Hello everyone,
Assuming that God exists, I was wondering whether everything happens with a reason (divine plan) or whether it's just plan coincidence (according to Christians). And how do we tell?
- EgbertTheFourth
Hi, everything that happens, in my opinion,
may be used by God for whatever purpose.
For example this verse which is to believers:
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[
a] who[
b] have been called according to his purpose.
This verse does NOT say God causes all things. We know He does not cause all things, for if he did, then he would be the one causing evil, and that is what we (mankind) do as sinners, as well does satan and demons.
But as pertains to the verse, the things which occur to believers, God works them to the good for us.
We do not always see how, we sometimes see such in retrospect, sometimes immediately, or do not see it, and may not ever see it, and if God discusses it with us when we are in heaven then we will, but nonetheless we know the truth is that God does as the verse states.
Now, when I'm speeding down the road, as is my free will to do so, and due to my failure to obey authorities, as am commanded to do, but due to such I hit someone or someone hits me, an accident I cause by my speeding. Someone may die from that, someone may be parapalegic, or other, as well as may occur to me.
Did my speeding occur because God caused it? no.
I caused it, I am driving and hitting the pedal.
If I or another die, was there a reason for it? Yes, I decided to speed and so the reason is I decided to speed.
Did God plan for me or another to die that day? No.
Could God have saved me or the other from dying, or from that accident? yes.
I died because I was speeding or another died cause I was speeding, neither which God caused.
And then we go back to the verse above, God working things to the good for believers.
Now one doesn't even need to break the law to get in an accident. Accidents occur, tradgedies occur. God does not cause them.
But for believers, will work to our good whatever occurs.
So, I'd rather not use the word coincidence as we can not know what is going on in the spiritual realm.
Now though, God is very active in this world. Also active are angels and demons who are in battle over us, over the world, and I would imagine other things as well.
satan is also active, and again, men (sinners) also active.
We can not know what is going on in the spiritual realm, unless is revealed to us, and I for one am not aware of God revealing such to men, but in no wise would rule out that he may reveal something which is occuring.
We do not know what God is doing except as is revealed to us in the bible. Or if is revealed to someone by God, which I mentioned about.
We do not know if on 911 if he stopped an atomic bomb from going off.
I in no wise believe God causes any natural disasters, nor illness, nor suffering.
Many do believe so however.
Also, would like to note that in the book of Job, satan twice uses weather to kill and destroy, so we know satan can use weather disasters, and I imagine does so.
In the OT, God did use, illness, and weather, in some instances as pertains to the Jewish nation he chose and perhaps in other instances as well, but off the top of my head I do know occurred with the Israelites.
We see none of such in the nt.
While Jesus is the exact representation of the Father, which means if you've seen Jesus (which we've seen in the bible, who Jesus is) then we've seen the Father. Or in better terms if we know what Jesus is like, then we know what the Father is like for Jesus is the exact representation of the Father.
So we know who the Father is, what He's like as we know what Jesus is like.
And in the NT, it's written, Jesus did not come to judge.
In the ot, we see much judgements occuring, most having to with the Jewish nation, which God chose to reveal himself through in part as I wrote above.
We see other judgements in the OT as well. The flood, the curse after the fall (or after mans rebellion in genesis.) etc.
Now, in the nt is the will of God for us, clearly layed out.
Main thing of what Gods will is for all to come to Jesus.
But as to Christians is much written for us, as pertains to Gods will for us. We are given commands of things to do or not to do. We are given much other truths in the bible as well.
As to commands given, we choose whether to obey or not. No one obeys perfectly, we still sin, but we seek not to sin (and all this depends on our walk with God, as to how we are doing as God commands or not.)
Long story short, God does not cause all things. We do not know but that He works all things to our good and whatever else we know from the bible.
We also know about his character or some of it, from the bible. We also know that judgement will occur in the end times, but in the nt, we do not see any occuring until the end times.
There are some (few) occurances of judgement in the NT which no longer occur today, so they were for that time, in those days.
God uses what occurs or also will use those who do evil or those who do good, or do nothing, will use some or all of these things to further the kingdom, or either further His Glory, His purposes, or to help believers and whatever else God may use occurances for.
He also helps non christians I'm sure, as no doubt in my mind with all the danger I was in I was kept safe, however, while at those times I was not a Christian, a Christian was raped, murdered, etc.
We can not know why one dies where another lives.
So again, as you see, we do not know what occurs in the spiritual realm except what we know from the bible, and if God reveals something to a person.
We can not know what God does unless it's revealed to us or as pertains to truths we are given, such as the one verse I quoted.
There are more verses but is one came to mind right away.
When Johnny drops his toothbrush, I doubt that God is going to use that event for somethng, though he can.
So, is a good question you ask and is not one I believe can be answered very readily.
When people come to Christ, you'll often hear that in the events leading up to them coming to Christ, how step by step as they look back they see how every thing which occurred all led them to coming to Jesus.
Doesn't have to be step by step, but can be.
There are things which occur that we can 'treasure in our heart' as we see God behind many things.
Bible says:
2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
Aside from God working in this world, we see angels also do.
Also satan is called the god of this world..note the little g.
satan and demons wreak much havoc for believers and non believers here on earth.
again, we have some scripture on the spiritual realm, interesting things, but we do not know what is going on unless again God reveals it to us.
bible says that for Christians our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but demons (paraphrased highly)
in the book of daniel, daniel is praying. Immediately God sends an angel to speak to Daniel, but the angel is detained as is fighting a demon, and so another angel, a powerful angel comes, Michael to take over that battle, so that the other angel can deliver the message to Daniel (in answer to daniels prayer.)
such shows us..a little insight into the spiritual realm.
moreso in ot, we see things of the spiritual realm revealed then we see in the nt, but there is also in the nt things revealed.
perhaps I got a little off topic, but as your question is about cause, I felt a need to explain some of the variables that occur according to Gods word.
take care,
tapero
