Living in a Random Universe

Have you ever noticed how life is not very random? That is, certain
things seem to happen over and over with greater frequency than other
things.

For me it is often red lights at intersections. More often than not, it
seems, a traffic light will turn red, stopping me as I approach the
intersection. How random is that? Mathematicians argue that it might be
perfectly random. They say that randomness does not rule out repeating
patterns.

Of course, in the case of a traffic light, there are several factors at
work that do not promote randomness anyway. One is the speed that I tend
to drive. If I tend to drive just above the posted limit, that could
result in me getting more red lights than green, if the lights are set up
to facilitate traffic flow at a certain speed.

Those are two very big factors. Even if the lights are not specifically
set to keep traffic flowing at a given speed, they would be set to change
at a certain time. There may be a default factory setting, for example,
to change every 30 seconds or every minute. My speed, which often hovers
just below 40 in a 35 mph zone, would tend to bring me to the same
intersections at very nearly the same time.

In other words, there are certain patterns built into my environment, and
certain patterns at work in my behavior. Neither of these patterns are
created for the purpose of producing random results.

Engineers, either at the factory or employed by the city, are not setting
timers on lights to produce random results in traffic. Hopefully, the
intent is to assist the smooth flow of traffic. And my driving speed is
governed by my habit of trying to get from point A to point B as fast as
possible. My habit of pushing the speed limit is not rooted in a desire
to experience random results at every intersection.

With these two things in mind, I should not be surprised if I tend to
reach intersections just as the light is changing to red. I should
actually expect the results to be much the same every time.

The only way to change the results is for one or both of the factors to
change. I have no direct influence over the timing of traffic lights in
any city. The only part of the equation I can change is my own behavior.
I can alter my driving speed.

Red lights at intersections are not the only things that can seem to be
set against us. We may notice repeating patterns in relationships, in our
work performance, in our personal or business money flow. If these other
patterns seem to be set against us, then we might want to consider our own
contributions to the patterns and their undesirable results.

The Bible is valuable because it reveals human patterns of behavior over
many generations, and many centuries. It also shows the results of that
behavior. The patterns of human behavior in any generation are all too
predictable. Likewise, the results are also predictable.

It was the great physicist, Albert Einstein, who said, "God does not play
dice with the universe." In other words, we do not live in a universe
where things simply happen at random, with no reason or cause.

God has designed the entire universe (including the apparent chaos
observed in storms and earthquakes, etc.) to function in a meaningful or
reasonable manner. The universe behaves in observable and predictable
ways. What may seem, at first, to be beyond all explanation eventually
proves to be rooted in rational causes after all.

The same holds true with human life. Disease and economic ruin, broken
relationships and unhappy lives are not random events but predictable
results. Certain kinds of human behavior tend to result in better living
and greater peace and happiness, while other patterns of behavior produces
more undesirable results.

The Ten Commandments, for example, act as a red light to certain human
actions and attitudes which have been proven to nearly always produce
negative results. Murder leads to more murder, and even war. Adultery
leads to shattered lives and great sorrow for everyone concerned.
Stealing results in conflict, violence and even death. And so on, down
the line.

Even the command to have no other gods is central to human happiness.
Only the true and living God is truly God. He alone can give us the
"outside" help we often need to get through confusing circumstances. He
created the universe, the earth itself and the living creatures that live
here. He knows what will lead to happiness and peace of mind, and he
knows what leads to ruin and sorrow for generations.

We cannot change God. We are not able to truly change the universe, or
even the planet we live on indefinitely. But we can change our own way of
approaching life. Maybe not overnight. But we can choose a better path,
and start walking down that path. We can choose wisdom over chaos and
continued confusion. We can choose peace over war and conflict. We can
choose honesty and genuine effort over stupidity and repeated failure and
loss.

God not only created the universe in which we live, but He has revealed
eternal and proven truths to us, giving us insight into the rules that
make for a better life. We have no excuse when we choose to reject God's
counsel and help. We would be wise to choose the better path: the path to
life and light and joy.

Jim


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