All Things Work Together for Good?

[Tenchi]

Romans 8:28 (NASB)
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
​

Often when I hear Christians offering an answer to the question "Why is this happening to me?" they recite Romans 8:28 and reassure the questioner that whatever they are facing, however terrible, out of their tragedy and/or suffering God will produce some "good." That "good" may entirely obscured from the sufferer, however, and so they must simply trust that somewhere, somehow, God will see to it that their suffering isn't for naught.

But, then, there is verse 29:

Romans 8:29 (NASB)
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

The "good" about which Paul was speaking in verse 28 isn't some nebulous, ultimately unknowable, "good," but the good of becoming more like Jesus Christ. And this "good" can be produced right in the middle of anything the believer is experiencing. Whether on a bed of sickness and pain, or in a time of peace, plenty and ease, the born-again believer can be made more like Jesus.

So, then, are you willing in everything to be made more like Christ? Do you want this eternal and supernatural good? If not, you might ask yourself why not. What greater good could there be than reflecting in increasing measure the excellency of the Savior, your Creator and God? What better thing could your pain produce in you than the character and power of Jesus? What purer fruit could arise from seasons of calm and blessing in your life than the holiness, wisdom and joy of your Lord and King? To desire anything else at the expense of the good of Romans 8:29, is to cherish the shell of the oyster rather than the pearl within, to linger in an airport but never take a flight anywhere.

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 (NASB)
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I’m torn on this interpretation. Good to remind us that following Jesus is not about an easy smooth ride to Heaven. But it isn’t never ending torment either….

 

[Tenchi]

I’m torn on this interpretation. Good to remind us that following Jesus is not about an easy smooth ride to Heaven. But it isn’t never ending torment either….

Do you think I'm suggesting that following Jesus should be "never-ending torment"? If so, why?

 

[Christ_empowered]

I didn’t say you did actually. I just think it can be difficult to present a more nuanced picture of the Christian life. Miracles! Healings! And…

Persecution. Rejection. Loss of worldly power and opportunities.

 

[Christ_empowered]

Please keep posting btw.

I find your postings thoughtful and challenging. For a moment I thought I’d lost my faith when I saw the mean spiritedness behind the positive thinking and uplifting verses some churches offer.

Thanks

 

[Tenchi]

I didn’t say you did actually. I just think it can be difficult to present a more nuanced picture of the Christian life. Miracles! Healings! And…

Persecution. Rejection. Loss of worldly power and opportunities.

I was just wondering why you would make the remark you did and was concerned you'd drawn a conclusion from my OP that I hadn't actually made. And so, I asked you the question I did, rather than assert that you had said this or that.

A biblical view of the Christian life understands that bad times and good ends are not mutually-exclusive things. In the midst of very awful events, God can be working to awesome, eternal ends. This is the story of the Cross, right? In a smaller, but no less eternal, way everything we experience, good or bad, God will use to a profound and positive end, which is that we become more and more like Jesus. But He won't force us to change and grow in this way if we don't want to. If we refuse the good God would do in everything we experience, we pay a price, however: Life becomes superficial, temporary in its purpose, and ultimately meaningless.

I talked once with a man who was suffering terribly. In anger, he had cast off God who had not alleviated his pain. The man's suffering did not end, though. I asked the man if his suffering was eased by his rejection of his Maker. No, he admitted, it wasn't. In fact, without God in the mix, his suffering was utterly purposeless, a meaningless accident of fate that he simply had to endure. This only made his suffering worse.

When I've endured suffering, the knowledge that in it I have the opportunity to become more like Jesus focuses me, stabilizes me, and makes the suffering more than just about itself. Because of God, my suffering has a profound and eternal purpose - if I'll let it. I think that's great news! How about you?

Please keep posting btw.

I find your postings thoughtful and challenging. For a moment I thought I’d lost my faith when I saw the mean spiritedness behind the positive thinking and uplifting verses some churches offer.

Thanks

I've been writing and posting online for a long time now. People questioning, disagreeing with, and even ranting at me (which I'm not saying you've done) doesn't "rattle my cage" anymore and so you needn't worry that your remarks will put me off writing. I've developed a very thick skin. Thanks, though, for your encouragement.

 

[DanielEphraim]

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

[Christ_empowered]

Hi

Tenchi ….

Sorry if I came across as condescending and such. Really I just didn’t want to contribute to a hostile environment in which you would want to stop posting.

The end