All things work together for good

Kenny Song 

Last week my wife said she don't trust technology. I'm the opposite. I embrace technology and I think it makes my life easier and better organised. So I have my iPad here with me this morning. Pray my battery last. If not here's a spare (iPhone).

I am reminded by my wife to keep my sermon short. So today I will obey my wife, and she will love her husband.

And I'm going to copy my wife a little. She loves to tell stories so I have one for you this morning.

There was a story told recently about a king in Africa who had a close friend that he grew up with. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!". To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took them to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.

As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right" he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "this is good!"

"What do you mean, 'this is good'! How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year." "If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."

Actually, there is a reason I told you that story. How many of you when things don't turn out the way you planned, or problems and difficulties arises in you life, you say "This is good". Becoming a Christian does not guarantee a trouble-free life. Often it's the opposite.

But this passage of scripture is surely one of the most precious we hang on to, especially in times of trial. Romans 8:28 is a key biblical passage having to do with the exalted theme of God’s providential activity in this world. That is because God can see beforehand.

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 (Romans 8:28 KJV).

And yet, it appears to be seriously misunderstood by many. To start understanding what this verse means, we first have to know what we mean to God.

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Whatever you are going through, he loves you. That is a fact.

We will now examine several key elements within this important passage.

“We Know”

The expression “we know” speaks of confidence. In spite of life’s hardships, we must be able to say we know he is a providential companion in our lives. That God is so supremely in charge of the world that all the things that happen to Christians are ordered in such a way that they serve our good.

The problem is we don't always know. When a father sets borders for their children to protect them, often the child sees it as restrictive. We need to be reminded again and again, he loves you and me. And he promises us this.

Proverbs 12:21 "There shall no evil happen to the righteous"

A good example is Job. The devil could only touch Job as permitted by God. 

“All Things”

What does this include? What does it not include?

It is not necessary to conclude that the “all” of “all things” is absolutely unlimited in scope. We are told that “all the people” received John’s baptism, and thereby “justified God” (Luke 7:29-30). And yet, within the same context the reader is informed that the Pharisees and the lawyers did not accept John’s baptism. “All” does not always mean “all.”

Similarly, the “all things” of Romans 8:28 must be qualified by the context in which it is found. The portion of Paul’s Roman letter in which this phrase occurs focuses upon the presence of suffering in the saint’s life.

Then, in a series of pointed questions, Paul asks: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ [i.e., the love Christ has for us]?” Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No; none of these hardships—no force, visible or invisible—can frustrate the divine plan of Almighty God (vv. 35-39).

This is the meaning of “all things” in context.

But we must comment further regarding the limitations of the “all things.” Note several items:

(1) One should not interpret everything that happens as an instance of providence. There are thousands of trivial things that may not result necessarily from divine activity, or work to one’s good. 

(2) Providence does not overrule one’s free will. If a person chooses to rebel against the Creator and he turns away from the Savior, God will not force him, even through providential means, into submission.

(3) One could never rationalize: “Since God works ‘all things’ for my good, I do not need to refrain from sin, for the Lord will use even evil for my ultimate welfare”. A denominational preacher, in attempting to defend the Calvinistic doctrine of “once-saved, always-saved,” declared that he could commit adultery, and God ultimately would work it out for his good. This is a corrupt misapplication of Romans 8:28.

(4) The good that God works may not be apparent immediately. It may be years before one realizes the benefits that result from heart-breaking events. In fact, one may never—in this life—see the effect of Heaven’s purpose. God is still working good—whether we ever realize it or not!

“Work Together”

The verb “work together” is an active voice, present tense form, which indicates that the activity orchestrated by God is ongoing. The Lord is as providentially active on behalf of his people today as he was in biblical times.

The verb suggest an intricate plan whose components are harmoniously operating toward a grand conclusion.

A good analogy is a mechanical watch. There are many intricate parts to the watch. It's has a role to play in serving one purpose. They all work together to keep time. Often, we can only connect the dots of God's plan and purpose of our lives years down the road. And we see how every circumstances we went through work together for his divine plans.

“For Good”

My wife always like to read the synopsis of a movie or book before she agrees to watch or read it. Why? She say must have good ending or she don't want to waste her time. Hero must always win. Must be happily ever after one.

God is working out things for his people that will result in their ultimate “good,” i.e., heaven, eternal. “The Christian’s journey must have a good ending, because at every step in it he is in the hands of God and is carrying out the Divine purpose”. The man who walks in the will of God and finished his race will always have a glorious ending.

A classic case is Joseph. As a boy of seventeen years, he was sold by jealous brothers into Egyptian slavery. An evil woman lusted for him, and when he refused her advances she bore false testimony against him. He was thrown into prison where he languished for several years. But because Jehovah “was with him” (Genesis 39:21), eventually Joseph was elevated to a place of great authority. By and by, of course, he became the instrument by which the family of Jacob was received into the safety of Egypt, having been spared from a terrible famine in Canaan. All of this intricate maneuvering was providential—in view of the coming Messiah.

There were many evil motives and actions in this amazing chain of events—none of which God was responsible for; and yet, astoundingly, God was able to implement his sacred purpose in all of these distressing matters. One of the most breathtaking verses in the entire book of Genesis is that which records the words of Joseph at the twilight of his life. To his brothers, he confided: “And as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50:20).

“For Those Who Love God”

Paul now speaks to the issue of who it is that is in receipt of this divine favor. It is to those who “love God,” and who “are called according to his purpose.” Actually, to use a figure of speech, these are two sides of the same coin.

Who will benefit from this promise? Paul gives two answers, or one answer from two sides.

First by what they do towards God, and second by what God did towards them.

The present tense form in this text indicates that those who live in the hope of this passage are the habitual God-lovers. Love is not a fleeting emotion; it is a way of life. The bottom-line truth is simple: loving God means doing what he says. The faith that avails is that which works through love (Galatians 5:6). We are encouraged by this promise, no eye has seen nor ear heard nor anyone imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

“Called According to His Purpose”

The opposite side of this coin reveals the divine perspective. The call of God originates in God's purpose, not ours. The call of God is not in response to anything we purposed to do. God has his own high and divine purposes that govern whom he calls.

So what practical values can we learn from Romans 8:28?

(1) An understanding of this text helps the Christian to avoid the murmuring mode, into which it is so easy to slip. The child of God must ever seek to remember that the Lord allows suffering as a means of refining human character.

(2) The wounds of life are “working together” to educate us and to bring us closer to God. 

James 1:2-4 "My brethren COUNT IT ALL JOY when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith PRODUCES patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing"

(3) The “nudging” of these pains of tears help us keep our focus on eternity—knowing his grace is always sufficient for us. 2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, IS WORKING FOR US a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"

Testimonies

1. My brother in prison as a young believer
2. College mate who failed in business but found the Lord and joined our company until he retired
3. Staff who resigned to form a competing company which folded but he's now a worship leader and cell leader.

Ministering at Calvary Assembly