January 2010

by Ramesh Richard

The phrase, “It is written,” frames both ends of Slumdog Millionaire, which claimed every worthy movie award this year. The story warms the hearts of millions all over the world in karmic conviction: nothing can stop destiny.

Yet that same conviction generates deep frustration among the disadvantaged over being left out of the good life. If all circumstances of life are impersonally written, then one had better resign to the present situation. If our own and other’s situations are impersonally written, then there is no motivation to personally succeed, or to help others who are caught in what is impersonally written and inexorably enforced.

Contrary to a fatalistic, impersonal happening of life, the Bible speaks about a personal writing of each human life. “In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed” (Psalm 139:16).

A personal, sovereign God has written a book on all reality, including your life. Just like the movie’s original story was written by a creative author with a thought and a plot, God has authored your life. Just like nothing in the book or the movie happens without all-loving, all-knowing and all-powerful God has personally developed the theme and the plot of your life.

God is concerned about you, and the details of your life in the New Year. You are not left to resignation nor randomness, but to discovery and action. God’s sovereignty includes your freedom to choose as well as to face the consequences of your choice. In fact, when the Bible uses the phrase “it is written,” it is to point to a body of writing that relates God’s story and His plan for the human race.

If we view ourselves as possessing God’s eternal life then we will humbly accept His provision for His personal purpose for us. God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as part of His story for humanity and to provide for our own entire story, from now to eternity. He has not only written the length of our days in His book; He has written out the way we need to live for the rest of our days in Scripture. Indeed we know the Person who wrote the plan.

We can choose to believe an alternative view of reality—a life based on an impersonal “it is written;” or recognize the truth, that all human circumstances have been woven into an award-winning story by the creative power of a Personal Author for our good and His glory. In fact, my theme verse for the next year and decade, for the next season and stage of my life goes: “I cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me” (Psalm 57:2). I invite you to join me in a confident, hope filled, intentional relationship with this Sovereign God. After all, the phrase “it is written,” assumes a Writer—the omnicompetent, benevolent One. A Blessed New Year!