He Works for Good

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God. . . . Rom 8:28a KJV)

Some have used this verse to support the idea that every event or happening must be God’s will because it is for good. The verse does not say that. It says, all things work together for good.

Many evil things have happened in our fallen world—abuse, war, accidental death, crippling disease, distortion of personalities. None can be considered God’s handiwork. Human tragedy is never the will of God.

But the verse is a promise. When evil things do enter our lives—regardless of how difficult they may be—God can somehow bring them together so they work for our benefit if we look to Him and trust Him. They can even bring victory in the face of defeat or despair.

God is the great Creator. When tragedy strikes, He is at work—just as He is at work at any other time. No circumstance is so terrible that it is beyond His creative touch. He will even use it for good.

Originally published February 19, 1983.

A Future and a Hope

Jeremiah is usually called the weeping prophet. He wept and mourned because his countrymen—the Israelites—only pretended to worship God. In private, they worshipped idols and did evil deeds. Jeremiah preached against their sin and warned them to repent—and then he told them to accept the invading Babylonian army as a judgment from God.

Not a popular message. The people were enraged. There were even false prophets who accused Jeremiah of treason and who spearheaded his persecution. But eventually, just as Jeremiah had stated, the Babylonians came, entered the city, and carried the King and others into captivity.

Jeremiah could have gloated. Instead, he continued to mourn for his people—the wayward Israelites. God’s concern were his concerns, and he sent another message from God to the transplanted captives: Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives . . . that you may be increased there, and not diminished. (Jer. 29:5,6a & c NKJV)

Jeremiah let the people know that God’s hand was still upon them. He told them they would return to Jerusalem in 70 years. Then, I [God] know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (v. 11)

Originally published February 20, 1987.

Though It Tarries, Wait

The social conditions of Israel upset the prophet Habakkuk. He saw evil people prosper. And even though some individuals sought God, the nation as a whole did not. To make matters worse, God did not seem to answer his prayers.

In frustration and bitterness, Habakkuk cried out, O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear. (Hab. 1:2a NKJV)

Habakkuk received an answer he did not expect. God told him a great nation—Babylon—was being shaped as an instrument of judgment against Israel. Then God told him to write down the message for all to hear and understand—because it was a true message and people needed to receive the warning. Though it tarries, God said, wait for it; because it will surely come. . . . (2:3)

Our natural minds think Habakkuk would have been upset or disappointed. But although Habakkuk did not receive the answer he wanted, he forgot to complain.

Habakkuk rejoiced because had God had given him a message, and he responded with a hymn of praise. He initially listed all the things that bothered him or that could go wrong in his agricultural world. But after receiving God's message, he somehow knew that even if there were no figs or grapes, no laborers to harvest the olives, no grains—or if the sheep or cattle be lost, still he would say, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation. (3:18)

Habakkuk's response is not surprising for a person who has heard God’s voice. Many people receive changed hearts when God comes to them or speaks to them. His Presence changes everything.

Originally published July 24, 1992.

Survival Instincts

Survival instincts are a basic human response to life—even in the spiritual realm. Almost everyone seeks to organize their life according to patterns they believe will bring favor with God. We want to live.

And yet, almost everyone defies the instinct for survival at times. We may drive too fast, eat too much—or we may ignore God’s voice. And there are some people who seem intent on ignoring God—and so they defy their survival instincts.

During a time of crisis, the Lord spoke to King Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah: Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights. (Is. 7:11 NIV)

Ahaz was a wicked king. Even though he realized Isaiah was a true prophet, he responded with, I will not ask: I will not put the Lord to the test. (vs. 12b) His answer was an offense to God; it did not even relate to Isaiah’s message.

Isaiah could not understand. He said, Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? (vs. 13b)

But Ahaz was intent on evil and he defied normal survival instincts. When he died, he was not buried with other the other kings. When his son Hezekiah became king, the young man restored God’s favor by cleansing the temple of his own father’s evil influence.

Originally published December 9, 1983.

A Shift in Focus

Solomon’s story is a sobering story. He started out with so much promise. He built the temple according to his father David's instructions. When he dedicated it, after the priests brought the Ark of the Covenant from David's tent into the Holy of Holies, the Lord revealed His glory to the young king: [T]he house was filled with a cloud . . . So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. (II Chron. 5:13c KJV) Awed by the presence of God, Solomon responded with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise.

But later, when Solomon was old, his heart was consumed by his many wives—he even joined them in their pagan ceremonies. The Bible tells us, Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord. . . . (I Kings 11:6a)

Because Solomon did not repent, judgment would not be averted; the kingdom of David was divided after Solomon’s death because Solomon shifted his focus. He lost sight of God and, as a result, he lost the favor and blessings of his youth.

Originally published August 7, 1987, and June 11, 1993.
Picture: Lois's garden, Spokane, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Evil Conceived

God chose David to replace Saul as king, but David faced opposition to the end. A Benjamite named Cush (Saul had been from the tribe of Benjamin) sought to kill David. David, again fleeing for his life, wrote, He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. (Ps. 7:14 NIV)

How strange that David recorded the psychology of evil-minded Cush in Psalm 7. But it has been preserved in Scripture so we can better understand the dangers of evil.

