Dear Friend,
Last night our Home Bible Study group wrestled
with a challenging theological question: the providence of God.
As we sat around the room, each of us shared
personal stories of how certain events in our life- some significant and
others seemingly insignificant- had been used by God to fulfill His plan and
purpose for our lives.
“Remember when,” became a familiar refrain as
each of us agreed that there were no unplanned coincidences in God’s plan for
our lives, and that everything that had happened was used by God to develop our
salvation story.
As I reflected on our meeting, I thought of
one of my favorite stories that so perfectly illustrated the remarkable
providence of God
A British family went to Scotland one summer
for a vacation. The mother and father were looking forward to enjoying the
beautiful Scottish countryside with their son.
But one day, the son wandered off by himself
and got into trouble. As he walked through the woods, he came across an
abandoned swimming hole, and as most boys his age do, he took off his clothes
and jumped in!
He was totally unprepared for what happened
next. Before he had time to enjoy the pool of water, he was seized by a vicious
attack of cramps. He began calling for help while fighting a losing battle with
the cramps to stay afloat.
Fortunately, a farm boy was working in a
nearby field. When he heard the frantic cries for help, he rescued the English
boy and brought him to safety
The father of the boy who had been rescued
was, of course, very grateful.
The next day, he went to meet the youth who
had saved his son's life, and the two talked. The Englishman asked the brave
lad what he planned to do with his future.
The boy answered, "I'll be a farmer like
my father."
The grateful father said, "Is there
something else you would rather do?"
"Oh, yes," answered the Scottish
lad. "I've always wanted to be a doctor, but we are poor and could never
afford to pay for the education."
"Never mind that," said the
Englishman. "You shall have your heart's desire and study medicine. Make
your plans, and I'll take care of the costs."
So, the Scottish lad did indeed become
a doctor.
The intriguing part of the story is that
years later, in December of 1943, Winston Churchill (the English boy),
became deathly ill with pneumonia. While in North Africa, his life was saved
for a second time by the same Scottish boy, Sir Alexander Fleming, who had
become that doctor.
This time he was saved with a new drug
Fleming had invented, the first antibiotic, penicillin.
Two years later, under the unshakable
leadership of Churchill, Britain and her allies would defeat Hitler and the
Nazis, ending the most diabolical regime in history. Holy Moments,
Matthew Kelly, p. 165-67)
One never knows how the providence of God is
shaping events of history to conform to his will.
It is so true that "The King's
heart is like channels of water in the hands of the Lord; He turns it wherever
He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1)."
Genesis tells about Joseph, who was sold by
his brothers to be a slave in Egypt, but who eventually became the prime
minister of the land.
Paul and Barnabas had such a bitter quarrel
about taking John Mark on a missionary journey that they wound up going their
separate ways, resulting in two successful preaching expeditions instead of
one.
In the book of Esther, we learn how God
providentially kept the king awake, while summoning one of his servants
to search the records for information concerning Mordecai, and had the prideful
Haman arrive at just the right time to fulfill his purpose-to save the Jews
from distinction.
Yes, “All things do work together for good
for those who love God and who are called according to his purpose. (Romans
8:28)
Charles Swindoll suggests, "It is time
to remove three words from our vocabulary as we add the word providence to our
communication. They are chance, fate, and luck. Those humanistic terms suggest
there are blind, impersonal, and spontaneous forces at work in the ranks of
humanity. NOT! Only One is at work in you, for it is God who is at work in you,
both to will and to work for his good pleasure" Philippians (2:13).
Swindoll continues, "Take heart my
friend. God is in full control. Nothing is happening on Earth that brings a
surprise to Heaven. Nothing is outside the scope of his divine radar screen as
he guides us safely home. Things that seem altogether confusing, without
reason, unfair, even wrong, do indeed fit into the father's providential plan."
The Finishing Touch, Charles Swindoll, p. 140
Aren't you glad He's in control?
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
P.S. "The God who knows you best, knows the best for you." Woodrow Kroll
No comments:
Post a Comment