Nethertheless as far as we can see the Universe has persistent order at all scales - and possibly that order is increasing rather than decreasing, at least from our own viewpoint. If an existing form persists, then this implies a corresponding increase in self-organization, i.e. a lowering of system entropy. As the number of variables increases our observation of the system necessarily becomes more selective, less knowledgable. Which direction the system takes depends on driving forces, strong energy input for example will force the system far away from equilibrium. The methods available to do this will depend on the flexibility and complexity of the system interconnections.
Any system comprising a large number of parts allows a vast range of possible combinations.
Within those combinations most will be disordered, yet many forms of order are also possible. The same should apply to chemical compounds and galactic forms - it should be impossible that the same ordered forms appear constantly to the exclusion of all others, yet that is what we see. In other words stressed systems follow specific paths through the immense reaches of state space, a directed not ergodic walk. The search is now on for the general laws that are applicable at all scales and allow prediction of form on a macro scale - something not currently possible. This assumption then leaves intact the Second Law of Thermodynamics.