The validity of God's sovereignty is not something that we talk a whole lot about in evangelical circles. We assume it, emphasize it, and don't totally understand it. We tack on Jeremiah 29:11 without a second glance at the context (hint: unless you're an ancient Israelite, you can't directly apply that passage) and go about our business.
Fear not, however. With even a cursory exegesis and some basic hermeneutics, we can coincide our beliefs with that of orthodoxy and conclude that God is sovereign. He has a plan for His creation.
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| See? Even jerks are part of the plan. They help us feel better about ourselves... |
But what about a plan--and by that, I mean a specific, pre-ordained, personal plan for our lives?
Seem cut and dry? It isn't as easy as that.
And even if you hold that such a plan does indeed exist (spoiler: I do), that doesn't make things automatically explanatory to the questioning and oft uncertain soul. People will ask questions. I suggest that if we ourselves are not asking similar questions, but instead remain behind a faux impenetrable wall of what is and is not up for discussion, we do ourselves a disservice.
What a world of hell we would be in, should our terrestrial existence here be undetermined and left to an unsettled deity, whose godhood consisted of twiddling his thumbs and making half-certain guesses as to what each day would hold.
Lately, that's been on my mind. What could be worse than the fact that my life is not controlled, not planned, and that the circumstances I have found myself in over the last year are all the result of a willy-nilly fate? That my faith is in a God that either doesn't give two cents about what's going on, or who says from heaven "Your guess is as good as Mine, Josh."
Sarcasm, yes. Truth? I think so.
And, truth be told, I would not still be around to write this if I wasn't confident that God isn't incompetent and that He is indeed a sovereign God with a plan.
I'd have taken myself out of the picture a long time ago.
So what, then? God is sovereign. He's in control. He's got this. He's armed with a plan. Awesome.
Big. Freaking. Whoop.
What does that mean, bro?
It means we can be confident. Confidence, at least for me, is always fluctuating. It depends on how familiar I am with my circumstances and surroundings--and I mean that both figuratively and very, very literally (i.e. AC Town).
If I'm not familiar with driving in downtown Columbus, then I'm not going to feel confident. But, as I drive more and more here in the suburbs of Westerville and Gahanna, my confidence increases. I know where things are (like the McDonald's I'm once again frequenting--although I'm having trouble finding a Starbucks).
Familiarity. I meant that literally too. I've been so far out of what I'm familiar with for so long that I've just had to accept a "new normal" and a "new familiarity." Eventually, you've just got to learn to accept the plan.
Unfortunately, we aren't let in on the plan all the time--at least not right away. Unfortunately the plan sometimes means moving to a new city you didn't expect to a month ago. Or struggling in a class you thought would be a piece of cake four months ago. Or not getting engaged over the summer like you intended to be a year ago.
As Dr. Rob Turner likes to say, "God didn't bother to ask me for advice." And we're so glad for that.
The tendency is to wonder. I'll shoot straight--all night I've been running through a lot of "what if's" in my head. Again, my favorite theologian sums up all those "what if" questions in one sharp, yet true statement. CS Lewis responds to such questions by saying the following:
"To know what would have happened? No. Nobody is ever told that."
Well shoot.
Honestly though, I think that's okay. You ever read a "choose-your-own-adventure" book? Those are great because, no matter what happens in the storyline you go with, you can always go back and see what would have happened had things been different.
We aren't afforded such a luxury. We don't get to see.
Oh, that's right. That's where faith comes in.
We serve a sovereign God. He's got a plan. Hold onto that.
Now excuse me as I go back and re-read all this.
God knows I need the reminder more than anyone.
Actually, Jeremiah 29:11 is just as applicable to us, as it is to the ancient Israelites.
ReplyDelete"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." That's the correct translation of the verse.
Not to mention that the ancient Israelites were known as the children of God, and when Jesus died on the cross, opening up all of His promises to all creation, those who choose to follow Him become known as children of God.
The Historical context for them is applicable to us as well. Spiritually speaking, we often find ourselves in places that are oppressive, a Babylon of the heart, if you will. I agree overall with your premise though.
In exegesis, one must determine whether a verse has direct application, or if there are indirect applications. Jeremiah 29:11 directly applies to ancient Israel, not to us today--it was specifically towards them, their exile, and eventual restoration.
ReplyDeleteHowever, you are spot-on in your indirect application. There are certainly lessons and principles to be drawn from the writings of the prophet. We just have to be careful that we don't pick and choose or start making direct applications not intended for us (unless we plan on being exiled anytime soon) :^)
Exegis, that's another fancy term that isn't worth much to me. :P
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, I would say that it applies directly as well, because God knows the thoughts He thinks towards all, otherwise he couldn't have a plan for us. As for an expected end, anyone who accepts Christ goes to heaven. Expected enough..? :P
Exegesis is just a hundred-dollar term for an in-depth explanation and interpretation of a text. And, of course, the main thrust of this is that God does indeed know what He is doing. He knew that for Israel and He knows that for us.
ReplyDelete"Safe? Of course He isn't safe. But He's good."
-CS Lewis