Order Of Service

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.

Introduction

The late iconic Gardner C. Taylor said on several occasions and in several of his writings that it is imperative that one sees “the simple in the profound” and, conversely, sees “the profound in the simple.” A few days ago, I saw again the profound in the simple. I was preparing to fry an egg. While I was waiting for the skillet to heat to the correct temperature, the egg rolled off the counter and smashed on the floor. This thought came to mind: gravity still works. Even though I am in bereavement, gravity still works. It is a physical law of nature, and no matter what happens, it still works. We learned in sixth grade science that Isaac Newton discovered it and quantified it with formulas. Every single body or piece of matter attracts every other body. The larger body’s attraction overrides the attraction of the smaller body. Since the earth is slightly larger than an egg, the earth won the attracting contest, and Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, not from a wall, but from the kitchen counter.

Now, please stay with me. I will take a detour, but hopefully, I will quickly get back on the main road. Hang with me, as I take you where theology, philosophy, science, and mathematics merge. Isaac Newton, was a Christian, and he always acknowledged God in the prefaces of his scientific treatises. He had one visible flaw; he would habitually sleep in church. We will overlook that.  He said God put consistence in the universe. That is why we have immutable laws of math and science. Two plus two equals four anywhere you go – even on the moon.  That proves there is a God. Instead of using science as an argument against the existence of God, Newton used it as proof that there is a God – and He is all powerful. His laws are immutable. Sometimes, He suspends them, and we call that a miracle. He is the only one that can suspend them. He created them, and only He can suspend them. Consistency is difficult to achieve. Ask any bowler how difficult it is to consistently throw strikes. Ask any golfer how difficult it is to consistently drive a hole in one. Ask any singer how difficult it is to be on your A-game consistently. Ask any pastor how difficult it is to consistently preach a dynamic sermon each Sunday. Believe me; I know.

Now, I am where I want to be. Just as there are laws and principles of science and math that are true no matter what happens, there are spiritual laws that are just as exact and certain. The math and science laws and the spiritual laws all come from God. He put consistency in the universe – both in the physical realm and in the spiritual realm.

Today, we will look at one of these spiritual laws. All things – the good, the bad, and even the ugly - will eventually have a positive result. Nothing against us will have a lasting negative effect.  This principle is also a promise from our great God. It is a promise to those who love the Lord and have answered the call of salvation.

Exposition

1. A Promise Difficult To Remember When Times Are Tough.

(God Will Sometimes Allow Things To Go To The Extreme.)

(Anything Carried To The Extreme Will Reverse To Its Opposite.)

(God Uses Wise Weeding.)

(He Allows The Weed To Grow Big Enough So You Can Simultaneously Extract Both The Stem And The Root.)

(If You Weed Too Soon, The Fragile Stem Will Break And The Root Will Be Left Intact, Which Defeats The Purpose Of Weeding.)

(If The Root Is Left, The Weed Will Grow Again.)

(The Ancient Greeks Were Right.)   

(Truth Is Shy; Wisdom Is Modest; But Falsehood Is Bold And Arrogant.)

(Remember: Jesus Is The Truth.)

2. A Promise About All the Experiences Of Life.

(“All Things.”)

(A Broad Promise For Every Aspect Of Life.)

(Don’t Forget The Initial Good.)

3. A Promise That Brings Assurance

(“And We Know.”)

(God Will Sometimes Suspend His Natural Laws, And We Call That A Miracle.)

(He Will Never, Never, Never Suspend His Spiritual Laws.)

(That’s Why He Is A Promise Keeper, And We Can Trust His Word.)

Closing Thoughts

The book of Romans, itself, is proof of this spiritual principle. Paul wanted to go to Rome to preach, but was not allowed to go at that time. So, he did the next best thing; he wrote them a letter. Romans is the most carefully organized of all of Paul’s letters. It is the Bible’s fullest and plainest explanation of Christian beliefs. Martin Luther said, “If all the rest of the New Testament were lost, every essential truth of the Christian faith could be drawn from Romans. The four Gospels emphasize the Who, Jesus, and the what, but Romans emphasizes the why. Romans explains completely the doctrine of justification by faith.”

All things work together for good. Just think, if Paul had gone to Rome at the time he desired, the book of Romans would have never been written. I say again, all things work together for those who love the Lord and have answered the call to salvation. This gives us the blessed assurance that we all need to thrive in these troubling times.

End Note:

The mood of the verb “called” in this verse, in the original Greek, is the responsive mood. We do not have it in English.  It means those who are called and have responded to the call. This is lost in most English translations. Unfortunately, this principle only applies to saved people. It does not apply to those who have been called to salvation, but have not yet responded in an affirmative way. Now God does let the sunshine and the rain fall on everyone - the just and the unjust. But this principle and promise is for the household of faith, the saved people. So, if you want everything to work toward your benefit, you need to get saved. If you have not accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, what are you waiting for? The hard work has already been done on Calvary.

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