“Oh, you lost your job?
Well, all things work together for good, so God will undoubtedly give you a better job.”“Your fiancée broke off your engagement? Well, all things work together for good, so God will provide a much better life partner for you.”
"You have cancer? Well, God will heal you if you just trust Him. Remember, all things work together for good!"
Romans 8:28 is one of the most beloved promises in the Bible. In the English Standard Version it reads. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. But misunderstanding this promise is how we throw people an anchor rather than a lifeline. God is not promising good according to our definition. A better job, a more compatible fiancée , healing from an illness, are all possible with our great God, but are not guaranteed by this promise.
In my last two posts we've looked at The Qualifications for the Promise (who can really "claim" it as their own) and The Power of the Promise. This time I'd like to talk about The Meaning of the Promise: What is God really promising?
The issue, of course, is what good means. All things work together for good. And the way many people define good is by their comfort. If it hurts, it’s bad, if it’s pleasurable, it’s good. Happiness, wealth, promotions, good. Suffering, setbacks, losses, bad.
But God's definition of good is the one that counts. What does good mean from His point of view? You get a clue by the end of the verse: “according to His purpose.” We’ve been called for a purpose.
If you just keep reading in Romans 8, the next verse reveals God's purpose, and how He defines good: 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Good is what
conforms us to the image of Jesus! Good is what reflects the glory of God. Good
is what honors, pleases, and praises the eternal God. So God promises that He will use even the hardest things in our lives to transform us into the image of Jesus. The heartaches and pain, the trials and struggles, the failures and setbacks, may not be good in themselves. But we have a wonderful Father who "works them together" so that they accomplish His purpose. We become like Jesus, and He gets the glory.
When my younger son was called up to go to Afghanistan only a month after his wedding, it didn't feel like good to us. But God used his 15 months in a war zone, away from his family, to accomplish good in all our lives. In 2006 Dionne nearly died from a "routine" outpatient procedure. She endured six surgeries and eight months of recovery. At the time it didn't feel like good at any level. But God honored His promise.
When my younger son was called up to go to Afghanistan only a month after his wedding, it didn't feel like good to us. But God used his 15 months in a war zone, away from his family, to accomplish good in all our lives. In 2006 Dionne nearly died from a "routine" outpatient procedure. She endured six surgeries and eight months of recovery. At the time it didn't feel like good at any level. But God honored His promise.
For next time: The Scope of the Promise - What parts of my life does this cover?
