Working for Good - Part 3

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, . . .to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:28-29 NASB).

Many Bible passages are so straightforward that their meaning is simple and clear;  there is no doubt or confusion as to what is meant. For many passages, however, understanding is progressive. There are many passages that a believer acknowledges as true, while realizing that he does not fully understand them. In many more instances, he is not even aware of missing something important.

When a believer finally understands something he has not understood before, it is like finding a key that unlocks a door to expanding truth. Suddenly, multiple related passages start exploding in the believer's mind, providing a clear indication that accurate understanding has been achieved. Here are some of the fireworks that went off in my mind as I considered the truth of Romans 8:28-29 that the primary good God is working through all things is that of conforming His children to the image of Christ.

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials" (I Peter 1:6). The trials come because they are necessary. They are working Christ's character in the believer and are designed by God to do that. Until a Christian fully reflects Christ's character, he needs the trials.

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). There is no way to consider multiplied trials to be joy unless one understands the intended result of completing godly character.

God does accomplish His work of Christ-likeness through training His children, often in the form of trials. "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:11).

Romans 8:26-27 speak of the Spirit's role as He prays for God's will to be accomplished in the believer. As the Spirit participates in this process, He knows what God wants in terms of Christ-likeness. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Bible declares as expected and reasonable that God would want to do this work. "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. . . . So that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2).

The end result of a Christ-reflecting faith produced through trials is so special to God that He says in I Peter 1:7, "So that the proof of your faith, being more precious that gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

It should not be surprising that growth requires trials. The Bible declares about Jesus Himself, "to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings" (Hebrews 2:10) and, "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). In fact, Jesus' prayer when He came to the soul-troubling hour of suffering was for God to be glorified. "But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name" (John 12:27-28).

When God conforms a believer to be more like His Son, He truly is working things for good. The result is good for the individual involved. "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison" (II Corinthians 4:17).

The result is good for others who observe. I Peter 3:15 shares what should happen when a believer's Christ-like character shines forth in a trial. "But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you." Godly character,  abnormal for the world and possible only through Christ, provides the opportunity to share the hope of Christ with those who don't know Him.

The result is good for God as Christ is exalted. This is God's stated purpose in Romans 8:29: "to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren." As believers imitate Christ in the ultimate display of worship, Christ receives the glory that is due Him, and God is able to fulfill His desire of giving many brothers to Christ ("they also, whom You have given me" John 17:24).

Before leaving this precious passage, it should be noted that "God causes all things to work together for good." While Christians tend to consider bad things used for good, God also uses good things to work out His good. God can work through a friendship that demonstrates unselfishness, through a good job that provides resources for service, through a godly marriage that gives support and stability, through a loving family, strong preaching, or an opportunity to work in a particular ministry or attend a certain school. A Christian cannot waste these good parts of God's plan by failing to profit from them as God intends. In all things, whether considered good or bad by people, the believer must be conscious that God is doing the good work of conforming him to Christ-likeness. This knowledge should result in a submissive and prayerful spirit that desires for God to do His work and that seeks to mature through every contributing factor.