Dixie's blog got me thinking about Romans 8:28 this morning. I've got some thoughts I'd like to share.
If you're in a position where you can grab a Bible, read Romans 8...the entire chapter. A lot of people I know have Romans 8:28 memorized. And I think that's awesome. It's a great verse.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
What an amazing promise from God! All things, it says, will work for our good. That promise has the potential to help us through a lot of hard times.
However, I know lots of Christians that have really hard lives. I know lots of Christians who have lost a family member, and their life isn't "better" after their dad died.
It's harder.
I know lots of Christians who have lost a good paying job and never did find another one that paid as well. Their physical circumstances weren't better for that.
So what happened here? If God promises us that all things will work for our good if we love God and are called according to His purpose, does that mean that the people, for whom life doesn't always get "better", don't really love God?
Most of us would say, "Of course not."
I believe the confusion tends to come in because people take this promise out of it's context and apply it to their lives in that it was never meant to be applied. Taking this verse out of context usually results in the misunderstanding of the word "good". When God promises that all things will work together for "good", what does that mean?
Does it mean that if I lose my job, I'll get a better one?
Does it mean that if I wreck my car, I'll eventually end up with a nicer car?
Does it mean that if my house burns down, I'll end up in a better location in a nicer house?
Some of you, when I put it that bluntly, would say "of course that's not what it means", yet think back to when you counseled/comforted people using that verse's promise. Think back to when you comforted yourself using that verse.
If you've had the time to read all of Romans 8, a key theme should've stuck out to you. It's the theme of suffering.
The whole chapter is talking about how tough this life is, especially starting at verse 18. It's talking of how many trials we will endure. It's talking about groaning and travailing. But then it also talks about how we'll be delivered from that pain. It talks about how the Spirit is within us to help us with that pain. It talks about how the Spirit helps us with our infirmities and makes intercession for us when we groan.
And then it gets to verse 28:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Here's the point. Here's what that verse is saying to us. If you love God - if you're a Christian - if you've been called to fulfill Christ's work in your life, then everything that happens in your life is to conform you to the image of Christ. It's about sanctification people. It's not talking about our physical circumstances. It's not even talking about our "happiness". It's talking about the Spirit being faithful to teach you lesson's that make you more like Christ!
It's part of our sanctification.
God is sovereign.
When you lose your job, you may never get another job. But the spirit may teach you that our jobs here on earth pale in comparison to the job we've been given to glorify Christ.
If you lose your father on earth, you may never feel see another smile like his. But the Spirit may teach you an amazing lesson about our Heavenly Father, and His love, and His wisdom. You may gain a whole nother level of love and respect for God!
And isn't that what it's all about really? It's not about our good jobs, or our earthly relationships, or our physical circumstances. It's about using every experience on this earth, whether good or bad, to glorify God and become more like Christ out a heart of love and admiration for Him and what He did for us.
Rejoice, O Barren One! Galatians 4:21–31, Part 6
16 hours ago
4 comments:
I've often had a lot of the same thoughts. I have close friends I developed from my injury that will never walk or enjoy many things they used to in the same way. Yet, looking at the life of one of my best friends and brothers, John Katona, a quad (but all he'd have you know is a Christian): His life may not be easier, but it's full. I believe he's got a much clearer view of God (and prayer) then most of us. He knows what matters, there's really no other choice, except bitterness.
I've long had the same thoughts about jobs (money):
For many of us, a low paying job would probably be BETTER for us then a high paying one.
So many try to serve God and mammon through materialism, sometimes even dismissing the results as "blessing." [Not to say that you can't be rich and blessed monetarily]. Some really are called to use the mass excess of money they've been given for the Kingdom.
It comes back to the heart, if you're seeking a better job for yourself, then undoubtedly, you'd be a better Christian if the job would be taken from you. Truly, that would be good (as per Romans 8). I would hope God would do this to me, if I started seeking a job for "me." Good is better.
I wonder if sometimes the "tough times" aren't to help us realize the love that we have for each other as Christians.
It's easy to get caught up in the day to day and not really consider the friendships we've been blessed with.
But then your daughter gets cancer...and the support and letters and prayers stream in in a steady flow.
Or you lose your job, but somewhere money keeps coming in ... just enough to get by.
Or your house burns, and people immediately give you so many of the little things that you *need* but so often take for granted (like dishes to eat on or towels or even toothpaste).
When we are the recipients of outpourings of love like that, how can we not pour love out onto others also? How can we not become more united with our brothers and sisters in Christ as they help us out, or we help them out, in times of need? How can the body not be strengthened by working together to help heal the one that's hurting?
You struck a chord, Luke. I could go on about this topic for a while. But I'll spare others my monontanous droanings. :)
great post, luke! so simple, and so complex at the same time. for me it's about trusting God to do the best for me, even when i can't see it or understand it. but it becomes complex when i waver in an ever so slight way.
i think i was able to see this more clearer when i became a parent and especially to teens...many times, when they are in the middle of everything, they can't see why they can't do certain things (spend the nite with a friend, go to certain events, watch R movies, etc)...but then as they become more mature they look back and say "thanks mom for keeping me from that situation". and what i am learning is that as they learn (and experience) to trust that i truly have their best interest at heart, then trust becomes a little easier the next time.
i feel it can be that way with God. if we just allow Him to lead the way, we will begin to see that He has our best interest at heart. yea it may sound simple, but as for me it's still difficult at times.
thanks for the posts. keep the good stuff coming!
blessings!
lisa
Lisa: That's so true about how each time we experience God's faithfulness, it becomes a little easier to trust the next time. Thanks for the comment.
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