All things for good? Can that really be true? We live in a world full of suffering, hardship, broken relationships, and many other things that seem all but good. Yet Paul has the audacity to say that “we know that all things work together for good” (emphasis added). Of course, there is an important clause at the end of the verse: “to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Even then, it is the will of God for “all men to be saved” (II Timothy 2:4), so it is merely a matter of our perception and belief whether we see things as working for good or not.
Paul also does not say that everything is good; only that God works it for good. It is true, there is evil in the world as a result of sin. God can still turn evil and use it for His purposes, though, and He does. Take Paul’s own life, for example. As Saul, he was an evil man, persecuting the church with a greater passion than many modern-day Christians have for following God. Was it good that Saul captured and killed Christians? No! But God had a purpose. Saul’s dramatic conversion became an outstanding testimony to those who heard of it. Saul, the one who had so vehemently despised those who called on the name of Jesus, had now become one of them? That was shocking news to everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike. Yet if he had not been such an evil man before, his testimony would not have been nearly as powerful.
The bottom line of a belief in God’s ability to use everything for good is actually believing that God Himself is good. We too often dwell on the bad things in life, without realizing that there would be no bad if there was no good. How can we say something is bad if we have nothing to measure it against? The standard of measurement should be the goodness of God. Without it, we have no basis for calling something bad. When God created the earth, He “saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). If God is consistent with the rest of His Word, then He must be good, for Jesus said, “a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things...” (Matthew 12:33). God says that is what is true of man; how much more is it true of Himself? God is wholly good, and therefore can make anything work for good.
good thoughts Kenton thanks for sharing! very appropriate title too ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kenton! I really like the way you write-your thoughts are nicely structured and well-written out. As Hannah can tell you, I don't compliment writers very often.
ReplyDeleteIf you care to know, I also have a blog, called http://througheyesofhope.blogspot.com.
It's basically where I write mostly devotional topic articles, book reviews, and things like that.
Keep writing for God, he's the most important topic to write about!