THE DETERMINED OBJECTIVE OF SALVATION "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 . . . " -- Tomorrow:
"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. 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. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." (Romans 8:28-34, NKJV)
Devotion 7 of 33
'FOR GOOD"
It is possible for everything to work together for a curse – working against the individual. Thus it was said of the host of unbelieving Israelites that fell in the wilderness, "For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed" (Deut 2:15). This is how it is with the ungodly – those who refuse to retain God in their knowledge, or forget the Lord who made them, or refuse to take what God has offered them. For those who do not believe in Jesus Christ, the conclusion is spelled out, and it is not pleasant: "he that believeth not, shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). Everything is actually working against such impoverished souls. For them, everything works together to condemn them
From time to time, it may seem to the saints like this is their lot also, with everything working against them. Once, when the Patriarch Jacob thought he had lost his favorite son, he cried out, "all these things are against me!" (Gen 42:36). But that was not really the case with Jacob, nor is it the case with those who are in Christ Jesus. God is working everything together for their good – their ultimate advantage.
This does not mean that every experience of life is good of itself. Rather, it is being fitted into the whole of God's purpose. In the end, everything will fit together for the advantage of the child of God. The sea and the wilderness will prove to have been advantages. The barren desert and the fruited plain will both make the child of God better, fitting him for his eternal inheritance. For Daniel, the lions' den and the place of favor will marvelously blend. For Paul, the Damascus road experience and his imprisonments will blend harmoniously in beautiful and glorious melody.
Allow Joseph to come to the witness stand on this matter. Although the good was not seen from the beginning, let him tell you how the adversity to which he was subjected was "worked together" by the living God. He speaks to his hateful brothers, who sold him into a most grievous slavery. "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive" (Gen 50:19-20).
Joseph knew this AFTER the fact. In one place, Paul knew it BEFORE the fact. It will be comforting to hear him testify also. "Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: the former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. For I KNOW THAT THIS WILL ALL TURN OUT FOR MY DELIVERANCE through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:15-19).
You can see what effect the spiritual knowledge of this has upon the elect of God. I say "spiritual knowledge" because it is above the ordinary knowledge of men, being driven by faith. Such knowledge does not require immediate evidence that everything is being worked together for good. A word from God will suffice to proceed confidently to live by faith. Faith needs nothing more than that!
The bottom line is this: the end of those for whom God is working everything together for good, will be better than their beginning. The best words will be heard at the conclusion of their race. The largest advantage will be given to them after heaven and earth have passed away, and there is no more sea. The entire assembled universe will see, hear, and know, that everything in their life had been woven together into a beautiful tapestry of glory.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you for being the ultimate Worker.