Recently,
I was blessed to read an article by Dr. J. C. Sproul about the
subject of intent, dealing with the question of whether or not there
is “intentional” interference in our lives on this earth. Or, in
other words, is there a reason things happen or is there not? In my
words – Some call it fate, some call it Karma, some call it luck;
and some call it “destiny,” what ever that means. But many call
it God's intentional interference; or, at least A god's
intentional interference.
”In
it's complexity...” he says, “We distinguish between proximate
and remote purposes.” :) Sorry, I love that sentence. But...
“What?” “The proximate being what is close at hand and the
remote referring to the distant and ultimate purpose.” My thoughts
are, “Does what happens today take us to the tomorrow that we are
“supposed” to have and on to the end that which we are “destined”
to achieve.
In
our common knowledge of God's Word, we basically agree that bad
things do happen to good people and good things happen to bad people.
And we commonly believe that “... in all things God works for the
good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose.” (Rom 8:28) But, when bad things happen, we tend to go
into overdrive asking “Why?” Why me, why them, why now?
When
the shooting happened at the Colorado theater, I wrote a little bit
about survivor mentality and the question that caught my attention
was not “why me, or why them, or why now ” for the survivors, as
much as “Why didn't it happen to me?” “Why did I survive while
others did not?” Why were my children saved, but my neighbors
children died?” This was especially true in the testimonies of 9/11
survivors who spoke up during the 10 year remembrance of that horror.
This
type of thinking is not rare at all. It comes with realization of
having survived what could have been a death sentence: 9/11 and the
Boston Bombing and several school shootings come to mind, but any
loss of life can seem to be completely unfair, whether by senseless
gunfire or by “natural disaster;” one's own survival comes into
question - even in war.
I
have never been in any type of group danger, so I cannot rightly
speak to matters of that confusion except to say there IS a purpose,
and it is purposed by God, with intent to bring about His will in our
daily lives and in how His plan for justice will work out in the end.
That
does not mean He planned these events, it means He will use
these events to show His power and control by saving those who must
still go on with the work or toward the work they are “intended”
to accomplish overall. A recent look at the division that developed
between Paul and Banabas, his preaching partner (Acts 15:36ff,) shows
us that God has a plan and that plan is sometimes worked out in the
“wrong” way, but His intentions win out in the end: Sproul
points to the actions of Joseph's brothers and the conclusion that
Joseph came to and shared with them that they intended (whay they
did) for harm, but God intended it good. God took a horrific action
and used it to complete the good that He had intended all along.
(Genesis 50:19)
My
own experience is one of “Why didn't it happen?” And the
two times that this question came to mind were quite startling for
me: Both include the possibility of driving off a cliff or cliff like
structure. Let me explain:
Steve
and I used to spend hours and hours and days and days driving around
in the mountains following old logging roads or fire access roads
deep into the forests of the Cascades west of Yakima, up toward Mt.
Rainier National Park and Chinook Pass. One day we were coming back
down the cliff-side road from a very high viewpoint and my attention
was grabbed by a question Steve asked about the map. Without thinking
I looked over at the map but kept rolling slowly along. Suddenly my
steering wheel jerked hard to the right, and I realized that we had
come within a hairbreadth of driving right off the cliff. But we did
not. I realized immediately that God had interfered with that ending.
Two
questions came of this episode: Why did God interfere since I was not
living for Him at the time? And why didn't I jump out, shout
Hallelujah, and kiss the ground that I was still on? Well the latter
is understandable in that I was still too angry to handle any kind of
message from Him. So I breathed a thank you and did not even mention
to Steve what had happened. I just tucked it away.
The
second incident happened a few years later when I was driving us to
the Tri-cities and we were returning to the highway down a steep on
ramp. I was distracted by the radio and once again the steering wheel
jerked just in time to stop me from going straight over the side.
Again – Why did He save us from that? And, again, I didn't have any
idea what to say, so I said nothing. Steve did not notice this time
either.
Apparently,
God had plans for me. He had to be very disappointed that I did not
get the message or share the message. But He has forgiven me all and
has pulled me into His safe harbor for healing and learning and
growing. For that I am finally eternally grateful. It takes a 2x4 to
the head to get a mule's attention sometimes, but God did what He
needed to do and, hopefully, He has my attention now.
My
personal answer to this question of why is “because God said so.”
Even if we “misstep” in our journey, God never forgets where He
wants us to be and He never lets go of His intent.
One
testimony that was given on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 came from 2
families who were involved in one tiny turn of events that got one
killed in the event; while the other was unscathed. This involved the
pilot situation on one of the aircraft involved.. Which one escapes
me right now, but the situation has made a permanent mark in my own
mind about the total and complete Sovereignty of God:
One
of the pilots was scheduled to fly that day, but a senior
pilot decided that he wanted that flight and he was able, within the
system, to secure his place in the cockpit for that flight. He died,
the other lived. But both families are content in knowing that this
was part of God's overall plan and intent: that one would go Home to
Him and the other would remain to serve awhile longer in his mission
here on earth. As Christians, they are of one mind on that detail.
They believe completely in the intent of God.
And
the truth is that most people who escape death when others around
them die, are driven to wonder, “Why?” Many, even unbelievers,
will utter some phrase or other that indicates that they feel a
sudden burden to be someone honorable and do something honorable
because they lived. Many of the “first responders” and all
responders to this tragedy who were actually in the middle of it,
spoke the same things, even to the length that one said, What was I
not doing that I should have been doing when my friends and
loved ones died, but I lived?” Does that break your heart or what?
Many
may say that apparently there is still something they should be
doing, but they are at a loss to know what, but many just survive in
a state of confusion and PTSD even to this day. And, surprisingly,
even those who would answer, “Why not?” are as in “Why not me?
Why shouldn't I be the survivor? - I am …. a good person, aren't I?
- are showing an interest in an underlying belief that there is
intent in the happenings on this earth.
We
who know Christ always have hope in Gods promise of justice in this
world and we can always hope in Christ's return to take us out of
here or to bring us home through death. He will have His way and He
will work out His justice in His way and in His time for all to see.
So,
even as we cringe at the news ,and horrors of evil going on around us
and decisions being made we can lift these things up to Him, ask Him
to handle them, possibly even clamp down on them; but we do not need
to fret ourselves into sickness over these things. We just need to
keep on keeping on, while living and speaking as Jesus did in the
crazy time that He was living on this earth.
May
we “Speak Life” as we journey here, and may we be daily
aware that God has our back in all things happening around us whether
from “evil people doing evil things” or from natural disaster...
May
we pay attention and jump in where we can, while finding our Peace in
You, Lord. Amen.
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