I was recently involved in a little “fender bender.” Actually, it was the rear bumper on my truck, and it was only slightly damaged. But, I can absolutely assure you, it happened for a reason.
There are people who believe everything happens for a reason. Some go as far as to say that everything that happens is “meant to be.” Others go even further, believing that God has a reason for everything that happens.
Does Everything Really Happen For A Reason?
Yes, of course, everything happens for a reason because of the Law of Cause and Effect. The result is the effect, and the reason it happens is the cause. So everything does happen for a reason. But to say that everything that happens is “meant to be,” or
I was talking with someone recently who found out his job is coming to an end. The company he works for is closing their doors. That’s certainly an unsettling situation to find yourself in, right?
At one point he said, “Well, sometimes God brings bad things to you in order to bring you something good.” That brought to my mind several statements we’ve all heard from time to time. One of the most popular is, “God has a reason.”
I told him I do believe God can close one door and open another door. I’ve seen that happen in my life many times. In fact, on a few occasions, I ignored a closed door and the results were not very pleasant.
I went on to tell Him that God does not bring bad things into our lives so He can
When facing difficult situations, many times people feel hopeless. They feel like they are just stuck with no way out and that there is nothing they can do about it.
Some even go so far as to say that maybe it’s just, “meant to be.”
This short podcast (4:26) is all about possibilities and solutions. No matter what you are facing today, there has to be a solution! There has to be a way!
Enjoy the podcast!
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The article in Thursday’s Pep Letter was entitled, “Is It Really An Act Of God?” (If you don’t receive my weekly newsletter called, “The Pep Letter.” you can sign up for free over in the right hand column.)
Today I have a short podcast (5:19), expanding a little bit on the topic of that article. I want to share a couple of other points that I did not bring up in the article.
I know that there a lot of visitors to this blog that do receive The Pep Letter, but in case you don’t, I have decided to go ahead and post that article, You’ll find it below the audio player,
Enjoy the podcast!
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Is It Really An Act Of God?
Most insurance forms have a clause for an “act of God.” That is a legal term for events outside of human control, such as sudden floods or other natural disasters, for which no human being can be held responsible. But why are those things attributed to God, and why do so many people think that those things are punishment from God?
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg last June was quoted in the New York Times, referring to a falling tree branch in Central Park that killed three, as saying that it was “an act of God.” He’s far from being alone. For years, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters have been called, “acts of God.” It is common to refer to a natural disaster euphemistically as an “act of God,” but even so, it still implies that God was responsible.
Hurricane Katrina was called by a number of people an “act of God” upon a sinful and rebellious nation. Earthquakes, lighting strikes, and even bridges collapsing have all been called an “act of God.” There are those who are quick to point out that each of those events are punishment from God.
While there is a lot more to it, a simple explanation for earthquakes is that the earth has tectonic plates that are always slowly moving; some refer to this as the way earth breathes. But at times, they get stuck at their edges due to friction. When the stress on the edge overcomes the friction, there is an earthquake that releases energy in waves that travel through the earth’s crust and cause the shaking that we feel.
To say that an earthquake is an “act of God,” is simply not true. There is also constant volcanic activity going on in the earth which can and does contribute to earthquakes. A significant shift in the tectonic plates in the ocean can cause a tsunami.
Unusual heavy winter snow, followed by unusually heavy spring rain can and does cause rivers to flood. Rivers, over cycles of time, flood their banks. Certain coastal areas will, over cycles of time, experience hurricanes. There are known fault line areas that will, over cycles of time, experience earthquakes.
All of these things, and more, are really “natural phenomena;” they are all eventually going to happen. It is ludicrous to call them, “acts of God.” To imply that He is orchestrating these things is both arrogant and disrespectful to God.
If I choose to live on a coastal area that can be directly affected by a hurricane, then that is my choice. I ought to know the risks involved. I should realize that if I live there long enough, I will experience some severe storms.
But, God gets the blame. Do people really believe that God just sits around all day long planning His next disaster to punish mankind? Did God decide that it was time to strike in Central Park and kill some people? Was that a punishment for New York?
Those who propound blaming God for natural disasters point out that this is God’s punishment for sin and sinners. They believe that this is His way of waking people up and showing them that they need to change their evil ways. They may be entitled to their opinion, but their opinion is certainly not biblical.
