“Coincidence or no Coincidence” – R.
Nelson
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 another experience something that just seems to fit mysteriously and perfectly in
One area of the Bible that most Christian churches stay away from is Bible prophecy. This has always boggled my mind because prophecy is what actually got me interested in reading the Bible back about twenty years ago. I heard people talk about things that are happening today and what the Bible has to say about these things and how they are being fulfilled even today. Considering the Bible is about
As you all know, I like to give examples of what I am trying to say 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, 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 possible death? Most of us just through our human kindliness would help one another, but if you knew in advance the huge role that this person was going to play in your future, wouldn’t you do all the more to help this person out. Of course, you would. This is exactly how God looks at us. See, He can see the future and He knows every decision you and I will ever make. He also knows if one day we will turn our life over to 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 most likely was 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 whether you believe it or not.
I tell these stories 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, and by no reasonable understanding of your own, you came out of it just fine, you need to realize that it was God watching over you and it is time for you to get on your knees and say “Thank you Lord”. What we don’t hear about in our mainline denominations these days is the spiritual battle that is raging throughout our world. 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.
A couple of small things that I know God was responsible for, even though they are very minor in the scope of everything, is how often I’ve gone shopping and there were no parking places available, all of a sudden, as I’m 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. Another incident where I knew God was watching over me was this, I usually don’t go over the speed limit as a rule, but every now and then my mind starts to wonder and I’m really not paying attention to how fast I am going. 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. If the slow driver wasn’t in front of me, there would have been a good chance that I would have gone over the speed limit because I was in somewhat of a hurry and I would have most likely been picked up and ticketed. It is at that time, I would look 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
I’ve recently read the following statistic, “There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118 and 594 chapters after Psalm 118. Add 594 and 594 and you get 1188.” What verse is exactly in the center of the Bible? Psalm 118.8. We read in this verse “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Coincidence…I don’t think so! These kinds of statistics are scattered all over the scriptures. If you do a study of Gematria (the study of the numeric equivalents of Hebrew and Greek letters in order to find hidden meanings in the words) in the Bible, you will be overwhelmed at the precise nature of all the word sequences that have hidden messages. There have been volumes of books written about gematria. It is a very interesting study when you take time to read and understand how exact the Bible really is in every sense of the Word. Nothing is a Coincidence; all scriptures are given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit with 100% accuracy throughout the Bible. The Jews have a saying, “Coincidence is not a kosher word” and I have to agree!
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!
A Commentary from our Chaplin – R. Fritz
Coincidence or no Coincidence
I just went on the internet to try to understand the meaning of “coincidence.” After looking at a number of interpretations of the word “coincidence” I really believe it gets down to our interpretation and understanding of the situations that we get into. I have been in many situations where somebody would say they were coincidences. As R. Nelson mentioned above, I also believe there are no coincidences. That might be hard to understand even for God’s people. Our God is in control of our lives and if we listen to the Holy Spirit, we will be put in situations where we can give encouragement to people, pray for people, and sometimes somebody may have a word from God for you. God might even send someone into your life to be your friend to fulfill His purpose. They are not by “Chance” like most people might think. “They were ordained by God.” When you understand that principle, your life will be different because now you will see how God is working in your life. There are times when we put ourselves in a bad situation because we made a bad decision. That’s on us. In that situation, I would pray and repent, God could be using that situation for His purpose or for your good. This all gets back to what God is doing in our lives and we are most likely looking at these situations or things happening in our life as coincidences. We are just trying to put things together in our minds. God’s people should believe that there are no coincidences, God has a plan for each of us and God will get us to where he wants us to be. We have to understand that we are on “God’s time, not ours.” Isiah 55:8-9 says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” There were times in my life where somebody else got a speeding ticket just before I got there or kept me from speeding because I could not get around them. There also times when God warned me to take it easy right away in the morning.
What most people don’t understand is that God is actually using us to talk to other people. Romans 12:2 says “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of the mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” I learned that we are meant to be around people because many people are going through mental and physical problems and are looking for encouragement or answers to their problems. If you are in a place of comfort, use it to bless somebody else. I believe God has a plan and a purpose for everybody. I also learned that every person needs to do their part. It might just be to pray for somebody, but that small part may help somebody else that has a bigger part than you. When you do the small things that God gives you, He will then give you bigger roles for His purpose. That’s what happened to me. I am now being called to do a much bigger role, but I am also very aware that “all parts, whether big or small are just as important.” Most people do not understand, what they thought were coincidences were happenings “ordained by God”! I have also learned that if God wants me to talk to somebody, I ask Him to set up the time and place to meet this person, I give it back to God, then I don’t have to call anybody, and it will be done on “Gods time”. Learn to be the best person that God has created you to be and be content where God has planted you. When you bloom where you are, he will move you to higher ground.
In Conclusion – R. Nelson
As R. Fritz and I truly believe, there are no “coincidences” in life, especially if you are a born-again Christian. Before we were ever born, God had a purpose for all of us, but we all have to do our part to submit to that cause. I look back at my life in general and I see so many times where something would happen and I thought they were all just “coincidences”, but now I truly believe that God had His hand in every situation in my life, because He had a purpose for me from the start. I praise God daily for not ever giving up on me. The Bible says that God is long-suffering as we read in 1 Timothy 1:16; “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” We should be forever grateful that God is long-suffering, because the longer He delays His second coming, the more opportunities we have to bring people to the Lord. So, let’s all use this time wisely that God has given us to bring more people to the saving grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If we don’t do it…who will? “Written To the glory of God.” Amen!