And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 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 and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30 NIV)
I have to admit, that even though I frequently pray, praise and stand on this promise, today I noticed something new. Something that changed everything I'd ever been told regarding this verse. Something that gives me joy and hope.
I have spent many years hoping this verse was true for me; that I was one of those called. I had always been led to believe that not all were called. Over the years, it has provided me stress and worry sometimes as to whether of not God chose me or if I was just trying to force myself amongst the group. After seeing Facing the Giants (which is my FAVORITE movie), I began "praying for rain and preparing my fields." In other words, living my life in knowing the limitlessness of what God can do and also live preparing for it to be so for me and hoping it would be so.
BUT - look at the start of the second sentence in our portion: "For those God foreknew" Think about that phrase and let it sink in completely. Foreknew means knew before. For those God knew before. God is the creator of all things. He created each of us and not only created, but created with a plan and a purpose to work for good in His kingdom. Throughout His word we find that He knew us before we were in our mother's womb. He had thought of us before we were even conceived. I'd say that is the epitome of foreknew.
So, that means this verse is for each of us. God foreknew us, which means He predestined us to be conformed to the image of His son. And if we are predestined, then we are called by Him to do his will. And if we are called, then we are justified. If we are justified, then we are glorified. We have all been called according to His purpose and He can work all things for good, even the mistakes or the bad things done. However, we also need to remember this, that it is for HIS purpose. His ways are not our ways nor His thoughts our thoughts. We are limited in our views and cannot see the whole picture. Haven't we all had those moments when we look back and see something that we thought was devastating at one point in our lives and realize how it led to something better? I know I have! We are brokenhearted when a relationship ends or we don't get the job, but later in life you see how that could have altered your entire reality now and all the blessings it includes.
The example that jumps to my mind is a lost relationship. We were engaged, the wedding planned, the dresses bought, the flowers ordered, the reception paid for. And then it ended. I still to this day am not even sure why. And I spent years devastated. I would lock myself in a room and try on my wedding dress. I would dance in the mirror and think about what might have been. Then I would fall into a puddle crying out to God, "why?!?" But weekly moved to monthly and monthly moved to every now and then and finally 8 years later, I let the dress go and the dream that went with it. He moved on right away; was married to someone else within a year. Then divorced again and remarried. I ran into him first at his work while I was nearby for a college tour and then at his stepfather's funeral. Both times, those old feelings came back and I wondered what happened, but they were easily pushed aside with the fact that he was doing well. Adult life has never been easy for me, and I still have moments that I remember that time in my life: a princess at a ball; showered with love; a beautiful house awaiting me; the chance to stay home with my kids; an adventurous life ahead; a companion to walk with. BUT...if that had worked out: I would not have been here when my father died nor spent his last weeks in his presence; I would not have worked where I currently work and reconnected with so many people; I would not have my son (might have a son, but not the one I have); my girls would not have grown up in Central Florida and participated in so many things they did; we would not have the memories we have. Life would be completely different. I see how that had to end for this to be. God could see more than I could, including pain. 18 years later, I see that I was in love with a dream, and I remember only the best parts, not how things really were or the dailyness and struggles of would have been. He worked it all for good. I know that now.
Did/do bad things happen? Of course! Because we have the free will to choose what we do. We don't always make the right decisions. We base our choices on what we see. We often disagree with God's choice because we cannot see the whole picture yet and how this moment fits in. I try to make decisions prayerfully, but there are moments when I don't know what to choose. Maybe I'm not listening, maybe that particular choice doesn't matter too much in the big scheme of things, maybe the world has too much influence on me, maybe I am stubborn and willful. But I am alive. I was created. So that means that I am predestined. I am made in the image if Christ and I have the choice to conform and love God. And God will work all things for good for His plan. If I conform; if I live in love, I will see how that means it will work for good in my life.
Thank you, Lord, that you knew us before we were even conceived. Thank you for creating us in your image and for choosing us to conform to the image of your living Son. Thank you for inviting us to love. Thank you that you want us all; to lose not even one of us. Thank you that when I become lost, you seek after me like the lost sheep spoken of in chapter 10 of Matthew (8-14). Thank you that even when I am lost, you will find me and then use those lost moments for good. Thank you for walking with me when I make those missteps on the path and comforting me when I can't see the good. Thank you, Lord, for loving me so much that you would work good in my life and use my life for your purpose. Thank you for sending your Son to die on a cross so that I may be justified. Thank you, most of all, for moments like these when you teach me something new and when you show me how You are, have and, I know, will continue to work in my life. Praise you, Lord, Father and King. Amen.
