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.” (ESV)
This Scripture is one that is commonly quoted when we see others going through a tough time in their lives. But I wonder if we truly understand what it means. Of course, we want everything to work out in a positive way, especially for ourselves and our loved ones. But do we understand the second part of this text? “For those who are called according to his purpose.”
Our Lord was careful to assure His followers that in this world we would have tribulation or great trouble and suffering. What is the “good” of which the apostle speaks? It is real and absolute and it is eternal. It is the good of our souls rather than of our bodies, it is the good of the eternal world rather than the present world. I know we never look forward to these times of trouble, but nowhere in the Bible does it say that our comfort or our pleasure is God’s primary concern; but it does teach that our good is. (Be careful not to confuse these things.) God wishes our happiness, and our holiness, but not necessarily our comfort and pleasure.
There is a twofold guarantee found in the words “to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” Our love for God is the result of His love for and to us. Our love is literally a response to His love.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” This was a remarkable statement for the Apostle Paul to make, especially when we consider how much he had suffered because of his love for and to God and his truth. He had been imprisoned, he had been stoned, he had been beaten; and yet, after all this, he is able to say that “all things work together for good to those that love God.” Many others have similar testimonies. One of them was David who said, “I have been young, and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalms 37:25).
2Timothy 1:9 “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”
There have been times when I’ve had to remind myself that my life on this earth is temporary, but His purpose for me is eternal.