Russian Roulette

Does life ever seem to you like a game of Russian Roulette? Especially when it comes to tragedy?

At times it has for me. Just emotionally, of course; my brain doesn't buy it. There have been times when it feels a gun is placed to all our heads. Click. Nothing, so you go on living. Bang. Someone near you dies or is hurt.

Thankfully, I know that life isn't random events. It's this knowledge that reigns in my feelings.

I read this morning the well-quoted and loved passage of Psalm 139. There David goes into great detail on God's care of him, of His watch over who he is today, of His creation of him in the womb, and of His knowledge of exactly how many days he has and how they will play out.

All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

What are you going through today? Sickness? Worry? Grief?

[Yahweh], You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar...
You are familiar with all my ways...
You hem me in—behind and before;
You have laid Your hand upon me...
Where can I flee from Your presence?
...even the darkness will not be dark to You; 

He knows. He is there. The darkness may hide Him from our perception, but you were in His plan before the earth was formed. He has not forgotten you. There is no chance He will forget you.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

Yahweh who planned your existence, formed your body and designed your mind, personality, and gifts, will hold on tightly to you. Hold tightly to Him.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

(Psalm 139:23-24)

Counterfeit Goods

We live in a world of counterfeits and generics. Sometimes these are as good (or better, if you consider price) than the original. Sometimes you pay more in the long run by cutting corners.


In the spiritual realm, a good counterfeit does not exist.

James, in chapter one verse twelve, encourages the Christians, to whom he is writing, to perserve and endure the trials they face because of the reward God has promised...a crown of life.

The very next paragraph, James warns them against accusing God of tempting them to sin. He states emphatically that God neither tempts nor is tempted by sin. But we, as humans, are tempted and dragged away by our desires.

The next paragraph again James seems to change topics as he reminds them that good gifts come down from an unchanging God.

These paragraphs may seem unrelated until you pick up the common thread: what is the gift we should desire?

In a world where believers could lose everything for their faith, it must have seemed especially tempting to take the easy road sometimes, to give in. Grief and trouble greeted them; discouragement whispered in their ear. If they could reach for something to give them relief, maybe they should take it as a sign that it is what God wanted for them.

James said, no. They should endure the pain, the hardships, the loss because the gift ahead of them would be far better than anything they could imagine. He reminds them that the counterfeit good, that shines so brightly before tired eyes, is not from God and, therefore, will reap pain without reward.

The same is true for us. So often impatience makes us attempt to find our own good for our life. If God hasn't brought us a spouse, maybe dating an unbeliever or giving in before marriage seems acceptable. If God doesn't provide an abundance of money, maybe we need to find a way to provide it for ourselves. If God doesn't give us a home, a car, nice things that we think will make us happy, we just put it on credit.

The result? Baggage, heart ache, debit, regret...

Every good and perfect gift comes from above. If God does not provide it, we need blind trust to wait on Him. Either He will or, for reasons our 3 lbs of brain can't comprehend, it is not good and perfect for us.

If you've blown it, He can use and will forgive you when you turn back to Him. But when it comes to following God, cutting corners can kill you...or at least destroy the good and perfect plan He has for your life.

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:16-17)

Wait for His good and perfect gift. Don't settle for counterfeit goods.