COINCIDENCE OR PROVIDENCE?
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (Matthew 10:30)
Many years ago I had an experience that could have resulted in death if it had not been for a door latch that did not work. A person came into my law office brandishing a gun while looking for her husband who was the client of another lawyer. She had heard that he was visiting the lawyer to file a divorce suit against her. When she realized that neither her husband nor the lawyer were in the office at the time, she decided to wait for them and hold everyone who happened to be there at the time hostage. She tried to lock the sliding glass door but the latch would not work. Since she could not lock others out, she ran out of the office and sped away in her car. Someone mentioned how lucky we were that the latch did not work. They said it was a coincidence that saved us from being hurt. However, I am not so sure that it was as much a coincidence, as it was providence.
Coincidence is blind, but providence has eyes. The dictionary defines "providence" as the "care exercised by the Supreme Being over the universe." God knows the very hairs on our heads and the number thereon. The above mentioned verse teaches us about the minuteness of providence. God is in control of every detail of our lives. Sure He has allowed us to exercise permissive wills. We have choices. But in the final analysis, God still has a plan that will unfold as He sees fit. Even a strand of hair is important to God. And yes, we are important to God. Over and over again God has provided for us at times when we did not know where our next blessing would come from.
What should our response be to providence? We should be bold about the things of God. We should stop worrying about things we have no control over. We should stop being fearful. We should get busy involving ourselves in Kingdom business.
I am glad that the door latch would not work back then. Some would say coincidence, but I say "providence." God still had something left for me to do. I am going to try and not let Him down. What about you? If you are still here, God has given you another chance. It is "providence!"
