“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
Our “beginning point” will determine where we end up.
Dear Pilgrim, what’s your view of God? Is He good? Is He fair? Is He all-loving? Don’t give a textbook answer or quote a few Scriptures here. Just speak from your heart.
“Who is God to you?”
So often we’re afraid to speak honestly because of our fear of being labeled an atheist or wide-eyed heretic; yet, deep down in the secret places of the heart rest the real views and values.
So, back to the original questions:
“Is God good? Has He been always fair to you? Do you always feel loved by Him when things are going wrong? When the car breaks down in rush hour traffic? When your pet of 16 years gets hit by a car in front of the house? When the one who said he/she’d love you ‘till death we do part’ walks out the door for someone else? When that precious ‘apple of your eye’ suddenly gets sick and dies?”
Is God good then?
Only those who can say that BEFORE a time of pain and perplexity will weather the storm and end up at the doorstep of today’s Manna. And, only those who know God’s Heart will be able to cry “Whom have I in Heaven but Thee—and there’s none I desire on the earth besides Thee” (Ps. 73:1, 25) in the dark night of the soul.
Notice very carefully that our Manna doesn’t say “all things are good”—for they’re not. But, it does say “all things WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD.” The Greek word “sunergo” is used here for “work together” and also means “to cooperate with, be a fellow worker with, co-laborer, companion, etc.” Thus, the Heavenly Father will take EVERYTHING in our life. . . the “good, the “bad” and the “ugly”. . .the pleasurable and the painful. . .the blessing and the barrenness… and knead them together in our lives for our good and His Glory as we lie quietly and pliable on His Potter’s Wheel called Life (Jer. 18:1-6).
But, we’ll not know that or believe that without the rest of that verse: “To them that love God and are the called according to His purpose.”
Unless we know that God is an all-loving God and nothing will happen in our lives that has not first passed through His nail-scarred hands, we’ll inwardly resent or hate Him. We may never shake our fist toward Heaven, but inwardly we’ll still blame Him and not love Him.
Likewise, only those who are “the called according to His purpose” will rest in Him when everything’s falling apart. Though He may not CAUSE everything, He still ALLOWS it. And, it’s knowing He’s all-loving and all-knowing. . .has a plan for our lives and called us to partner with Him. . .and the end result will be blessed and beautiful. . .that enables us to say/sing, “God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He’s so good to me.” Thank You, Lord.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated April 13, 2010