God already implemented His plan for sinners 2,000 years ago by sending the redeemer to pay the price for all sins. The Bible says that God wishes for all men to be saved; to accept Jesus Christ as lord and believe that God raised him from the dead. At that moment they receive remission and forgiveness of sins.
In the first century, people did not go around preaching that natural disasters were God’s way of punishing people. They did not try to scare people by telling them that if they didn’t change their evil sinful ways that God was going to initiate one of His “acts,” and wipe them out. No, they went out everywhere preaching Christ.
The Bible states that it is the goodness of God that leads a man to repentance. People can yak all they want about natural disasters being God’s punishment and a wake up call to change, but they are not telling the truth. It is God’s love and goodness that leads people to a change of heart.
If someone were to spread lies about me, it would not make me feel very good. In fact, I would really want them to stop; in a court of law it would be called slander. Why spread lies and slander God?
In the most popular verse in the Bible, it says, that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him would not perish, but have everlasting life. Love was His motivation in sending Christ, and love is still His motivation today. Those who choose to accept Christ can expect a loving God to answer their prayers and bless their lives.
Mike Verdicchio
2010
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Have you heard the phrase, “Everything happens for a reason?” I have. Sometimes people say, “That was just meant to be.” But is that really true?
Does everything really happen for a reason? I would answer that question both yes and no. I answer, “No” to those who mean that no matter what happens, God has a reason for either allowing it to happen, or, as some believe, making it happen.
I answer, “Yes” because there is a cause and effect. The result is the effect, and the reason it happened is the cause. Let me give you an example.
Let’s Go For A Drive
Almost every driver knows that for their car engine to operate properly it needs to have the proper amount of oil. If it runs out of oil, it will ruin the engine. So, if someone’s engine gets ruined for a lack of oil, was that just meant to be? Don’t things happen for a reason? Yes, and in this case, the reason was a lack of oil.
Hopefully, for that example, most will agree. But let’s try another example. I’ll stay with the automobile for this next example too.
Suppose you have a flat tire. Was it just meant to be? Everything happens for a reason. But, what if someone stops to help you with your flat tire and over the course of the changing of the tire, you say something to that person that really helps them?
Now there are some who will argue that the flat tire happened for a reason. They actually believe that God had a hand in it. Why? Because He wanted you to be at a precise location at a precise time so that you could say something to someone that would really help them.
What About Free Will?
To some people this sounds like a very godly and spiritual event. I disagree. With that kind of thinking, we have driven off the road and are now trying to drive in a lagoon. It’s a sinking theory, because it negates the free will that God gave us.
Suppose that you were so upset or distracted with the flat tire that you didn’t speak anything to the person helping you, other than, “Thanks for the help.” Did this event still happen for a reason? Did God really have a hand in it? Some people will argue, “Well God knows if you are going to speak to the person or not.
Now I know this debate has been around for a long time. And I am certainly not going to try to present a thesis on it in this short article. But regardless of what opinion you have on the subject, ask yourself this question: If God knows what I am going to do, and what I am going to say, then do I really have any choice in the matter?
If that is true, then indeed, everything is meant to be. And perhaps that’s the reason why everything happens; it is all just meant to be. But that leaves the door wide open for lots of unaccountability. “There must be a reason why I robbed the store; I guess it was just meant to be!”
God Is At Work
Don’t get me wrong, I really do believe that God can and does get involved in the affairs of mankind. I also believe that His thoughts and His ways are far beyond the thinking of mortal human beings. I have seen God work in my life in remarkable ways. I am sure you have too.
I also know that God works in individuals on a personal level. His guiding is there. There are times that you just know you should do something, and other times that you shouldn’t.
Those who excel at this are those who, wherever they are and whatever they are doing, have a habit of asking God if there is something that they should or could do. I do understand that and I try to live that way.
But I just think we need to be careful about what we blame God for. The word “blame” may sound a bit harsh, but think about it. It’s all too easy to say, “That flat tire happened for a reason,” all the while thinking that it was God Who made your tire flat for a reason. If you are speaking on God’s behalf, you ought to be really certain that you are accurate!
We cannot just throw away the free will that God gave to us. In all of life we have choices. We can choose to be negative or we can choose to be positive. We can choose to help people or we can choose to ignore them. And we can choose to ask God if there is something special that He would have us do or say.
