No Coincidences

See a pattern here? Nothing in life and nothing in God’s Word – in God’s Will – is left to random chance, luck, or mere coincidence. Everything is predictable according to God’s Word. Everything that God does is intended – not unintended. His plans leave nothing to happenstance. Just as it is a law of physics that "for every action there is an opposite reaction," it is a spiritual law that there are no coincidences with God. (Remember, God created all, even the laws of science).

The Word of God does mention – four times – the word "chance;" that is, something that on first blush takes place "by chance": an apparently random event , unpredicted by man, things which almost everyone believes happens to them, and to everyone else.

However, God’s Word also makes it clear that in reality all things happen according to God’s plan. The first usage of "chance" is in Ecclesiastes:

Eccl 9:11 -- I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Why is it that sometimes it appears, and sometimes it really is, that the race doesn't go to the swift, nor the battle to the strong? Why do we sometimes see wise men and women go without bread, without visible daily substance. Why are men of understanding and discernment not all rich? Why do men and women of skill not find the favor they truly deserve from others?

Simply put, because that is not this world's way. Because in this world we struggle against dark princes, against the power of the dark, against Satan and his minions. Because of this it seems to most men and women that chance, or luck, really is the determining factor. But it is ... really?

No. Why? Because there is no such thing as luck, or random chance in the affairs of mankind! How do we know that? Because Ecclesiastes teaches us that God has a plan for mankind:

Eccl 2:24 -- There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

Eccl 3:1-8 -- To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

So, God has a plan for everything, and that plan says that all things -- all things -- work for the good of those who love God. Romans 8:28-39:

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. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

"For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Luck simply doesn’t have any part in God's plans for man. To understand more, let’s look at another usage of the word "chance" in God’s Word:

2 Sam 1:1-16 -- Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

And David said unto him, "From whence comest thou?" And he said unto him, "Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped."

And David said unto him, "How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me." And he answered, "That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also."

And David said unto the young man that told him, "How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?"

And the young man that told him said, "As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him."

"And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, 'Here am I.'"

"And he said unto me, 'Who art thou?' And I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'"

"He said unto me again, 'Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.'"

"So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord."

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

And David said unto the young man that told him, "Whence art thou?" And he answered, "I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite."

And David said unto him, "How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?"

And David called one of the young men, and said, "Go near, and fall upon him." And he smote him that he died.

And David said unto him, "Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying,' I have slain the LORD'S anointed.'"

Now, this young man said that it was by merest "chance" that he came upon King Saul – God’s anointed. But was it merely chance, really? No! How do we know that? By the fruit that resulted from his actions! What was that fruit? Death – and double death! Death for Saul, and then death for the Amalekite. And who’s greatest weapon is death? Yea ... that’s right!

So, did it really happen just by chance? No, he came upon Saul according to the Adversary’s plan, and Satan just wanted that young man to think it was all happening to him by "chance." Remember, deception is the Adversary’s second greatest weapon! His first is death. But that does not concern us! Why?

Romans 8:38-39 -- For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death is not a fruit from God. God’s love for us -- His plan for us -- is eternal, everlasting life! Salvation! Eternal life! Not death. We fear not death.

And just as our God is perfect, and He makes perfect plans. His plans cannot be defeated by death, or by Satan.

The last usage of the word "chance" tells it all in a nutshell – all is done according to God’s plan!

I Cor 15:37-38 -- And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

God established His plan back in Genesis, Chapter One. As it pleased Him, everything was after its own kind. Sowing seeds of grain, bears grain, not flowers. Whether it be seeds of wheat, or some other grain, every seed sown grows up into its own body, after its own kind, wheat unto wheat, sunflowers unto sunflowers, man unto man. That is God's plan. It is not chance, which is uses here in the sense of "every grain, whether wheat or some other grain."

See, everything that happened after Genesis 1:1, everything that happens today, and everything that will happen henceforth until the end of God’s Word – Revelations 22:21 – happens according to God’s plan.

After we are long gone – raptured outta here – the plan of God still goes on. God’s plan is that all who want to be saved, can be even in the last days:

Rev 22:16-17 -- I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let him that heareth say, "Come." And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The last passage in God’s Word reminds us, again, of our God's -- the One True God's -- plan:

Rev 22:21 -- The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

It is in God's plan that we can all be saved -- by grace. According to God’s plan death cannot defeat any of us. Satan cannot defeat either you, or me. Death for us is but a release from the cares of this world.

Our next sight after death shall be the second coming of our Lord Jesus, the Christ. By God's love we are now more than conquers, according to God’s plan. Nothing is left to chance, to "dumb luck." There’s no such thing as "luck!" We don’t need luck – the grace of our Lord is sufficient for all of us. That’s why there are no coincidences in God’s plan.

Thank God!

Amen.

Who's Got the Whole World in His Hand?