Perhaps David understood evil because he fought so many battles against it within himself—even while he fled from evil in others. Perhaps he had been pregnant with evil thoughts at some time during his many conflicts. He knew such thoughts eventually conceive and give birth. If evil thoughts remain unconfessed—remain outside of God’s grace—they seem to have life on their own.

The consequences of unconfessed evil are disastrous. He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he had made. The trouble he caused recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head. (v. 15,16)

Truly, when evil is birthed, the result is disillusionment. For evil cannot satisfy. Instead, it returns to destroy those who give in to it.

Originally published June 3, 1988.

A Green Olive Tree

Saul became jealous of David—not only because David's of ever-increasing success on the battlefield. He also sensed the young man's anointing and destiny. Saul knew his kingdom was in jeopardy.

David eventually had to flee for his life. As he journeyed he made a brief stop at Nob where the Ark of the Covenant rested. While there, the priest Ahimelech fed him. The introductory lines of Psalm 52 describes David's response when he learned what happened in Nob after he left.

A man named Doeg saw David with the priest Ahimelech. Doeg, a man of evil heart, told Saul that Ahimelech had helped David. Because of Doeg’s betrayal, Saul killed eighty-five of God’s anointed priests and David’s life as a fugitive began in earnest. (I Sam. 21 &22)

David gained new appreciation for the depths of Saul’s intent that day. He was concerned about his own life, but he was appalled by the injustice of Saul's actions against God’s servants. And he mourned the loss. Small wonder that he cried, Why do you boast, O mighty man, of mischief done against the godly. . . ? God will break you down forever. (Ps. 51:1,5a RSV)

But David was not content to merely decry evil in others. He examined his own position as well—and he sought to reaffirm it. The psalm does not end until he could say, But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. (v. 8a) He knew he had to come before God and trust in God's love in spite of a great tragedy.

Originally published August 5, 1988.
Picture: Commercial display, West Fargp, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Civil Disobedience?

Groups of people were killed in Europe during World War II and few rose to defend or rescue them. Doing so would have been dangerous, because that would mean disobeying evil laws established by an evil government. After the war, some defended their lack of Christian love by claiming the Bible teaches people to support their government.

The Bible does teach that people are to support their government. But would it surprise you to know the Bible also directs people to participate in civil disobedience at times? When Peter and John were imprisoned, God sent an angel to open to the prison doors and lead them outside. Then the angel said, Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people the words of this life. (Acts 5:18-20 NKJV)

The disciples obeyed the angel. The enraged authorities asked, Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name [of Jesus] And look you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine. . . .

Peter and the other apostles answered with a truth we cannot forget: We ought to obey God rather than men. God’s Word instructs us to obey leadership when it provides protection and order. When that is lost, our duty is to obey God—and to change the law if possible.

Originally published August 30, 1991.

To Reconcile All Things

The day of Jesus’ crucifixion has been called Black Friday. Yes, God’s Son was executed that day. His arrest and trial was a sham. To pull it off, accusers brought Him before four authorities in six hours. Although the accusers could not agree on charges, and although none of the authorities thought Jesus was guilty, pre-conceived plans for evil prevailed.

The day of Jesus’ crucifixion has also been called Good Friday. For Jesus’ death is the most important event in history. On that day He accomplished what no other person could ever accomplish. He paid the penalty for Sin—yours and mine. His sinless nature suffered so our sinful nature would be set free.

Paul said, For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself . . . through the blood of His cross. (Col 1:19,20b NKJV)

Intent on Evil

The priests and Pharisees of Jesus’ time were intent on evil. Their goal was ending the ministry of Jesus. They didn’t care that He was, in fact, the Messiah. Or that He preached God’s Word and wrought marvelous changes in people’s hearts. They didn't care that He healed the sick. Jesus cut into their territory, and they wanted Him out. And God didn’t stop them.

When the Pharisees sent officers to arrest Jesus, the officers returned without Him saying, No man ever spoke like this Man. (Jn. 7:46 NKJV) The Pharisees weren’t interested. They held Jesus and the people who followed Him in contempt. Are you also deceived? they asked the officers. (Jn. 7:47-49) When Nicodemus, one of their own who presumably did know the law, tried to defend Jesus, he was rebuked.(Jn. 7:50,51)

We wouldn’t have let it happen, but God let evil follow its course. Jesus was crucified on Calvary and a sorrowful Nicodemus helped Joseph of Arimathea bury the body. (Jn. 19:38,39) The Pharisees—still committed to protecting their interests—paid guards to watch the tomb.

Originally published March 13, 1992.

Looking Forward

Most of us have experienced a time when life seemed utterly black, hopeless. Jesus death on the cross was such a time for His disciples. All hopes of a kingdom on earth were dashed—and they didn’t understand the eternal kingdom Jesus had talked about. They couldn’t conceive of the resurrection that would follow. It appeared that evil controlled their future when Jesus was delivered into the hands of sinful men. . . . (Lk. 24:7 RSV)

So often our darkest hours are preludes for a resurrection. When we think there is no hope, God is doing His thing, working with a master plan set in place before written history and beyond our wildest human imaginations.

Although the disciples didn’t understand, Jesus did. The writer of Hebrews explains this when he wrote, Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. (Heb. 12:2a NIV)

Lent is meaningful because it points to Easter.

Originally published April 9, 1982.