I Forgot My Jacket

Do you really believe Romans 8:28? We quote it. We memorize it. We throw it out in difficult times. Do you really believe it? And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. People love to say “all means all” when that’s not the proper context, but here all really does mean all. Hard things, easy things, fun things, miserable things. All things. All means all. If you are in Christ, all things are for your good and for God’s glory.

When you forget your jacket, do you write it off as insignificant? Do you realize all things are under the control, decree, and providence of the Triune God of the universe? Even forgetting your jacket.

Chapter 3, article 1 regarding God’s Decree, of our confession, The Second London Confession states:

From all eternity God decreed everything that occurs, without reference to anything outside himself.  He did this by the perfectly wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably. Yet God did this in such a way that he is neither the author of sin nor has fellowship with any in their sin.  This decree does not violate the will of the creature or take away the free working or contingency of second causes. On the contrary, these are established by God’s decree.  In this decree God’s wisdom is displayed in directing all things, and his power and faithfulness are demonstrated in accomplishing his decree.

Just like all means all, everything means everything. Even forgetting your jacket. From your perspective, you were just absent-minded, but everything is decreed by God for the Christian’s good and for His own glory.

Chapter 5, article 2 regarding Divine Providence, of our confession, The Second London Confession states:

All things come to pass unchangeably and certainly in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, who is the first cause. Thus, nothing happens to anyone by chance or outside of God’s providence.  Yet by the same providence God arranges all things to occur according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or in response to other causes.

What does all mean? All means all. There are no accidents from God’s perspective, no chance, no coincidences. Even forgetting your jacket.

Ok, ok, enough of the forgetting your jacket stuff. The reason I mention this is because yesterday I forgot my jacket. I was at an office for work, left, and forgot my jacket. It was an obvious accident from my perspective, even though when I took it off I reminded myself multiple times to get it before leaving. Remembering the Scriptures and the confession, there are no accidents from God’s perspective. I get to the parking garage and realized as soon as the cool chill hit me. I forgot my jacket. Back up the elevator, back to the meeting room. It’s locked, but a lady I knew was there and let me in. I had a copy of Mike Abendroth’s Jesus and Cancer in my pocket. I usually keep a couple of these at work to give patients who might be interested in reading it. Before going to the meeting I grabbed one, thinking it might come in handy.

The nice lady whom I had small talk with an hour earlier came in with me. I asked her, seemingly out of the blue, if she knew anyone dealing with cancer. She teared up and told me that her best friend had brain surgery the day before for a newly diagnosed cancer. Her friend was at a marriage retreat two weeks earlier, started showing symptoms, and was now post-op for cancer surgery. There are no coincidences with God.

Am I saying God told me to do that, or that He miraculously made me forget my jacket? No, God certainly does miracles, and certainly doesn’t speak to us outside of His Word; however, His providence guides the universe according to His decree. His providence made me forget my jacket. His providence made me grab that book before going. He is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe and causes all things for the good of the Christian and for His glory.

I gave her the book for her friend, prayed with her, and thanked God for this providential encounter. She was grateful and tearful, as was I. Praise the Lord that there are no accidents.

I forgot my jacket, and it wasn’t an accident. The seemingly small things are every bit as important to the decree of God as those big things. Just ask Joseph, David, Gideon, Paul, or Peter. Small things make big waves when we know that the Lord is reigning and ruling.