Christian, Are You Lucky?
Or do you live by faith in the Son of God?
By Irene Guthrie ©January 1998 (revised 2004)
As a born-again Christian, moreover, a truth seeker after the heart of God, it never ceases to amaze me how Christians expose their relationship to Christ Jesus just by their words. Words, as we all know, are powerful. Words create pictures in ones mind, and sometimes clearly prove ones ignorance. And, used out of context, they can detract from and often contradict one’s status. For Christians, words carelessly spoken oft times indicate ones lack of understanding of the Word of God.
Problematic of this very issue has been the “dumbing down” of America. Since it began its tragic descent, the English language has been massacred. There seems no evidence, in my estimation, that there was even a bloody battle to fight it. Most Americans have accepted defeat by allowing the “dumbing down.” So, how does this affect the Christian? Since Christians are not supposed to be “of this world,” only “in it,” shouldn’t they pay heed to their spoken words? Our Christian language should be a communiqué that clearly speaks of our having been with the LORD, as we have been in His Word; then our communiqué becomes a fragrant bouquet in the nostrils of the LORD, our God.
Consequently, one example that really “bugs” me is the classic expression that I hear time and time again, “Good Luck!” This surely must be a stench to the LORD. The following is my rebuttal to each and every Christian who uses that phrase. You are welcome to refute my claim.
LUCK (as defined by Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary)
-n 1. The random occurrence of good or adverse fortune: chance. 2. Good fortune. -v to find or attain something advantageous or desirable by chance <lucked out when she bought the antique>
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Vocal expression: “Good luck!” is an expression used to wish good fortune on others. Almost never would you hear someone say, “Bad luck!”
Outward signs: A life lived out superstitiously as evidenced by the use of visible objects worn by an individual in hopes that the presence of the object will invoke good luck. These objects may be amulets, fetishes, charms or symbols worn by persons as jewelry, or displayed in homes, offices, or in cars. Examples: a rabbit’s foot, horse- shoes, four leaf clovers, religious statues, etc. Some items would superstitiously be used to ward off bad luck/evil. Or, perhaps, an act would occur, such as crossing fingers, knocking on wood, burying a religious artifact in the back yard, etc., to indicate an invocation of good luck into one’s life, while warding off evil or bad luck.
Fallibility: Luck or chance may or may not occur.
Author: The god of this world, Satan, who cunningly devised this system to entrap souls, diverting them from true faith, into superstitious beliefs, predicated upon fear (of death, of loss, of illness), which may result in religious efforts.
Scriptural definition: Although luck is not literally defined in the Bible, superstition is. The scriptural accounts where superstition is mentioned can be found in Acts 17:22 and 25:19. In both instances the reference to superstition is religion. Did you know that God equates superstition with religion? And, by the way, God hates religion (Isaiah 1:11-16).
Is this the way Christians ought to believe? Should we invoke luck from objects that only draw demonic oppression to the user? Not! Let’s examine the opposite of luck. A thesaurus would tell us that the antonym of luck would be either choice or misfortune. From a Christian point of view, I believe the opposite of luck is faith. And faith is accepted from God by choice.
FAITH (as defined by Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary)
-n 1. Belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of someone or something. 2. Loyalty or allegiance. 3. a belief and trust in God b. religious conviction c. a system of religious beliefs.
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Vocal expression: “God bless you,” is an expression that invokes blessing upon someone. Many times you will hear an idiom by people whereby they are invoking God’s damnation upon someone or something. God and God alone has the right to damn anyone or thing. We, as his creation, have no right to damn anyone or anything; neither, do we have the right to tell God to damn something nor someone.
Outward signs: A life lived out by an individual based not upon superstition (seeking good fortune by chance), but rather upon trust in God’s promises, by faith, to sustain one’s life as evidenced by God’s peace, protection, provision, and providence. The presence of the Holy Spirit takes the place of superstitious objects. Whereas superstition operates by fear, faith operates by trust. Here are some scriptures to consider: Jeremiah 29:11, I Corinthians 3:21-23, II Corinthians 9:8, Galatians 5:5, Philippians 4:19, and Matthew 21:22.
Fallibility: Because faith is an act of trustworthiness in the truth of God, and God is truth, then faith cannot fail, neither does it work by chance. God’s blessing brings faith to the believer, and faith ushers God’s blessings. Recently, I read a Christian author’s statement, which said, ‘Nothing in the Word of God is by chance.’ How very true!
Author: Jesus Christ alone is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
Scriptural definition: – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1 KJV). Dear Christian, this doesn’t sound like chance to me.
When people say “Good luck!” to me, I don’t receive it. I tell them that I am blessed, and that I don’t need luck. I tell them that I live by faith in the Son of God (Galations 2:20). Jesus is my Everything. And if you are a believer in Jesus, He is your Everything too!
The following scriptures will verify this: Philippians 1:21; 4:13; Romans 8:37; John 15:7; John 16:23-24; Mark 11:24; Ephesians 1:3; 3:20-21; I John 3:22; II Corinthians 5:17 & 21; Psalm 68:19.
How about it? Which way will you believe, dear Christian, —in the god of superstitious luck and chance, or the true and living God who accounts righteousness to those of us in the faith? God’s Word reproves us. “ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. “ (Joshua 24:15 KJV)
May God’s Blessing be upon you!
Numbers 6:24-26 KJV
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
