I've
known a number of people who have had great hope in luck. The source of their “luck” was always from
some indeterminate source, such as, "my lucky stars," or a remembered
dream, or a chance encounter with a sequence of numbers on a billboard.
A dear "unnamed lady” Elizabeth and I knew well would
hear of a number someone dreamed about and run for the phone to place a bet on
the afternoon race. And heaven protect
you if you were in her way when the lottery numbers came out on the evening
news! Her life seemed to be consumed
with finding that lucky edge to bring in that big win!
Money isn’t always what’s on the table. Teenagers trust luck and good fortune
when they travel at the speed of light on a Friday night. Unlucky adult drivers, saturated
with alcohol or drugs, have caused untold agony for themselves and others with
the results of their choices. Dependency
on the luck of the draw has ruined families, national economies and
the state of peace or war between nations.
In most cases luck has not been what you would call the most dependable
or friendly benefactor. Even the 17th
century poet, John Donne, in his divine poem Death Be Not Proud, wrote that “mighty and dreadful” death wasn’t
the chief big shot in the universe; it was slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men.
Fate and chance…otherwise known as Luck, is often the unnamed cloud
over highway tragedies, mountain mud slides, fire and tornados; can’t say I
want to bet the farm on luck.
I’ve never really been able to get my mind
around exactly why reasonably intelligent adults would stand at
attention to “luck,” particularly when it is their precious life and the
stewardship of time and resources which are at stake…and often the final cost.
The Psalmist, by contrast, says Happy are they who trust in the LORD! In opposition to the happiness of trusting
God is the luck, or fate/chance you experience by trusting in evil
spirits or false gods. I cannot think of
a more false god than luck!
Between Calvinist and Arminian adherents there
is always plenty of discussion (arguing) about predestination and how much God
really has things lined-up in your life.
But one thing all genuine followers of Jesus Christ do know is that “luck”
plays no part at all in a believer’s discipleship, or what happens when you
place complete faith in God (as opposed to the lottery, Publisher’s Clearing
House sweepstakes, or your corner bookie).
While it’s generally viewed (by non-believers) as “risky
business” to follow a God you cannot see, hear or document – the evidence is
all on the side of Christ when it comes to who is happy and who is
miserable.
Remember – the lotteries, casinos and racetracks all
stay in business because the odds are stacked against you.
Today…for you
Put so-called “luck” where it belongs – in the jail of
unreasonableness.
Put your faith in God – that’s a garment worth
wearing. And he’s stacked the deck in
your favor…holy favor…it’s called grace!
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