July
8, 2003
ALL
THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD
"And
we know that all things work together for good to those who
love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose"
(Romans 8:28, NKJV).
According
to the eternal purpose of God, all things contribute to the
welfare of those who love Him. Even the troubles, suffering
and trials of this life, far from hindering our salvation,
help it to advance. At every step, the Christian may be under
the protection of God and be serving His purpose. It is God
who causes all things to work together in the lives of those
who turn to Him. He will cause all things to work together
in our lives for the ultimate good.
According
to scripture, nothing can touch the Christian except by God's
permission (see Job 1:12; 2:6 and Matthew 10:29), and all
things that are permitted work together for the good of those
who love Him. If God permits suffering and perplexity to come
upon us, it may or may not be a consequence of our own actions,
however, the adversity is not to destroy us but to refine
us and help us to grow in His grace. The troubles and disappointments
of this life help to take our affections from the world and
lead us to look to God for understanding and support. They
teach us the truth about our fragile and dying condition and
cause us to rely on God for deliverance and strength to cope.
Adversity
produces in us a more humble and subdued spirit, a more patient
and tender disposition. This has been the experience of God's
people throughout history, and at the end of their lives they
have been able to say that it was good for them to have been
so afflicted (see Psalms 119:67, 71; Hebrews 12:11). Joseph,
at the end of his life, was able to say to his brothers, "You
meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order
to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive"
(Genesis 50:20).
"To
those who love God" describes the true followers of God,
those who have real faith in Him and who trust His leading
in their lives. Their love for God is in response to His love
for them. The love of God must first be received and understood
by a man or woman before he or she in turn can love God (see
1 John 4:19). God loves all of us (See John 3:16). However,
He can truly only work out His salvation in the lives of those
who have yielded to Him to be saved. God, in the Bible, has
invited all to be saved. However, salvation is never forced
on an unwilling heart, but comes as the result of men and
women freely accepting His invitation. He is "not willing
that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance"
(2 Peter 3:9).
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