So, yes, everything does happen for a reason.
Mike Verdicchio
2009
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I don’t like the word, “fate.” Maybe it’s because for a long time now I have not been one to just settle for the way things are today, with no hope for better days ahead. With so many promises in the Bible of help, deliverance, healing, and, prosperity, no one needs to just settle.
The dictionary defines the word “fate” as, “The supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events,” and, “the inevitable events predestined by this force.” It also says, “An event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future: the ultimate agency that predetermines the course of events.”
You have probably heard a number of phrases that talk about fate, like, “Don’t tempt fate,” or, “That was a twist of fate,” or, “She deserves a better fate,” or, “That will certainly seal his fate.” In Greek mythology, “The Fates” were three goddesses who controlled human destiny! What? No thank you!
Fate is also described and referred to in other ways, like, “Well that was just meant to be“, meaning that it was going to happen, and that it was supposed to happen, and so that’s why it happened. If you follow that logic you end up with the conclusion that whatever happens was meant to happen. But doesn’t that take away all personal responsibility for your actions? Yes it does, and that’s the point.
Let’s See How This Works
Suppose I decide to have a sandwich for lunch. Is that fate? Was it meant to be? As I eat that sandwich, am I to think that eating this sandwich right now is what was supposed to have happened? Some would say, “Yes.”
But what if I took the bread out to make the sandwich, and then stopped and said, “Wait a minute – I think I’ll have a salad instead.” But the bread is already out and sitting there! Wasn’t I meant to have a sandwich?
Which one was meant to be, the sandwich or the salad? There are some who would say that I was meant to get the bread out first, and then I was meant to change and go with the salad. For those who think like that, everything is just meant to be.
The problem with that kind of thinking and rationale is that it eliminates free will. It also eliminates any and all responsibility for your actions. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
What Cards Have You Been Dealt?
No one is destined to be successful or destined to be a failure. Far too many people accept that their lives are dictated by fate. They say things like, “This is my lot in life; these are the cards that I’ve been dealt; I’m just a victim of circumstances and fate; this is all I can really expect in life.” To all of that I say, “No, no, no!”
How can a child of the Creator of the universe go through life accepting things as they are, thinking that he cannot change them and just accepting that this is the way things are supposed to be?
Are We All Just Robots?
Have you ever considered that if your “fate is sealed,” you have no free will? If you have no free will then it really doesn’t matter what you do, good or bad, because it is not your fault. It’s what was supposed to have happened.
The Creator gave each and every one of us free will to choose. Each one of us can decide what we want to believe and what we want to do. And, with God’s help, there’s really no limit to what we can accomplish.
If anything is really “meant to be,” it is that God wants us successful and blessed with the life that we have to live. He has lovingly provided all that we need. But, he also gave us free will to choose.
What Will You Choose?
You can choose to accept “fate,” or, you can choose to accept the promises in the Bible as true and choose to believe them.
You are in life today where you are because of what you have believed and accepted as true. You can change your circumstances by changing your thinking. You can choose to focus on the things that you do desire instead of settling for the way things are now.
The only other choice is to accept fate. And, if you choose to accept fate, well then, “good luck.” You’ll need it!
I was recently involved in a little “fender bender.” Actually, it was the rear bumper on my truck, and it was only slightly damaged. But, I can absolutely assure you, it happened for a reason.
needs to have the proper amount of oil. If it runs out of oil, it will ruin the engine. So, if someone’s engine gets ruined for a lack of oil, was that just meant to be? Don’t things happen for a reason? Yes, and in this case, the reason was a lack of oil.
speak anything to the person helping you, other than, “Thanks for the help.” Did this event still happen for a reason? Did God really have a hand in it? Some people will argue, “Well God knows if you are going to speak to the person or not.
The dictionary defines the word “fate” as, “The supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events,” and, “the inevitable events predestined by this force.” It also says, “An event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future: the ultimate agency that predetermines the course of events.”
Suppose I decide to have a sandwich for lunch. Is that fate? Was it meant to be? As I eat that sandwich, am I to think that eating this sandwich right now is what was supposed to have happened? Some would say, “Yes.”
then stopped and said, “Wait a minute – I think I’ll have a salad instead.” But the bread is already out and sitting there! Wasn’t I meant to have a sandwich?