“He was chosen by lot…” (Luke 1:9 NIV)
As we begin again with the story of Christ, we find the priest Zachariah, participating in the ministry at the most prominent fold of human history. Zachariah’s lot was cast. It was suddenly, remarkably, his singular opportunity to serve in the holy of holies. It’s scribbled in the margin of my preaching bible; bread crumbs from another journey through the Christmastime passage. “Nothing in the Kingdom is happenstance.”
We, the reader, receive this truth with enthusiasm when things are right and good and circumstance smiles upon us as helpful. It’s comforting and faithbuilding when the scholarship comes in or the doctor nods ‘remission’, when the weather cooperates and the tires hold, when the miracle is blatant and beneficial.
It’s harder to reconcile when “nothing in the Kingdom is happenstance” includes the tragic car accident, the less than one percent likelihood of infection after brain surgery, the loved-one riddled with cancer or the stillborn baby. It’s in these ugly moments that we kick against the truth and fight our flesh to affirm the goodness of our sovereign God.
Having crawled through my own series of circumstances, I have uncovered a couple of truths that console me when happenstance feels out of control or outright hurtful. Today, I’d like to share them with you.
First off: God’s idea of good is far higher than ours. His goodness is without flaw. Perfect. Without shadow or turning. His goodness is wholly focused on our soul, not our skin and bones. So sometimes – if not most of the time – God makes decisions with eternity far eclipsing today. Since you and I can’t see off that far and can’t know the inclination of anyone’s heart but maybe – on a good day – our own; we are left to blindly trust in His timing, His methods and His orthodoxy. Quite frankly, in national security terms, God’s clearance is far higher than ours. We are left to simply lean into His unfailing character, which we learn from His Word and Spirit
Secondly: we recognize that God is playing a long game. Think chess times seven billion opponents. God is posturing to win as many players as possible. He literally has all the time on earth, so He may set people in positions today for a Kingdom win four hundred years from now. (ie: Joseph’s fall and rise in Egypt.) Because God is good and sovereign, because He can see backwards and forwards through time, He can and will set Himself up to win what matters most: souls. And, spoiler: when He wins, we win.
Now I realize that these two truths: God’s goodness and His long game feel pretty trite in the face of tragedy. As I mentioned, I’ve been there; with the dying loved one, at the scene of the terrible accident, receiving the news that it’s terminal. At first glance, these two truths feel like a child’s bandaid on gaping flesh wound. But for me, the longer I turned these two truths over in my mind, the more comfort I found in them. I began to let go of my immediate expectations and started to trust the fact that a far better existence is coming: one where a good God reigns without the ongoing interference of sin and self. The promise of this coming Kingdom is slowly overtaking my heart and mind, convincing me of the great love of God and His unique ability to redeem all things; even the worst pages and chapter of my story.
“As for God, His way is perfect: the Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him.” (Psalm 18:30 NIV)
“”For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.””
(Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)
Lord, we are so glad You can see and know so much farther than us. We are incredibly limited by our flesh, yet Your Spirit is limitless. Have Your way, O God. We trust Your “nothing in the Kingdom is happenstance”. Your ways are good and Your game is long. We trust that all that can come together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. We glad serve You, even when we don’t fully understand. Amen.