Whenever someone is facing a difficult time, they love to quote Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." It is a beautiful promise from God, but have you ever really stopped to think what it means or are you just scripture picking to comfort yourself?
Let's look at this verse a little closer. Yes, God can absolutely work every bad situation into something positive. Just look at the story of Joseph in Genesis chapters 37-50. His brothers betrayed their own kin and sold him into slavery purely out of jealousy. Yet through Joseph's captivity, and through dreams from God, he was able to eventually plan for an upcoming famine and saved many lives. Jospeh loved God enough that he was able to see that God used his brothers' evil intentions. He said in Genesis 50:20, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."
If you are following the ways of the Lord, then I am certain that when you take a closer look at all the difficult times in your life, you can see how God worked a bad event to bring glory to His name. I know I can see God's plans over all 52 years of my life.
Now let's see what else Romans 8:28 says. He works things "for good to them that love God." Yes, God is more gracious than we realize and often helps people who are living deep in sin. However, James 5:16 tells us, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." In other words, the prayers of those who are actively seeking out a righteous life, are more likely to have their prayers answered. God knows we can never be perfect but if we desire to please God and shun evil, God will be glorified.
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 & 7
People are quick to call on God and demand He help them but then refuse to obey the laws of Jesus Christ. Galatians 5:19-21 is just one example of what Jesus expects from us: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (See also Ephesians 5:3-5 & Revelation 21:8)
You might insist that maybe you ARE intentionally choosing to go against the Bible, but you love God. In fact, you read your Bible, pray, memorize scripture, teach the Bible to other people, and you even help the less fortunate. But what does the Bible say about that?
"Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?' And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.'" Matthew 7:21-23
Pretty strong words from Jesus, so we need to take them very seriously. If you are "working iniquity," that means you are living in active rebellion against God, and He knows what is truly in your heart.
He answered and said unto them, "...you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.'" Mark 7:6
1 John makes is very clear that if we say we love Jesus, but refuse to do as He expects, we do not truly love Him.
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:3-5 & 15-16
You make think God is asking too much of you by wanting you to follow the rules. First, the rules are not just for you, but also to protect other people. Your wrong choices hurt other people when you steal from, cheat on, lie about, them, etc. Consider all God has done, not just for you in your limited little world, but for the entire world: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. Then, when you read Romans 12 you should feel a lot less rebellious and will agree with the apostle Paul that obeying Jesus is very reasonable:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
Hopefully you are beginning to see Romans 8:28 in a slightly different light, not just mere words you use to comfort yourself when things go wrong, or to bitterly claim that the Bible lies when you believe that God has not worked things for your good.
Just a reminder that God doesn't always answer our prayers as we expect. Cancer may not be healed, houses and loved ones may be lost, but you can use any negative circumstance to bring glory to the name of Jesus. It is not about our imperfect will for our lives, but God's perfect, holy will. We may never understand this side if Heaven why some things were allowed to happen, but we can trust God knows what He is doing. ("For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isiah 55:9).
Therefore, we can remember that when we are not actively choosing to rebel against what we know is right, but we are serving Jesus with all our heart, soul, and might, He is indeed working things for our good. When the above-mentioned Joseph spent 13 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Genesis says he continued to be a man of integrity so much so that the prison guards showed him much favor and treated him well and even gave Joseph some authority. Joseph knew God was always working for his good because Joseph had a purpose to help save many lives.
You may explore the end of Romans 8:28 and say, "Yes, I do love the Lord, and I am doing my best to follow His ways, but do I really have a purpose?" We are not all called to be a Jospeh, Daniel, David, Paul, Peter, etc., but we are called to share the gospel (And He said unto them, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15). Therefore, that is one purpose you can claim, and I am certain that if you pray and seek God's will for your life, He can use you in many more ways to advance His Kingdom, and you can focus on not working your life for your own good, but for the good of others, and more importantly for the glory of God!
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