NOVEMBER 30 - The Real Tragedy 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. — EPHESIANS 1:11 It's one thing for God to deliberately let something awful happen for reasons we may not understand, but it would be another for God to wish he could have prevented it but have one hand tied behind his back. Either God rules, or Satan sets your life's agenda and God is limited to only reacting. In which case, the Almighty would become the devil's cleanup boy. Although God would manage to patch things up, your suffering would be meaningless. One Chris tian writer who believes that God has little to do with the specific circumstances that come your way expressed it like this: "In 1982 someone laced capsules of the pain reliever Tylenol with cyanide and then put them back on store shelves in Chicago. Seven people died after swallowing poisoned pills, the families of those seven people no doubt agonized trying to find some shred of meaning in why God or fate or luck had picked on their loved ones, of all the people in Chicago. We can concoct some answer and perhaps take some small comfort in it, but sadly, there was no meaning in those deaths. Each was a bizarre, horrible coincidence, nothing more. Therein lies the tragedy." No, the real tragedy is that any Chris tian would settle for such darkness with the light of the Bible shining so clearly. If God didn't control evil, the result would be evil uncontrolled. Our suffering has meaning because "his kingdom rules over all" (Psalm 103:19). We may not grasp it this side of eternity, but if his kingdom rules over all — and it does — that includes the tiniest details of your life. Praise God that evil has a governor — our great and wise God. Lord God, I am grateful that you purpose and permit. You give suffering meaning simply because you and you alone are in control! _ |
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