Some Christians have a hard time believing and hard time explaining the statement in Romans 8:28 that says “all things work together for good to those who love God.” Why do they find it hard to believe or explain? Perhaps because the negative things in our lives are easier to focus on than the positive things. Perhaps because we become so accustomed to and expectant of the blessings that come our way that we overlook them when troubles come into our lives. Perhaps because we don’t understand why good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. Perhaps because some non-Christians throw into our faces the dilemma of why Christians, of all people, should have to suffer the challenges and misfortunes of life (if there really is a loving God). So, let’s think about this. What do we know?
We know that we most certainly do have a loving God! Think about how this so beautifully portrayed in 1 John 4. “Love is of God…God is love…In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins…God so loved us… And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love…We love Him because He first loved us” (4:7- 19). He truly is the “God of love” (2 Cor. 13:11). We know that!
We know that God is abundant in goodness, especially toward His children! “The Lord is good” (Psa. 100:5); “the goodness of God endures continually” (Psa. 52:1); “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psa. 33:5). Our hearts need to turn to God and say, “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You” (Psa. 31:19); “You are good, and do good” (Psa. 119:68). “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psa. 107:1, 8, 15, 21, 31). We are beneficiaries of the riches of His goodness!
Here is what the Bible says: “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.” We know it! One of the verses of John Newton’s widely-known and loved hymn says, “The Lord has promised good to me: His Word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.” The Lord has promised that all things work together for my good (as His child). I don’t know when and I don’t know how. But, I know He will, and He will “fulfill all the good pleasures of His goodness” (2 Th. 1:11)!
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