What do you say or what do others say when something bad happens?
“God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.”
“God must be up to something cause He doesn’t make mistakes.”
“This is a blessing in disguise. It’s God,s will and plan.”
Underlying response:
Someday you’ll be glad this happened because everything happens for a reason.
Human Nature:
We want to know there is a _reason_.
When people say “Everything happens for a reason”.
- God takes care of _all things_ in a believer’s life.
- Nothing happens by _chance_ (God is in control).
- It’s all apart of God’s _plan_.
Unshakable truths. . . . .
- God has a _plan_.
- God is in absolute _charge_.
- God is _good_.
However, it does not mean that God is the direct cause of everything and that everything that God “allows” is _good_.
Where did we come up with the idea that “everything happens for a reason” and “everything is good if you wait long enough”?
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 ESV
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 NIV
The “stand alone” truth about Romans 8:28.
Not all things are _good_, but in all things God is at _work_. And God is good.
The contextual truth about Romans 8:28
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified 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 gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:28–39 (ESV)
Romans 8:35
No matter what happens, not even bad things can affect God’s _love for us_. That’s a promise!
Let’s dig deeper:
1. This promise isn’t for everyone.
“To them”. . . . “who love God”
“Who are called according to His purpose”
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
I John 5:3 ESV
2. When bad things happen. . . . ._don’t blame God_.
Talking point:
Those who assume that everything that happens has God’s fingerprints all over everything, fail to distinguish between what God allows and what He causes, between what God permits and what God prefers.
- God allows self-influenced wounds. (sinful choices)
- We live in a sinful, fallen world.
- God permits us to make foolish decisions. (dumb)
The misinterpretation/application of Romans 8:28:
- _Anger_ toward God
“If God is love and He loves us, why did this bad thing happen?”
- Distorted view of sin.
“If everything is God ordained for good, no need to fear sin because after all, everything comes out in the wash.” “It’s all good.”
- Disregard _responsibility_.
“If God is in control and guarantees that everything will eventually work for good no matter what, who cares what I put in the equation.”
- Misplaced hope and despair.
“If God’s the cause and effect, He will either intervene or be responsible for my personal hell on earth.”
Tough Questions:
1) Can a bad thing be a good thing?
My response: It doesn’t matter, I must choose _obedience_.
2) If God is going to fix everything someday (make all things good), why is He taking so long?
My response: _Witness_, God lingers because for every day He delays, more may turn to Him.
I Peter 3:9
Final thoughts,
God has not promised that everything will always “work out” in this life. But He has promised that no matter what happens, He will never leave us and His good and eternal purposes can never be hindered.
Jesus Christ did not suffer so you would not suffer. He suffered so that when you suffer, you could become like Him.