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Romans 8:28 - Is it like a horse pill to you?

Guy K. Henry

www.guyhenry.com

"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)

If that verse, Romans 8:28, were ever to take the form of a pill, you'd be able to find it caught in my throat! It is one of those verses that on a casual first reading make me sit up and exclaim, "Oh Yeah! Well, what about…" Unless we study this verse closely, it might seem to be contrary to our life experience. We could be tempted to throw a clump of unbelief at it and move on down the chapter.

It turns out that by taking the time to understand the tremendous meaning of Romans 8:28 we can experience the hand of God Himself lifting us up when we are down. Shall we pause at this verse for a moment and allow God to bless and encourage us? Yes? Great answer!

The first place I get into trouble when reading this verse is to assume that it means all things are good. A healthy dose of life tells us that this is not true. Cancer isn't good. When people hurt us it isn't good. Depression isn't good. Pain is not good. There are a whole lot of things in this world that aren't good, and I won't attempt to list them all.

Romans 8:28 says that 'all things work together for good'. There is a difference than saying all things are good. Here I understand that God takes life's mix of good things and bad things and arranges them so that they result in good.

So it results in good, good for whom? Does God work our tragedies for His glory? He does say that elsewhere, but that is not what God is telling us in this verse. (1 Pet 4:13 and others) He says "to them that love God" and "to them who are called according to His purpose". He's talking about the Christian, the one who has accepted Jesus' offer to erase all our sin. Our happiness is not martyred for the Christian cause. This verse tells us that God is orchestrating all things for our benefit.

Out of habit I have wished a friend "Good Luck" and other similar expressions. What I really do when I say things like that is deny God's master hand in all situations. If I believe that God is in control of everything, then I must abandon the idea that anything happens by chance or luck.

So then did God cause all my problems? Many accuse God and angrily shake their fists at Him over their infirmities and tragedies. Yet the scriptures tell me that God is good. Psalms 143:10 says, "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness." By that standard, God can't be the source of my hurt and infirmity. Everything evil, painful and wrong in this world came at the invitation of Adam and Eve and every sinner that followed. Sin, that blatant defiance of God, has its consequences. Ten thousand years of rejecting God has made this world a very rough place to live. Who is to blame for the bad things that happen? I am, and every sinner that has ever walked this earth.

When we turn our sin over to God, our relationship is restored. There are many who think that life after that should be trouble free. When hardship does visit them they question their relationship with God. Yet we see in Romans 8:28 that God doesn't promise to make every day sunny. He never promises that we won't experience pain or sadness. After all we still must live in this decaying world in order that we can proclaim His good news to those who haven't heard it. He does promise us that in every thing, at every turn, He is there. He has his hand on every situation, working it for good. Our good!

The next time that the telephone rings with bad news, remember this verse. God has promised to carry you through this cruddy situation. He didn't cause it, but he has promised to lay His hand on every detail. Even though things may feel out of control, God is very much in control. I've all too often been at the place where it looks like there is no possibility of relief or hope. God promises me that even if I can't even imagine how He will do it, He will work this whole mess out for my good.

Years ago I worked in a hospital pharmacy. Sometimes when a patient complained that a pill was too big to swallow, we would crush it up and mix it with some sort of nice tasting syrup. God has done this for me with Romans 8:28!

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