This could so easily develop into a discussion on freewill and predestination. To a degree I believe it is actually both. A bit like Danny Brierley and his book Joined Up, I don't think it's an either or but a both and situation.
To explain further; We were created in His image and given freewill. Genesis tells us this. That freewill led us into various situations which God already knew about. After all he created us. He knew that we would get it wrong, but He created us with freewill so that we would choose to love Him, not out of some strange dictatorship but out of a pure desire and delight to be in relationship with Him.
Does He allow bad things to happen? YES is the short answer. It's not that He doesn't care, rather that He loves us. I am sure that as each 'bad' thing happens He stands and looks at us and weeps for us. Weeps for the people who do not yet understand His love. It is being bound by His own rule of love that He cannot intervene.
Many feel that there is a cause and effect on humanity, especially when we are talking about environmental issues. However, lets not forget that as Christians we are chosen by Him (John 15: 16) and therefore not all 'bad' things are of our doing. Jesus talks about there being wars and rumours of wars and famines, and as we journey in our faith we will surely realise that as these things become progressively closer then so to do the 'bad' things that we see and hear about almost daily. These are things that God has already prophesied about. Then surely as Christians should we (not) 'delight' in such happenings, but be mindful that it has already been foretold!
Just as in the same way as we have been chosen and some will not be chosen. 'Well if we are already chosen then why bother ?' This does not mean that we do not evangelise or
continue in our missionary roles. Yes some will be saved and others not, but our responsibility is to act responsibly. Could you live knowing what you do about God and not endeavour to tell others about a man who loves you regardless? Could you live with yourself if you didn't?
Almost three years ago now I had one of those moments in my life where I praised God for looking after me. I was traveling to work along my second choice of routes; the first being quicker but having rolled my car into the ditch 6 months previously having spun out on black ice I decided this April morning that the longer route was better.
The A7 from Galashiels to Edinburgh is the main road north from the borders, however it is not dual carriageway and still very windy (something to do with the hills I think). I was traveling north bound a good three/four car lengths behind a transit van, when a fiesta came south bound around a bend on the wrong side of the road. It collided with the van, driver wing to driver wing, into a spin the fiesta came into my line of travel and all I could do was brace my arms and brake hard. The police say that it was an 80mph impact with the combined speeds of the two cars. I hit the passenger side of the fiesta with the front/drivers side of my car. I spun a full 90 degrees to face east.
The first thing I wondered was why were my glasses in the passenger footwell; basically I had turned my head left and the airbag blew them that way! Next I saw smoke coming through the air vents; 'o yes I have had an accident, turn off the ignition'. If I have had an accident I wonder if the door opens; yes it does. Wait what is that noise; o the alarm maybe, no I always drive with side lights on and the ignition is now off so turn off the lights. Can I move? Yes lets get out of here then.
I had more presence of mind then probably than at any other time in my life. I climbed back into the back of my car to retrieve the travel rug for the girl in the fiesta who was much worse.
Basically I walked out of a major road traffic accident, granted I had 5 weeks off work, but in essence I walked out. I had everything to be grateful for. God had most definitely spared me. Or had He?
I spent those five weeks of work trying to make sense of it. I was grateful for Him saving me but why had he let it happen in the first place? This was just a great inconvenience, May was the busiest month in the garden centre business, surely He would know that! In truth, God knew exactly what He was doing, afterall 6 months previously I wrote off the car and went to work the same day as if it was the norm. I hadn't questioned it, it was just bad luck, wrong place wrong time. How was I to know about black ice! What I hadn't realised was that WORK was all I was doing. He didn't allow my accidents to happen, He made them happen!
I know now that God used my love of work and love of driving to invade my heart again. So that I would bring Him back to being the main focus of my life. No I am not a bad driver, God is!! It's God's fault that I am here today in youth work. My 5 week's bizarrely enough was spent reading and praying and testing things out. What was on my heart really? Was I prepared to step out of my comfort zone? He knew where He wanted me to be, I just wasn't paying attention to the great big road signs that He had left in my life so drastic action was required!!
Does God allow 'bad' things to happen? Sometimes He is the catalyst.........
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