On a post yesterday there was a video and its transcript describing what a "Black Swan Event" is purported to be.
This term was coined and elaborated on by Nassim Taleb, a Lebanese American who studies randomness and probability. His book, "The Black Swan" is among those listed as one of the top 12 most influential books since World War II.
The term is a metaphor for a completely unexpected event in our lives or the world around us that drastically alters life across the board. The pandemic has been called a "Black Swan Event"
As much as I enjoy reading about such things and the intellectual challenge it brings as a Christian I must acknowledge that a "Black Swan Event" is a human attempt to explain what God already knows, allows and influences within his plan and glory.
Just as 'Chaos Theory" for example gives us but a glimpse of God's intricate and boundless creation so to does "The Black Swan Theory". As we know God exists outside of space and time and as the late philosopher Hugh McCain said, (I paraphrase) "God sees all of his creation as one unit, in a flash..". God's Sovereignty: A Tribute to Hugh McCann (link)
There have been and will continue to be "Black Swan Events" throughout human history until our Lord returns. But we don't need a theory to cope with events in history. Yes God gave us our intellect to better understand his world and "The Black Swan Theory" can help in some ways but it does not take the place of God's Sovereignty or Providential control.
The Bible is a blueprint for reality, our ultimate reality. Christ instructs us about suffering and things that come like a thief in the night!
The Kingdom of God brings with it not only salvation but no Gospel. The central theme of the New Testament is the Kingdom of God, it is here and we have a new King. Christ referred to the Kingdom of God more than any other topic. It is mentioned 80 times in the The New Testament. Most of these references occur in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The exact term is not found in the Old Testament however the existence of God’s Kingdom is expressed in various ways in the Old Testament.
The Kingdom of God can be summarized as the everlasting realm where God is sovereign and Jesus Christ rules forever.
The teachings of Jesus Christ revolve around the Kingdom of God.
At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
Luke 4:42-43
Matthew 6:9-10 gives us more support for understanding The Kingdom of God.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
How do we enter God's Kingdom?
There is no map as such but the Bible is the blueprint, the guide as Christ, God the Father and The Person of the Holy Spirit speak to us through it leading us into the Narrow Way, the corridor to his Kingdom. But that corridor is but a thought away as we give ourselves over body and soul to Christ.
We must not forget that The Kingdom of God always displays the humble, loving, self-sacrificial, and non-violent character of Jesus, with a focus on his self-sacrificial death.
Anyone can enter the Kingdom when they surrender their lives to the Lordship of Christ. It is then they are called and empowered by the Spirit to display and exhibit the character of Jesus in all that they do in this life.
You and I are doing God's will on earth as part of his redeemed family.
As we stand tall living an Eternal life NOW and not waiting for it in the future we are prepared for whatever circumstances and suffering come our way. Our eternal safety is not in "Black Swan Theories" but in our living Great High Priest who walks and talks with us now and everyday.
So I urge you to continue reading and studying things like "The Black Swan Theory", flex your intellectual muscles and critical thinking as you explore God's world!