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Is it true that everything
happens for a reason?
.
The events that define our lives are not simply
products of natural causes or random chance - they are ordained by God and are
intended for our good. God quietly and invisibly works through the natural
world to manage events - in His providence, He works out His purposes through
natural processes in the physical and social universe. God is always at work in
the lives of His people, and in His goodness will bring them to a good end
Got
Questions Ministries
Does everything happen for a reason?
The short
answer is “yes”; because God is sovereign, there are no random, out-of-control
happenings.
God’s purposes
may be hidden from us, but we can be assured that every event has a reason
behind it.
There was a
reason for the blindness of the man in John 9, although the disciples misidentified the reason (John 9:1–3).
There was a
reason for Joseph’s mistreatment, although his brothers’ purpose in what they
did to him was very different from God’s purpose in allowing it (Genesis 50:20).
There was a
reason for Jesus’ death — the authorities in Jerusalem had their reasons, based
on evil intent, and God had His, based on righteousness.
God’s sovereignty extends even to the lowliest of creatures: “Not
one [sparrow] falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will” (Matthew 10:29, NET).
Several
factors help us know that everything happens for a reason:
the law of
cause and effect,
the doctrine
of original sin, and
the providence of God.
All these
demonstrate that everything does happen for a reason, not just by happenstance
or by random chance.
First, there
is the natural law of cause and effect, also known as the law of sowing and reaping.
Paul says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A
man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that
nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the
Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7–8).
This means
that in every action we take or word we utter, whether good or evil, there are
certain inevitable results that follow (Colossians 3:23–25).
Someone may ask, “Why am I in jail? Is there a reason for
this?”
And the answer may be, “Because you robbed your neighbor’s
house and got caught.”
That’s cause
and effect.
We shall reap
whatever we have sown, and we shall reap in proportion to how we have sown.
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6).
The believer
who walks in the Spirit and “sows” in the Spirit is going to reap a
spiritual harvest.
If his sowing
has been generous, the harvest will be bountiful, if not in this life,
certainly in the life to come.
Conversely,
those who “sow” to the flesh are going to reap a life without the full
blessings of God, both in this life and the life to come (Jeremiah 18:10; 2 Peter 2:10–12).
The reason
some things happen can often be traced back to original sin in the Garden of Eden.
The Bible is
clear that the world is under a curse (Genesis 3:17), which
has resulted in infirmities, diseases, natural disasters, and death.
All these
things, although under God’s ultimate control, are sometimes used by Satan to
inflict misery upon people (see Job 1–2; Luke 9:37–42; 13:16).
Someone may ask, “Why did I contract this illness? Is
there a reason for it?”
and the answer
may be one or more of the following:
1) “Because you live in a fallen world, and we are all
subject to illness”;
2) “Because God is testing you and strengthening your
faith”; or
3) “Because, in love, God is disciplining you according
to Hebrews 12:7–13 and 1 Corinthians 11:29–30.”
Then we have
what is called the providence of God.
The doctrine
of providence holds that God quietly and invisibly works through the natural
world to manage events.
God, in His
providence, works out His purposes through natural processes in the physical
and social universe.
Every effect
can be traced back to a natural cause, and there is no hint of the miraculous.
The best that
man can do to explain the reason why things happen in the course of natural
events is to point to “coincidence.”
Believers
proclaim that God arranges the coincidences.
The unbeliever
derides such ideas because he believes natural causes can fully explain each event
without reference to God.
Yet followers
of Christ are wholly assured of this profound truth: “We know that in all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
The book of Esther shows divine providence at work.
The banishment
of Vashti, the selection of Esther, the plot of the assassins, the pride of Haman,
the courage of Mordecai, the insomnia of the king, the bloodlust of Zeresh, and
the reading of the scroll — everything in the book happens, like cogs in a
well-oiled machine, to bring about the deliverance of God’s people.
Although God
is never mentioned in Esther, His providence, working through “coincidence,”
is plain to see.
God is always at work in the lives of His people, and in His
goodness will bring them to a good end (see Philippians
1:6).
The events that define our lives are not simply products of
natural causes or random chance.
They are ordained by God and are intended for our good.
We often fail to sense God’s hidden guidance or protection as
events in our lives unfold.
But, when we
look back at past events, we are able to see His hand more clearly, even in
times of tragedy.
Got
Questions Ministries
seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing biblical, applicable, and
timely answers to spiritually related questions through an internet presence.
GotQuestions.org is a ministry of dedicated and trained servants who have a desire to assist others in their understanding of God, Scripture, salvation, and other spiritual topics. We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.
We will do our best to prayerfully and thoroughly research your question and answer it in a biblically based manner. It is not our purpose to make you agree with us, but rather to point you to what the Bible says concerning your question. You can be assured that your question will be answered by a trained and dedicated Christian who loves the Lord and desires to assist you in your walk with Him. Our writing staff includes pastors, youth pastors, missionaries, biblical counselors, Bible/Christian college students, seminary students, and lay students of God’s Word.
GotQuestions.org is a ministry of dedicated and trained servants who have a desire to assist others in their understanding of God, Scripture, salvation, and other spiritual topics. We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.
We will do our best to prayerfully and thoroughly research your question and answer it in a biblically based manner. It is not our purpose to make you agree with us, but rather to point you to what the Bible says concerning your question. You can be assured that your question will be answered by a trained and dedicated Christian who loves the Lord and desires to assist you in your walk with Him. Our writing staff includes pastors, youth pastors, missionaries, biblical counselors, Bible/Christian college students, seminary students, and lay students of God’s Word.
https://www.gotquestions.org/everything-happens-for-reason.html
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