Words of encouragement
“Believe it or not – this is for our Good.” April 8, 2020
I can vividly remember the words of Dr. J.D. Thomas – my Romans and Galatians’ professor at Abilene Christian University – concerning the significance and centrality of the Book of Romans in understanding and appreciating God’s magnificent scheme of human redemption. He said, “The Book of Romans is the diamond ring of the New Testament, the eighth chapter is the diamond in the ring, and the twenty-eighth verse is the sparkle in the diamond.” That was 40 years ago, but those words still resonate with me every time I read the Book of Romans.
Paul said in Romans 8:28, “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.” Every time I read this verse it sends chills through my body and causes me to be filled with such heavenly joy that I feel like shouting – “Glory to God, praise His holy name!” To me, Romans 8:28 is one of the most spiritually exhilarating, comforting, and reassuring verses in the Bible.
Try for a moment to grasp the comprehensiveness of what Paul said in this profound verse. What can be more encouraging and reassuring than knowing that our heavenly Father (through His providential care) is personally and intimately involved in each of our lives everyday of our existence? Try for a moment to wrap your finite mind around the infinite concept that there is never a time that God is not at work in our lives. If you are like me – it’s mind boggling. It reminds me of David’s comments concerning the omnipresence and omniscience of God. He said, “O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O Lord. 5 You hem me in — behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 139:1-6). David said, to think about the continuous presence and ceaseless care of God in my life is too much for my finite mind to comprehend. I have the same reaction when I think about the all-encompassing, comforting promise of Romans 8:28.
Think about it, according to t0 Romans 8:28 – our heavenly Father is at work daily and intimately in each of our lives. He is personally involved in every situation, every painful experience, every trying circumstance, every joyful moment, every advancement, every setback, in sickness and in health, in suffering and in sorrow, in moments of success and in moments of failure. God, as our loving heavenly Father is working in every event – good, bad, ugly, beautiful, painful, or joyful. He is working in and through each event to accomplish His ultimate goal for our lives – which is for our good – which is to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). Paul said that God’s goal is to get us to take on the image of His Son – “…that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” In other words, God wants everyone of His children to bear the family resemblance. The standard bearer of the image that He wants to imprint upon our character, is our elder brother Jesus Christ. Why? Because God’s goal is not only that we share His image, but that we share His glory also. Paul said, “Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:30). In the mind of God, He already sees us conformed to the image of Christ and sharing His glory. Therefore, God is engaged in an ongoing sanctifying process through the events in our lives to accomplish His purpose. However, it is important that we realize that the Bible does not say that God causes everything that happens to us – to happen to us. It says that God is at work in and with everything that happens in our life. God doesn’t necessarily cause it, but whatever it is – God makes it works in our favor toward His goal to conform us to the image of His Son.
Furthermore, the Bible doesn’t say that everything that happens to us is good. It says that God makes everything that happens to us (good and bad) work for our good – which is to resemble Christ and share His glory. But notice that this can only happen when our love for God is unshaken by the “all things.” This promise is only for those who “love the Lord.” Paul affirms that if our love for God is unmoved by the “all things,” then God’s providential care will be unmoved from our lives. He will accomplish His eternal purpose for our lives.
How can we be sure of this? We can be sure of this because God said so – not because everything that happens to us looks good, feels good, or is good. The assurance of the good that’s promised in Romans 8:28, is rooted in the reality that God is for us and not against us, and His love for us is eternal. Paul said in Romans 8:31-39, “…If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Here’s the message I would like for you to take from this profoundly powerful passage – everything that’s happening right now – God will make it work for our good! We will be better, our families will be better, and the church at East Side will be better. God is trying to produce the image of Christ in us. However, to do so we must endure trials and hardships – but in the end – we win! I don’t know the magnitude of what God will do through this pandemic of epic proportions. Nevertheless, I do know that if our love and faithfulness to the Lord is steadfast, He will work good in equally epic proportions. Therefore, my challenge to you my brothers and sisters – is to stay faithful, stay prayerful, stay studious, stay hopeful, and stay positive. God is at work in this – and He will make us better through this. Prayerfully, marriages will be healed, family breaches will be mended, pettiness will be laid aside, forgiveness will be extended, and friendships will blossom. Why? because we realize just how fragile life is, and how vital it is to drain the sweetness out of each day that God gives us. Prayerfully, we (the church) will be closer, more loving, more caring, and more eager to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth on the Lord’s Day. Prayerfully, every member will adopt a Psalm 122:1 mentality – where David said, “I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord."
My dear East Side family, believe it or not – this is for our good!
