Daily Lessons Received at ‘Akká, January 1908/Accidental Happenings
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ACCIDENTAL HAPPENINGS
[edit]Question: Are there accidental happenings, or do all events occur according to Divine plan?
Answer: God’s creation is perfect. Every part of the universe has its connection with every other part, according to a Divine system.
We compare the body of the universe with the body of man. The members of the body of man are closely connected; so, also, are the parts of the great universe. The great events which happen are due to this connection. There is day, there is night; sometimes there are eclipses, etc.—all according to the requirements of this Divine system. All the created beings are connected with each other, and all occurrences and events are indicative of the requirements of this connection and interrelation.
In the body of man, all the members and parts are interdependent; for example, the heart feels the things seen by the eye; the ear hears, and the soul is thereby moved; the nostrils inhale a sweet odor, and the whole body is delighted. This is a proof that all the parts of the body of man are interrelated. This is according to a Divine plan, and it is also evident that there is a great wisdom therein.
Even unpleasant things, such as a chill in the feet which is felt in the head, a disagreeable odor which affects the whole system, or trifles (which are endless,
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and seem to be accidental) such as a small hair appearing in an unusual place on a man’s face, should also be considered as having a place or part in this general system. Therefore, what we call an accident is the effect of the connection of all the parts, and no events transpire in vain.
Referring to the Tablet sent to Mr. Dealy previous to the flood and hurricane at Fair Oaks, Alabama: “Be not grieved if the clouds of the Violation of the Covenant are condensed in those regions.”
Question: Are great calamities like this flood, the San Francisco earthquake, etc., caused by the wickedness of the people?
Answer: It belongs to the lesson of yesterday. Events like these happen because of the connection between the parts of the universe, for every small part has connection with every great part, and what affects one affects the other or all the others.
On account of this connection, the actions of man have effect. Whenever a promise is broken, it causes a commotion. For instance, suppose two nations have a disagreement. It is a difference in ideas only, and not a physical thing, not anything we can touch or see; yet this disagreement has a physical effect. It causes war, and thousands of men are cut in pieces. So, when man breaks his promise to God, in other words when he “violates the Covenant,” the effect is physical, and calamities appear.
A man may be condemned to death because he is a
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murderer, another because he is a thief, or they may be punished for many different kinds of crimes, but Jesus Christ was put to death because He wished to become a sacrifice, so there are other causes of calamity.