year 1225.” (www.phrases.org)
Greta and I discuss this issue often. Is life governed by random chance, or is there a greater plan? Is life preordained, predestined? Or, is life entirely random, governed by chance? Or, is it some combination of randomness and plan?
Fatalists believe that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable. Indeterminism or free will would be antonyms for fatalism. What do you believe? Are all of our actions and thoughts predetermined? Are we automatons, mere puppets dancing on a string manipulated by forces beyond our control? Or, conversely, is it all up to us? Do we have total and unlimited free will?
Christians have debated the issue since there were first Christians. Christians still debate the issue. Christians will probably debate the issue until the end of time. The consequences of believing exclusively one way or the other are significant. If everything is totally and absolutely predetermined and beyond my control, then all my bad decisions, all my bad actions all my bad thoughts are “not my fault!” If it is totally beyond my control, I incur no burden for my sins! Conversely, if it is all up to me, if I have total free will, I bear the complete burden for all my bad decisions, all my bad thoughts and actions.
If you have read these Thoughts for some time, heard me preach or teach, you will have noticed how often certain verses of scripture are repeated. I believe Paul was correct, “Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—” I also believe James was correct, “2:17 faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. . . 18 . . . Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.”
Our Christian faith transforms us from who we were to who we can be. Our transformed, faith-driven lives will do the work of the God who gives us that gift of salvation by God’s grace. Christians have the free will to demonstrate our faith through our lives, through our works. We just need to always remember that free will and to exercise it.
Stay safe, love God and each other, trust God,
Pastor Ray