Dear Fellow Believers in Christ, (All Things Work Together For Good to Conform us to His Image)
The Word does clearly says "all things work together for good" (Rom. 8:28). For whom does it say that these all things work together for good? What is the purpose that they are working together for good? How do "bad things" work together for good? How do the temporal things get translated into eternal things? How does the Father's love work in and through painful and hurtful circumstances we face? Let us hear the voice of the Holy Spirit take the Word of God and apply it to all things.
ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).
First, the Word Clearly Declares that All Things Work Together for Good
During times of great tragedies or calamities when the old Circumstance and Situation (C&S) gang is working on us full time we can remember that "all things work together for good" (Rom. 8:28). The alls in the Word of God are very important to note. In this verse, the all lets us know that there is not a situation or problem that we will encounter or face that is not already covered by God. God is in charge of all things. God certainly does not initiate or produce evil tragedies or calamities that we face. However, we are assured that He takes those tragedies and calamities and works them together for good. The Father outworks His good in and through us, through Christ who is our life. His strength and power can flow when we have none. When His love and forgiveness operates, it supercedes our natural and feeble attempts. First, the Word clearly declares that "all things work together for good" (Rom. 8:28).
Second, the Stated Promise is Together for Good to Those Who Love God
The whole passage of Romans chapter 8 is written to the spiritually birthed children of God. It is not written to and for everyone. We come into the spiritual birthed experience out of the work of the Holy Spirit who rebirthed us by the Spirit and placed us into the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13). We now have Christ living in us by, in, and through the Spirit (I John 5:11,12; Gal. 2:20; Rom. 8:9). That Life of Christ in us is the love of God in us. Yes, we have the love of God in Christ ever living in us. When the tragedies and calamities of life come, God just raises up the Spirit of Christ within us in a deeper and richer way to meet our needs. Even more than that, our Father is letting the love of Christ flow in and through us, to meet the needs of so many around us in a greater and deeper way. Second, the promise states "together for good to those who love God."
Third, Glory is Christ Flowing In and Through You in the Midst of a Trial
Peter warned the Church about suffering. "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy" (I Pet. 4:12,13). There are tragedies and calamities that come our way, that we cannot fully understand. We will never have all the answers. However, we do have one important truth that we can understand. Our Father looks at these trials as a joint attack on His own dear Son who lives within us. Think about that for a minute. Our father will raise up His Son within us to meet that joint attack with the fullness of His Spirit of unity, love, power, and strength. What is glory? Glory is Christ flowing in and through us in the midst of a trial, and when we see that, we rejoice. It is Christ flowing in annd through us in the midst of a trial that brings glory to our Father. Supernatural love and Spirit flow released in us is glory.
Fourth, Afflictions and Trials Produce a Greater Eternal Weight of Glory
Paul weighs afflictions and trials on an eternal scale and calls them just light afflictions. If you have ever read of the beatings, stoning, and perils that Paul faced (II Cor. 11:25-27), it would be hard to call those light afflictions. Oh, but not in the viewpoint of the Apostle Paul using that "eternal scale." "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (II Cor. 4:17-18). Paul knew what God would do through Christ in him for others, would far outweigh in eternity the light afflictions of the temporary. Many would be rebirthed and live a new life.
Fifth, We are Being Conformed to the Image of His Son through All Things
"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified" (Rom. 8:29,30). If you have been born-again by the Holy Spirit placing Christ the "incorruptible seed" (I Pet. 1:23) in you, then you are flowing in the eternal plan of God. By the Father, you are called, justified, and predestined to be fully conformed to the image of His Son. Conforming us to the image of His Son, would partly involve the Father permitting and allowing us to be the partaker of sufferings and trials with Christ, so that the glory of His Son can come forth in the midst of the trials for you and for others.
Sixth, We Are More Than Conquerors Through Him Who Loved Us
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31). Let me name just a few who are against us. Satan, his legion of demons, Satan influenced evil men with stirred up anger and hatred within organizations and nations, who are all against you and the liberty of the Christ within you. Satan and his thieves do come against us. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). However, despite the death and destruction of the enemy, we have the promise of God that we can have abundant life through Christ – even through trials. "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Rom. 8:37).
Seventh, The Love of God in Christ Jesus Is Eternally Inseparable From Us
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:38,39). Paul gets us refocused using the eternal scale of things. Let us focus on the important eternal truth. God wanted to have sons to love Him. He so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son to justify us and make this sonship possible at the cross. He sent the Holy Spirit to birth us and place His Son in us so that we too could become one with His Son and one in His love, favor, blessing, and with His eternal life. There is nothing in the universe, created or otherwise, that can now separate you from that complete eternal sonship in the Love of God in Christ in you and you in Him for all eternity. What a marvelous love that our Father has for us in and through Christ in us!