It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
I am often surprised and disheartened at how similarly Christians think like pagans. We have discussed in past issues areas such as child rearing, amusements, education, and dependence/ambivalence to the state; we have noted that Christian and non-Christian are often alike in their thinking. An observation was made a few years ago that the world is starting to look churchy and the church is beginning to look worldly. This process of syncretism ends with the church being worldly and the world being worldly. The spirit of the age is supposed to rule in the hearts and minds of the non-elect, but not so with the redeemed.
The same seems to be true regarding the doctrine of the providence of God. It perhaps shows most when you consider that the mass consensus within and without the church is that God owes everyone a wonder plan for their lives. Left behind as so much inconvenient baggage is the fact that God has established a church to follow His plan and not the other way around. We however find ourselves busy with every conceivable activity and think church attendance is adequate involvement in building the kingdom of God.
How often I have heard from pagans, "Well if God is like that I don't want anything to do with him." The "that" refers to anything not in the immediate best interest of the recipient. The same is true for the Christian in a more subtle way. We tend to think God is here for us instead of we being here for Him. Joshua found this to be true the night before the battle of Jericho. Unknowingly addressing the commander of the Lord's host he asked if the stranger was on Israel's side or with the enemy. The response he received was, "Neither!" Most modern Christians would find their self-made temple shaken to its foundations. The realization that God is on His own side and this is where we are to line up, would not sit well with those who have had a steady diet of the modern "Jesus is there for you" sermons and music. You would think that after reading the life of Paul, where God says, "I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name's sake" and of job's apology to God after he questioned God's providence, "I know that You do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You," we would get the message. God's plan is a finished script. Our lives will play out our part regardless of our own plans.
Pagans toss about terms like "Luck" or 'Chance" synonymously with the idea of God, thinking they can beat the eternal odds or passively concluding that the cosmic deck of cards is stacked against them. This is more than a ridiculous unintelligible belief, it is also a repression of truth. In their hearts they know that they must answer to God. When they claim "fate" they are attempting ignorance as a plea. The Christian comes up with the same idea, searching for God's will.
The problem with that is that God has revealed His will to us in His Word. No mystery here, we are to obey the imperatives, commands, and principles of the Bible as it applies to our roles and responsibilities. What is not disclosed to us are specifics as to what college to attend, what vocation to enter, and the name of the person we are to marry. These things tend to occupy too much of our time; the walk of obedience, the spiritual disciplines, and the growth in grace are left out as we pursue that which is written into the part of the script we aren't given.
Providence assures us that God is in control of all things. Is it a lack of trust that causes us to not love and embrace and cherish this paternal side of sovereignty? No! It is our predilection to take things into our own hands, a carry over from the old life. We are still reaching for the fruit of the wrong tree. How different from our Savior. His fervent plea was that not His will but the Father's be done. This example of abandonment of our lives to the transcendent is the whole application of this doctrine for the Christian. This makes life deliberate and simple, not mystical and difficult.
How did we get to this idea that God is somehow more Santa Claus and less Jehovah? It is rooted in misunderstanding the righteousness of men, and of God. When we are "good," God rewards us. In fact, He is obligated to. When we are bad, He is one the dimensional the loving, embracing Father.
Finally, when we come to a realization of what providence is all about we will be a different people altogether. Purpose and meaning are found in something greater than ourselves. What greater enterprise could we possibly join than that of God's own purposes? There is enough here to exhaust a thousand lifetimes. And you and I are given only one each. If this were a job offer that you received in the mail you would not accept it. The risks are too great. The responsibilities are too many. The qualifications are too high. But remember, we have joined a partnership.