All Things Together for Good
The Bulletin, 6/25
One of the unfortunate effects of the health and wealth gospel is that we can get caught teaching what certain promises don’t mean rather than what they do. For example, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is a powerful truth when applied accurately. But, thanks to pop Christianity, we have to spend a lot of time explaining that it wasn’t written to promise you high school graduation or a Super Bowl win.
Similarly, Romans 8:28 is a weighty assurance about God’s goodness that has been twisted into meaning things it does not say.
Some take it to mean that life’s ups and downs are just a waiting game for some later success. Everybody has a prosperous “happily ever after” waiting for them, like Joseph. But sometimes that picture-perfect conclusion doesn’t come to fruition. What then?
Others believe it means that everything that happens was caused by God, and so it all has some hidden goodness behind it. That becomes a real sticking point when disease or tragic loss happens. “It’s all part of God’s plan,” some misguided comforter may say. Assigning responsibility to God and trying to discern His motive in the midst of tragedy is a hopeless task.
Instead, we should take the verse in its entirety—in all things that happen, He is working them to the good of those who love Him. And what is “good” in God’s eyes? His purpose of conforming us to the image of His Son (8:29).
That’s the kicker—we have to believe our ultimate good is what God thinks it is and not just what we want it to be.
No matter what happens to me, God can use it to make me more like Christ, which draws me closer to Him and gives me a taste of eternity. That, my friends, is good!
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