This morning while driving the kids to school, a car coming at me in the other lane started spinning on some ice, entered my lane, and was coming side ways towards my Ford Escape which was going about 30 mph. It was one of those moments when time seems to slow down. I felt like I had several thoughts going through my mind in that split second. I slowly applied the brakes, went off road without slipping into a ditch, and safely made it past the oncoming car which missed me (still spinning) by several inches. I am not doing justice to how close, fast and intense this 3 seconds was in my description. The first words out of my mouth were, "Thank you Father", and I meant them theologically, emotionally, psychologically and any other -ology you want to put on there. It seemed a miracle.
Upon further reflection throughout the day, I have come to the conclusion that it was not a miracle in the sense that God set aside his normal rules for how the universe works, but that it was divine intervention. I believe God protected me and the other driver. Atheists may explain that my years of playing video games had sharpened my hand/eye coordination to such a degree that I was able to time the escape so precisely. My worldview and beliefs in Scripture (not to mention my own intimate knowledge of being pwned in games) leads me to a very different conclusion: God rescued me.
This experience reminded me of a lesson I taught at church a few weeks ago on the purpose behind Jesus' healing ministry. Perhaps you have asked yourself, "Why didn't Jesus set up shop in Jerusalem so that He could heal people?" After thinking about it you probably came to the conclusion that Jesus had another agenda besides the physical health of those around him, and you would be correct. What would you do if you had the gift to heal any disease, any disorder and any disability? I doubt you would be doing what you are doing now. You would probably feel that you were given this gift so that you could use it to help people (insert the Spider-Man code: With great power comes great responsibility). You might travel the world healing children and those terminally ill. Or maybe you would set up a permanent location so that people could come to you (that would be very efficient and American :)). Jesus did not do either of those things. Instead his miracles were strategically done for reasons beyond just the healing of the individual. Here are some reasons that Dr. Craig Blomberg (Jesus and the Gospels) gives for why Jesus did miracles in his ministry:
1) Jesus used miracles to support his claims as to who he was. [Luke 5:17-26; Mark 4:41]
2) Jesus used miracles to support his message of the Kingdom of God. [John 9]
3) Jesus used miracles as a means to support people's faith in him. [John 2:11; 14:8-11]
My experience this morning fits mostly with #3. My faith in the Lord has been encouraged. I wanted to pass on this experience so that your faith might be encouraged along with mine.
Romans 1:11, "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong- that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." (TNIV)
Hey Michael, I'm very thankful that you and your family are ok. What a frightening close call. While you do have some wicked fast gaming reflexes, I think you are right to thank God for preventing a mishap.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about how we respond when circumstances work against us and how that impacts our faith. You and I have leaned on each other during difficult trials, and our response even during the worst is to continue to trust in Him. Perhaps I've relied on you more than you me and your response has always been support and prayer. That kind of support has always been faith-affirming for me personally and a model for how we help people through trials.
I suppose one question that impacts a discussion of how God is sovereign is this: if someone objectively wrongs me is God behind this too? Did His providential hand manipulate people (or circumstances) in a negative way for some reason? In your situation above: what caused the oncoming car to spin out of control? The hand of God; the other driver driving too quickly or some combination of both? And what if it hit you?
I suppose for now, that I will thank God you were kept safe and allow myself to wonder at the 'how.' The abstract question of the way God protected you (lighting-fast reflexes or angelic escorts or the hand of God) is pragmatically unknowable.
Todd, to answer your question about God manipulating circumstances and people in life for negative circumstances (although I'm guessing you were being more rhetorical)...no, I don't think He does. We are people with free will and we make choices, good, bad, and even neutral. Our action effect others and ourselves...maybe the law of sowing and reaping..???
ReplyDeleteMichael, I too am glad your family is ok. Good post, and good example. Thanks.