(Concluding the third, and then the fourth of four truths from Rom. 8:28 that give better understanding.)
DO ALL THINGS REALLY WORK
TOGETHER FOR GOOD? (5)
Dr. Vernon C. Grounds, President Conservative
Baptist Theological Seminary
God is holy love, and therefore in holy love
He sometimes uses the lash, and He uses the lash to make us leash our hearts
unto Himself in faith. And He uses the
lash, moreover, in order that for all eternity we ourselves may bear the
likeness of His holy love.
Hence, buoyant health, good as it seems to us,
may be a hindrance to the only true and abiding good. And, accordingly, God may send lingering
sickness and even a shattered body for our good.
Success in business, good as it seems to us,
may be a hindrance to the only true and abiding good. And, accordingly, God may drive us into
bankruptcy and failure for our good.
Pleasure, good as it seems to us, may be a
hindrance to the only true and abiding good.
And, accordingly, God may compel us to live out our days under
circumstances which are tedious, annoying, and distressing; and He does it for
our good.
Power, good as it seems to us, may be a
hindrance to the only true and abiding good.
And, accordingly, God may keep us in some insignificant position, and He
does it for our good.
The fulfillment of our lofty ambitions, good
as that seems to us, \may be a hindrance to the only true and abiding good. And, accordingly, God may cause all our
dreams to break like bubbles, and He does it for our good.
Some day, however, if not in this life then in
the life to come, we will realize that like children we were really grasping
after bubbles in our pursuit of what we regarded as good. And we will see from the perspective of
eternity that behind the apparent harshness and cruelty of God was the logic of
an unsentimental love, a love that is not a mere flabby amiability, a love that
is akin to the love of a wise human father who is willing to discipline his
children for their good. Yes, when at
last we bear perfectly the likeness of Jesus, we will confess that the logic of
divine love was infinitely above and beyond our human logic. To be like Jesus, we will understand
eventually, is the only true and abiding good.
THE RESTRICTIVE PHRASE
Notice, finally, one other fact implicit in this text. Paul's confident assertion is not so
unqualified and inclusive as at a first glance it may strike us. It embraces only those "who love
God" and are "the called according to his purpose." Thus, before any of us attempts to
appropriate this shining guarantee, he must be utterly sure that he comes
within the category Paul lays down.
And how can we determine whether or not we are
embraced within this blessed category?
Very simply! Have we as yet in
the simplest trust accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, acting upon the
gracious invitation, "Whosoever will may come"? Have we as yet looked to Calvary and beheld
there the convincing demonstration of divine love? If we have done this, then the promise
applies to ourselves - but not otherwise!
Perhaps you have been embittered by some of
your experiences. Perhaps you have
hardened yourself against Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you have resolved to live in icy defiance, refusing to obey His
pleading. I would beseech you to lift
your eyes to Calvary, where on a bloody cross your Creator in agony and
brokenheartedness perished for you sins and mine.
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