George Williams,
Minister
I can vividly remember the words of Dr. J.D. Thomas – my Romans and Galatians’ professor at Abilene Christian University – concerning the significance and centrality of the Book of Romans in understanding and appreciating God’s magnificent scheme of human redemption. He said, “The Book of Romans is the diamond ring of the New Testament, the eighth chapter is the diamond in the ring, and the twenty-eighth verse is the sparkle in the diamond.” That was 40 years ago, but those words still resonate with me every time I read the Book of Romans.
Paul said in Romans 8:28, “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.” Every time I read this verse it sends chills through my body and causes me to be filled with such heavenly joy that I feel like shouting – “Glory to God, praise His holy name!” To me, Romans 8:28 is one of the most spiritually exhilarating, comforting, and reassuring verses in the Bible.
Try for a moment to grasp the comprehensiveness of what Paul said in this profound verse. What can be more encouraging and reassuring than knowing that our heavenly Father (through His providential care) is personally and intimately involved in each of our lives everyday of our existence? Try for a moment to wrap your finite mind around the infinite concept that there is never a time that God is not at work in our lives. If you are like me – it’s mind boggling. It reminds me of David’s comments concerning the omnipresence and omniscience of God. He said, “O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O Lord. 5 You hem me in — behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 139:1-6). David said, to think about the continuous presence and ceaseless care of God in my life is too much for my finite mind to comprehend. I have the same reaction when I think about the all-encompassing, comforting promise of Romans 8:28.
Think about it, according to t0 Romans 8:28 – our heavenly Father is at work daily and intimately in each of our lives. He is personally involved in every situation, every painful experience, every trying circumstance, every joyful moment, every advancement, every setback, in sickness and in health, in suffering and in sorrow, in moments of success and in moments of failure. God, as our loving heavenly Father is working in every event – good, bad, ugly, beautiful, painful, or joyful. He is working in and through each event to accomplish His ultimate goal for our lives – which is for our good – which is to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). Paul said that God’s goal is to get us to take on the image of His Son – “…that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” In other words, God wants everyone of His children to bear the family resemblance. The standard bearer of the image that He wants to imprint upon our character, is our elder brother Jesus Christ. Why? Because God’s goal is not only that we share His image, but that we share His glory also. Paul said, “Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:30). In the mind of God, He already sees us conformed to the image of Christ and sharing His glory. Therefore, God is engaged in an ongoing sanctifying process through the events in our lives to accomplish His purpose. However, it is important that we realize that the Bible does not say that God causes everything that happens to us – to happen to us. It says that God is at work in and with everything that happens in our life. God doesn’t necessarily cause it, but whatever it is – God makes it works in our favor toward His goal to conform us to the image of His Son.
Furthermore, the Bible doesn’t say that everything that happens to us is good. It says that God makes everything that happens to us (good and bad) work for our good – which is to resemble Christ and share His glory. But notice that this can only happen when our love for God is unshaken by the “all things.” This promise is only for those who “love the Lord.” Paul affirms that if our love for God is unmoved by the “all things,” then God’s providential care will be unmoved from our lives. He will accomplish His eternal purpose for our lives.
How can we be sure of this? We can be sure of this because God said so – not because everything that happens to us looks good, feels good, or is good. The assurance of the good that’s promised in Romans 8:28, is rooted in the reality that God is for us and not against us, and His love for us is eternal. Paul said in Romans 8:31-39, “…If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Here’s the message I would like for you to take from this profoundly powerful passage – everything that’s happening right now – God will make it work for our good! We will be better, our families will be better, and the church at East Side will be better. God is trying to produce the image of Christ in us. However, to do so we must endure trials and hardships – but in the end – we win! I don’t know the magnitude of what God will do through this pandemic of epic proportions. Nevertheless, I do know that if our love and faithfulness to the Lord is steadfast, He will work good in equally epic proportions. Therefore, my challenge to you my brothers and sisters – is to stay faithful, stay prayerful, stay studious, stay hopeful, and stay positive. God is at work in this – and He will make us better through this. Prayerfully, marriages will be healed, family breaches will be mended, pettiness will be laid aside, forgiveness will be extended, and friendships will blossom. Why? because we realize just how fragile life is, and how vital it is to drain the sweetness out of each day that God gives us. Prayerfully, we (the church) will be closer, more loving, more caring, and more eager to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth on the Lord’s Day. Prayerfully, every member will adopt a Psalm 122:1 mentality – where David said, “I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord."
My dear East Side family, believe it or not – this is for our good!
George Williams,
Minister