BIBLE MEDITATION: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17.
ENCOURAGING WORD: All of us at one time or other experience something that just seems to fit mysteriously and perfectly in to place. The first thing we say is, “Wow, what a coincidence”. But I have come to believe that there is no such thing as a coincidence, especially if you are a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. As many of you that have been following my post know that I quote the following verse often, Romans 8:28; “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” There have been so many times in my life when something happened that was just perfect timing. Before I was a born-again believer, I really believed that every good thing was just a coincidence. But now when I look back at a lot of events that took place in my life, I now know that God was watching over me even then before I committed my life to Him. Since God knows the beginning from the end and everything in between, He knew that I would one day serve Him. With the way I lived my life and the things that I got into; I should be dead. I was actually inches away from death a couple times in my life and then something happened for no rhyme nor reason and I thought, “Wow, am I a lucky guy”. It turns out there was no luck involved whatsoever. It was God watching over me my whole life. When I think about how I lived my life growing up and how sinful my lifestyle was, I think about how much God showed His love for me even then. He was watching over me and taking care of me even when I was out of fellowship with Him. What a wonderful God we serve.
As you all know, I like to give examples, so the message is easier to understand. Let’s say that you had the gift of knowing the future. You happen to encounter a person one day that looks like He is in a lot of trouble, and he could possibly face the threat of death. But let’s say that because you can see the future, and you knew that one day this same person would be responsible for helping you in very big way, wouldn’t you do anything in your power to save him from certain death. Most of us even through our human kindliness to help one another would just reach out and help him, but if you knew the role, he was going to play in your future you would all the more do everything you could to help this person out. This is exactly how God looks at us. See, He can see into the future, and he knows every decision you will ever make. So, He will most certainly watch over us day and night to keep us safe with Him. The point that I am trying to make is this, think back throughout your life and try to remember if there was a time that you were in a lot of trouble and for no reason at all, you came out smelling like a rose. It very well could have been God protecting you so you could serve Him in your later years. If you have anything that you are really thankful for, I can promise you, God was involved.
I tell these stories above because I want you to think about times when you thought you were just lucky. If you encountered anything in your life where you had a brush with death, you need to realize that it was God watching over you and it is time for you to get on your knees and thank Him. What we don’t hear about in our mainline denominations is the spiritual battle that is raging throughout our universe. Satan has one goal, which is to destroy mankind. The only protection that we have is to put on the whole armor of God as we read in Ephesians 6:11; “Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Read what the whole armor of God actually is in Ephesians 6:10-19.
Some of the things that I know God is responsible for, even though they are very minor in the scope of things, is how many times I go shopping and there seems to be no parking places available. All of a sudden, as I am driving around waiting for a space to open up, there is one right in the front row by the door. You may say, “That’s kind of silly” yes, it is, but nonetheless I believe it was God. A few other times that I know God was watching over me is this, I don’t usually speed as a rule, but every now and then my mind starts to wonder and I’m not paying attention. There were a few times when I was in a hurry to get somewhere, and of course there is always someone driving in front of you going slower than a turtle. There was no way I could pass so I had to be patient. All of a sudden, a couple miles up the road there is a police officer with his radar gun. It is at that time, I looked up and say, “thank you God, I get it”. He was protecting me from my own actions.
With all this being said, I don’t believe for second that there are any coincidences in your life if you are a child of God. We read in Proverbs 30:5; “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Hebrews 11:6 tells us this, “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.“ Here is a comforting verse to those that give their life over to Jesus Christ, John 10:28-30; “and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand. “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one." Psalm 121:8; gives us assurance that once we give our lives over to Jesus, we are protected, “The LORD will guard you’re going out and you're coming in from this time forth and forever.
ACTION POINT: I want to leave you with this thought, it you ever had a brush with death and somehow you escaped it, look up to God, and say “Thank you Lord” I can guarantee He was watching over you. He may have a purpose for you, so seek Him out and see what His purpose is. How happy is he who submits to the Lords will! I know, it happened to me! “Written To the glory of God, Inspired by the Holy Spirit!” Amen!
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