She entered the gate, but never made it beyond the bingo tent.
My maternal grandmother rarely ventured far beyond her homestead in Vance, SC, but the Orangeburg County Fair was one place she never missed. My grandfather entered the gate, visited the livestock barn, and then meandered to the Pavilion where he sat, watched people, and waited on my grandmother—who was next door playing bingo.
What the chances were of having a winning card, I’m not sure, but my grandmother counted on the fact she might have it. For hours, she listened as the announcer called out numbers, hoping she could shout, “Bingo.” I’m sure she won a prize occasionally, but bingo wasn’t the only way she lived by luck. Superstitions and old wives’ tales peppered her life’s beliefs. Although she was a woman of faith, she made many a decision based on superstition—what she considered luck. How she reconciled the two in her mind, I never understood.
Fortunately, Mom didn’t adopt her style of living, so the things my grandmother believed became humorous to me and my family. Mom and Dad taught us to live by faith, not superstition or luck.
According to Paul, living by faith is the correct way. After meeting the risen Christ on the Damascus Road, he lived by faith. Prior to that time, he depended on ceremonies and laws to gain God’s approval—which never worked. Now, he relied on faith.
Luck has no part in the believer’s life. I may say, “I’m feeling lucky,” when I play a game, but deep inside I don’t believe in luck. Luck relates to chance, and the Bible doesn’t teach that things happen by chance.
God controls everyone’s life whether they acknowledge or believe it or not. I choose to believe it. Everything entering my life comes from God directly or is filtered through His permissive will. Whether or not I understand the events is immaterial.
God promises to bring good out of all things for those who follow Him. Through the periods of faith-stretching He sends—and through the trials He permits—good erupts. Luck, or chance, doesn’t enter the picture. Rather, He guides events by His loving hand.
Don’t try to live life by something that doesn’t exist. Live by faith in a loving God.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Martin Wiles lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, pastor, and author who has been published in numerous publications. He also serves as Managing Editor for both Christian Devotions and Vinewords.net. He is the author of six books. His most recent book, Don’t Just Live...Really Live, was released in November 2021. He and his wife are parents of two and grandparents of six. He can be contacted at [email protected].