The truth of Romans 8:28 has brought comfort to millions of Christians across the centuries. This promise from God says, “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.”
Let’s not get tripped up by wondering whether we love God enough for this promise to be kept by God. Our new heart in Christ loves God perfectly, 24/7, even when we do not live that way. How do we know that is true about us? It is a result of our salvation as described in the New Covenant in Hebrews 8:10b, “I will put My laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts.” The 10 Commandments were based on God’s perfect love because He is love. 1 John 4:16b proclaims, “God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” We are united to our God who IS love. Therefore, His perfect love, not the 10 Commandments, has been infused into our new hearts in Christ.
What is the good God brings about in our lives? Our Father can certainly use enjoyable life events and relationships, as well as suffering. The good might sometimes be that God brings about a blessing. For example, several years ago, my wife wanted to repaint the downstairs of our house, but it was expensive. A few months later, our oldest, Andrew, called during a movie night with my wife and daughter. His first words were, “Dad, I caught the house on fire, but I put it out.” He had a pan of oil on the stove to cook shrimp but forgot about it when he went upstairs to watch TV. Not long after, Christopher, our youngest, suddenly blurted out, Andrew, why is smoke coming up the stairs?!!! Christopher hurried downstairs and was about to pour water on the fire when Andrew said, “Don’t do that! It will make it worse.” He grabbed the small fire extinguisher and put it out. Yet, the cabinets above were charred and the bottom of the house had smoke damage on all the walls. My wife got her new paint job paid for by the insurance company minus a small deductible!
There is higher good according to Romans 8:29. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers, sisters.” God wanted a family, so he permanently conformed us to the image of our older brother Jesus, in our identity in Him. Another way we are conformed to the image of Christ is that we grow in our dependence on Christ just as He lived dependent on His Father to live through Him. As a result, His love, life, and character increasingly flow through us. Finally, according to Romans 8:30, we will be conformed to the image of Christ when we receive a new glorified body like Jesus’s resurrected one. It will be perfectly healthy, eternally young, and forever living a life of holiness and love!
Let’s thank God right now for the promise of Romans 8:28 and all that it means to be conformed to the image of Christ!
Live Free in Christ!
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
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