All Things for Good

​Romans 8:28 ~ “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
 
Do not fear, dear Christian, there is nothing outside of God’s providential purposes. It may be difficult to comprehend, but even the devil belongs to God and will ultimately prove to be used of the Almighty for His sovereign purpose. Let us take a moment to try and understand the nature of God. Though it would take more paper than all the world could hold, we may consider it briefly. First, God is ever-present, so there is nothing outside of His attendance. Second, God is all powerful, thus there is nothing outside of His might. And, third, God is all-knowing, therefore nothing escapes His awareness or comprehension. Take a moment and consider Isaiah 45:5-7.
 
​I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things.
 
There are some who might read the text for today and conclude that God only works beneficence on behalf of His children. That is, He will always do what is considered beneficial by those who receive it. Whereas the enemy is the one doing all the calamitous activities, bringing about various disasters and troubles. At the beginning of mankind, with Adam and Eve in the garden, the enemy slipped in and brought temptation and sin to the human race (see Genesis 3:1-7). Yet not one moment was outside of God’s providential plan. The LORD knew before it happened that it would happen. We read that He had prepared for this before the foundation of the world, “For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, ‘As I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest,”’ although his works were finished from the foundation of the world” (Hebrews 4:3). Again, in Acts 2:23 we read, “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Both the salvation of all who would believe and the condemnation of all who reject the LORD has already been established in the eternal mind of the Almighty. And then, through Christ Jesus, the plan of God was enacted.
 
So we come to our text for today and read the qualifying condition: “for those who love God.” All circumstances are under the control of the Almighty. And He has promised good to those who love Him. Deuteronomy 7:9 states, “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” But what is given to those who are under this qualifying condition? The second part of our text today states, “all things work together for good.” And this is the problem that many people have: they do not see that things are necessarily “good.”
 
Beloved, you cannot understand the good that God sees, for all mankind looks upon this life from a very limited perspective. There is coming a good that is undeniably better than anything we have ever imagined. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.’” Yet, while we navigate this earth we go through various trials and temptations, difficulties and disasters. The enemy plagues the world with his wicked lies and the environment grows hostile. And still, the promise is true: even these things will work together for what God will call good. James 1:12 declares, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” And though the devil himself may test a believer and Christians across the world face times of great duress, this will only prove in the end to bring God glory and the saints joy when they stand before the LORD. Even David said in Psalm 119:71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.”
 
But what of the wicked; what of those who reject the LORD? Proverbs 16:4 states, “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.” If man will not come to Christ by faith, they will still bring glory to God for God is glorified when He enacts His righteous judgment. He is patient and will endure long as He calls men to repentance. Yet, in the end, all who reject the LORD Jesus will depart in God’s wrath.
 
Do you love the LORD? Are you called according to His purpose—salvation in the name of Jesus? Then, dear Christian, hold out with patience these days that you live in the land. For God will work all things for your good.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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