Friday, February 3, 2012

By Chance?

Abraham Lincoln said "I will study and get ready, 
and perhaps my chance will come"...

In preparation for my Superbowl party Sunday I got to thinking about competition, and how unreliable football games can be. Sometimes it is totally chance who wins the game. I found this scripture that talks about chance- and I am interested in this concept.

11 I have seen something else under the sun:
   The race is not to the swift
   or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
   or wealth to the brilliant
   or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.

 12 Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:
   As fish are caught in a cruel net,
   or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times
   that fall unexpectedly upon them. (ecc 9:11-12)



 God is all knowing and therefore- can there ever truly be chance? Is it possible that things happen by chance or is everything in our futures already laid out? I know some religions believe in predestination-  the doctrine that God has predestined some persons to eternal happiness and others to eternal punishment (Websters definition). 

But according to the Bible- God knows our future (Jer 29:11- 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"). 

The question is- how detailed into our future is God? Does he give us parking spaces when we're driving around at the mall looking for them? Does he allow chance? 

What do you think of these scriptures?
  1. Romans 8:29
    For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
  2. Romans 8:30
    And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
  3. Ephesians 1:5
    he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
  4. Ephesians 1:11
    In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will


5 comments:

  1. I LOVE this brave post, Melis! Very well articulated. I often wonder the same kinds of things. . . and find myself going in circles . . .even if I thought I could theologically comprehend "God's timing/plan" vs "Chance", would I ever really be able to pinpoint and decipher the difference at a particular junction in my life?
    I gotta be honest, I mostly just want to bash people over the head when they say things like: "Oh - that was sooooo God. Perfect parking spot!" C'mon, really? :)
    I guess we can only really know a few things concretely - all those scriptures you pointed out. (even those can be confusing to me!) I have to believe God DOES care about the details of our lives since He says he knows how many hairs are on my head. That's pretty detailed.
    But I think He wants me to keep a humble perspective when it comes to things also. I certainly don't deserve for God to take the time to find me a great parking spot, what with all the other huge issues going on in the world. And yet. . .I don't deserve any of the blessings I have, do I? So I'll just stick with gratitude and surrender to the fact that if I really understood how God works, my brain would explode. It would be messy. It might even cause me to miss out on that great parking spot . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What an eloquent thoughtful response sum! Thank you so much- I LOVE when people comment:) this is definitely one of those areas that just float in and out of my mind all the time!

      Delete
  2. I love your post today! I saved it for the boys nap-time so I could really think about it and through the scriptures. One thing that I was encouraged by was that God predestined anything at all. What love for us! He setthings in motion so that perhaps when our time came we would take our "chance.". I hope that I remember this daily to help me stay grateful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Leah! I love thinking about the daily chances we get...

      Delete
  3. Think about that verse always be prepared for the hope within u. For that to happen I must remain, abide moment to moment n Jesus after 40 years I know it's the way of peace & power.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment!