Your Master Craftsman – Part Two
“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.” Romans 8: 28
All things work together for good. You have got to be kidding! No, they do.
The Good Lord is in the “GOOD” business. That is, He deals in doing good. Things aren’t always good, but He is. Don’t confuse things with God. Things are not always good. God is always good. Fire is always hot, water is always wet, and God is always good. Always, it is His nature, He can’t be any other way.
Let’s do a security check on this verse. Does it really mean “all” things? Does that include such things as suffering, struggles, and sin? Yes!
Suffering often is used by the Lord to purify us.
“…that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” (I Peter 1:7). In our suffering God can be made all the more real to us and we can reveal Him all the more to others.
Suffering often is used by the Lord to develop our patience.
“…the testing of your faith works patience….” (James 1: 3).
Suffering often is used by the Lord to perfect us.
“…after you have suffered awhile, [the Lord] will make you perfect…” (I Peter 5: 10).
It helps us to see and acknowledge our sin. It drives us to God.
It conforms us to Jesus by causing us to share in the “the fellowship of His suffering” (Phil. 3: 10).
It reveals God’s compassion and capacity.
Struggles as used here is a reference to temptation. Does it work together for good for us also? Yes.
Temptation makes us prayerful.
It devastates our pride, revealing to ourselves our own vulnerability.
It modifies us to help others in need. Knowing what it is like to struggle, we are motivated to want to relieve others when they suffer.
It makes us depend on the Lord when we suffer. It introduces us to the Lord.
Sin is always wrong. It is deplorable in the eyes of God.
When we see sin in the lives of others it is despicable. It makes us thankful we have been delivered.
Personal sin should be avoided, but even when it happens God overrules it and forgives us when we repent. Thus, our gratitude and indebtedness to Jesus is increased and draws us to Him.
If He can and will work in that trinity of adversity He will work in ALL things, enabling them to work together for good. Even any adversity presently in your life.