28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
The only intelligible way to understand this passage is that God is in control. Therefore everything He brings about in our lives is good because He is good in all that He does (Matt 19:17). When evil seems to overtake us, we can be assured as Abraham asserted, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Gen 18:25b). Or as Joseph insightfully responded, “[Y]ou meant evil against me, but God meant it for good …” (Gen 50:20).
We may struggle with how the sovereignty of God meshes with the free, volitional choices of us mere humans created in His image. We might wrestle with how God can find fault with those who resist God’s will if “He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires” (Rom 9:18-19). However, remember that these truths are written in a context intended to encourage believers, not to answer all the questions of unbelievers who would challenge God’s goodness. The point is that God is good, and we must believe that His goodness far surpasses our sense of goodness.
The real reason for objection to this teaching is pride. How can we complain at the goodness of God, unless we insist that our idea of goodness (which undoubtedly is self-centered and bent on our own comfort and ease) is the ultimate good for us? A child thinks he knows what is good for him by eating ice cream in unlimited quantities, but a parent has a greater good, namely his overall health and prevention of a stomachache. But, you say, “I am not a child.” Not physically, that is true. But compared to God’s infinite wisdom, knowledge and goodness, we are mere infants who don’t know what is really good for us. Thus, most of the time God does not give us a choice in the events of life that so define us, particularly when it comes to suffering and pain.
The other reason for resisting this teaching is that it seems to make us out to be like robots. In this area also we are like infants in our inability to understand God’s wisdom and knowledge. He sees no problem with His absolute sovereignty while still holding us accountable for our free choices. But then, is anyone completely free in his choices except the self-existent sovereign God, Creator of all?
Lord, though I don’t fully understand, I believe You are sovereign over all.
0 Comments