A failed terrorist attack was perpetrated Christmas Day, on-board Northwest-Delta flight 253, carrying almost 300 people, during its final descent into metropolitan Detroit. Had this dastardly attack upon innocent American men, women, and children succeeded, in all likelihood scores of other deaths would have occurred, as a consequence of the falling aircraft breaking apart hurling hulks of steel and jet fuel toward the unsuspecting city populace, striking occupied homes, buildings, and vehicles, causing catastrophic destruction, fires, and loss of life.

Many people attribute the failure of this attack to unimaginable luck. Of course in reality, “luck” is a concoction of man’s wisdom, separate and apart from God. “Luck” implies that God is not in control; or worse, that He does not exist - a notion that one must exert his or her will to accept, given that which is known about God is evident within us, for God has made it evident to us (Romans 1:19). The truth is that God is in absolute control of all things in the universe, as the Scripture declares, “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all (Psalm 103:19).” Accordingly, as Benjamin Franklin observed during the Constitutional Convention, in deference to the Scripture, “If not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from His will…,” is it possible that a mass casualty attack failed due to a malfunctioning detonator; and/or a bungling terrorist?

The fact is that nothing occurs in all of creation apart from the “determined” or “permissive” will of God. He either causes or permits events to occur, subject to His sovereign will; whether they are calamitous or benevolent occasions. We live in a fallen world, which reeks of sin and ungodliness; and thus evil is continually made manifest through heinous conduct, such as this failed terrorist attack. In this context, we should be ever mindful of every instance where Almighty God demonstrates His mercy and grace, whether seemingly small or great, and subsequently acknowledge the truth, to wit: the Lord’s loving-kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail (Lamentations 3:22). The Light of the world remains with us; and this averted terrorist attack, is simply the most recent representation of Divine Providence. As we enter upon this new year, 2,010 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us remember that we live each day only by the will of God.