Stuck, with Paths Before Me

I believe myself to be stalled at a complex intersection in my life. Before me are many paths. I travel none of these pathways alone. When we choose a certain course we take some people with us, because to be in relations with others means that our choices influence or partly govern their choices and their choices influence and partly govern ours. The single event of two years ago, in Minneapolis, through a vote of just over fifty percent of a few hundred persons, has greatly influenced my life.

Every occurrence, whether it is righteous or wicked, whether it accords with or does violence to the will of God, is under the governance of God.  My finite mind will plots a course but God’s infinite mind governs the outcome. I am a student of the Bible as it has been interpreted by great scholars. The best of these, in my view, was John Calvin. He writes this

“The reason is not always equally apparent, but we ought undoubtedly to hold that all the changes which take place in the world are produced by the secret agency of the hand of God. At the same time, that which God has determined, though it must come to pass, is not, however, precisely, or in its own nature, necessary.” Institutes of the Christian Religion, (Book One, Chapter 16, Part Nine)

Calvin taught that God works his providence (governance) (1) through secondary means (free moral agents), also (2) against secondary means (agents), and (3) God orders some events by his own design and apart from any human or natural means. As an aside, I don't want to leave out the work God does through his holy angels. Also, to be complete, through the hostile agency of demons and the Devil.

In my feeble attempt to understand this, I see God as a conductor, and all events are the orchestra he commands. This is so complex that Providence is often called “secret” or “hidden.” How could it be otherwise? No one has a comprehensive perspective on the events of his or her life. Not only does he order the steps of His own but also the steps of all persons – the wicked and those made righteous by the finished work of Christ.

We must approach such a subject with humility. If we present our understanding of this hidden truth as though we have all the details worked out, then it is not hidden or secret at all. While it is essentially hidden, it is not completely hidden. We often suspect that a known course of events was ordered by God for a certain immediate outcome. When that occurs with praise him with knowledge, otherwise with praise him in our ignorance trusting that all is under God's command. We can be sure whatever comes to pass in our lives happens because God wills it and some things occur through our free choices, others against our free choices, and still others beyond our choice or even our knowledge. Even our sins are governed by God to ultimately bring a good and perfect outcome.

So, I stand still with paths before me. With the consent my wife and after consulting her and with the interests of those I love in mind, and in the righteous fear of the Lord, I will choose a path. One might be chosen for me by ruthless and wicked agents. As the events of time pass, pathways will appear and disappear, opportunities will be lost and new ones will emerge. I can take great comfort in the knowledge that whatever path I choose, whatever path is forced upon me by free choices of the wicked, God has already ordered a set of contingencies to govern their outcome. It will surely all turn out “for my good” as Paul writes. In all things, let God be glorified.