(A newspaper article by Lloyd Streeter)
I would like to tell you today about my favorite verse of Scripture. Romans 8:28—“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.”
It seems too wonderful to be true. All things, even the disappointing things, even our most painful experiences, even our failures and sins, work together for good to them that love God. To know this is to have the best knowledge in the world.
We believe God’s Word but we do not always understand the working of God. He permits us sometimes to go through the fire. He permits us to weep, to feel pain, and to be lonely. We ask ourselves, “How can all of this be for good?”
“And we know…” Blessed is the believer who knows some things and knows that he knows them. Some think that it is sophisticated to not be sure of anything, to be agnostic, an ignoramus. But, those who claim such ignorance have rejected God’s truth.
Would not it be wonderful if all things worked together for good even if we did not know it? Yes, even if we thought everything was working out for bad but then found out when we got to heaven that it was all for good, that would still be okay. However, God is gracious in not only making all things work together for good but also in allowing us to know it. We know it because the Bible says it. And it is the knowing of it that gives us confidence concerning the past, that gives us tranquility concerning the present, and gives us joy concerning the future.
“That all things work together for good…” This is difficult to comprehend. It was difficult for a small boy to understand how the clock worked. He took the back off the clock and there he saw wheels, gears, and levers. Some of the wheels were large while others were small. Some moved forward while others moved backward. Some moved fast while others moved slowly. He did not understand it. But he did learn that all of the parts were needed! All the parts had to be in the proper place doing what they were designed to do for the clock to work.
We are like that small boy as we look at all of the events of life. Some of them are big events while others seem trivial. Some events move things in one direction and others in a different direction. These things happen not by blind chance, nor by the “luck of the draw.” God is working out His purpose.
We can see that all things worked together for good for Job. Through all of his trials, his faith was strengthened. At last he declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him” Job 13:15.
We can see that all things worked together for good for Joseph. Sinned against by his brothers and sold into Egyptian slavery, he could see the hand of God in it. After years of lonely exile he could say to his brothers, “You thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” Genesis 50:20.
“To them that love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” These words refer to saved people. Let us be clear. All things do not work together for good for unsaved people. All things work together for bad for Christ rejecters. Only saved people love God – only saved people are referred to as “the called.”
Jesus said in John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Well then, how do we start loving God? You do that by trusting in His Son, accepting Him as your own personal Saviour. All things will then work together for your good.
There is tranquility in knowing that God is working things together to arrive at His ultimate divine plan. His plan is to conform the believer to the image of Jesus Christ. His plan also involves us having fellowship with Him both now and in eternity. His ultimate good for us is heaven.
No wonder some people refer to Romans 8:28 as “a soft pillow for a troubled heart.” In a world wracked by terrorism, war, sin, and death we can look up and find hope.
What tho’ the way be lonely
And dark the shadows fall
I know wherever it leadeth
My Father planned it all.
He guides my faltering footsteps
Along the weary way.
For well He knows the pathway
Will lead to endless day.