"In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit's mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare His own Son, but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? God is the One who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!" Romans 8: 26-39
There is a temporal good; a spiritual good; and an eternal good. Temporal good is what the men of the world of darkness are seeking after, and generally have the greatest share of, and the believers and followers of Jesus Christ usually have the least. It is not unusual for many true believers and followers to see the wicked prosper materially, while they seem not to. It is important for all true believers and followers of Jesus Christ to remember, as it is written in Matthew 6: 19-21: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” True believers and followers of Jesus Christ will suffer; however, we all have to realize that under God's providence, all things, even the sorrows, trials and persecutions, work together for our spiritual and eternal good. While we are waiting in hope, but suffering, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. As indicated in the graphic included herein, the Holy Spirit not only strengthens us, but helps us in prayer, especially during our greatest trials when “we know not what to pray for as we ought.” We often do not know, in our ignorance, what is best spiritually and eternally for us. God in his profound love for us has given us the Holy Spirit to comfort us and pray on our behalf when times get “too tough”. We have no reason to fear that the Lord will not give us whatever is profitable for us, seeing that He did not spare His own Son to save us. As stated in the graphic included herein, we can trust God to work all things together for our good. God gives this precious assurance - not to all mankind - but “to them that love God; the called according to his purpose.” This blessed assurance is given to the true believers and followers of Jesus Christ for whom the love of God is the very foundation of their lives. These true believers and followers of Jesus Christ are “the called” because they have been called by the gospel and have accepted the call.
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We only have knowledge of the past, but God has perfect knowledge - He foresees the future even as He sees the past; foresees it, not because He has decreed it, but because there are no limitations on His knowledge. “Whom does God foreknow”? God foreknew those who would love him. As God looked into the future those - those who would love Him - were present to His mind; foreknown. “What did He predestinate of them”? God did not predestinate that they should love Him; believe Him; nor that some should be saved and others damned. God did predestinate that those whom He knew beforehand would love Him, should be conformed to the image of His Son. The only thing predestinated, or foreordained, is that those who love God as revealed in Christ shall become Christ-like in life, and like Christ in eternity. Given God’s omnipotence and omniscience, what or who can separate us from His plans for us? Assuredly, we can and should trust God in everything, even in our trials and sufferings, as it is written in Romans 5: 1-5 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” |
