You might have heard that, on the next to last day of our vacation, Nancy and I were rear-ended as we were pulling off the freeway in San Jose, California. Thankfully we weren¡¦t hurt, but the car was undriveable, and we were 850 miles from home without transportation. For a while we felt not only shook up, but pretty powerless as well, as the security that vehicle represented was taken away from us. I¡¦m still a pretty sore, and the best car we have ever owned is gone forever. But that¡¦s a pretty small affliction compared to what some of you are going through or have faced recently. After all, its only a car. But in a recent twelve-month period, we¡¦ve had two people from Wasatch die of cancer and two others diagnosed with it. We¡¦ve had two of our members face surgery for brain tumors. At least two people suffer from MS. A couple of people have lost jobs. Some have lost a spouse through divorce. Others have faced significant depression. We have several from the church who face danger daily in a war zone thousands of miles away.
I¡¦ve done a lot of thinking and biblical study over the years on the subject of suffering. Americans, by and large, have a very poor understanding of the biblical perspective on suffering. My thinking on this subject was tested and ripened last year when our family went through some deep waters ourselves. I thought the time has come to share with you some of the key passages in the Bible about hardships and trials.
I know that some people, when tough times hit, feel abandoned by God. They wonder if God is real, or if he cares. But others, when facing the very same kind of trial, grow closer to God and find him to be a source of great strength and comfort. What makes the difference? How have you responded to suffering in your life? How might you respond when next it comes? I want to encourage you today. Trials do not need to rob you of your hope. You do not need to give up on God. Because not even the worst afflictions you might face can cancel out God¡¦s purpose or God¡¦s favor in your life.
I. GOD¡¦S PURPOSE FOR YOU IS ALWAYS PERFECT (28-30)
28 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. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
A. GOD IS WORKING TOWARD A PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE
Any trials or suffering you go through must be understood in light of that fact¡K
1. affliction is part of life in this world
a. Christians should not be surprised when trials happen
b. you can see this earlier in chapter 8
- (17): children of God will share in the sufferings of Christ
= just as we share in his glory
- (18): acknowledges ¡§our present sufferings¡¨
= in light of the eternal glory that will one day be revealed
- (19-21) describe the reason for afflictions
= we live in a world that by nature is subject to futility and decay
= that¡¦s why earthquakes happen, why cars break down, why the human body wears out and gets sick, and so forth
= it¡¦s the nature of the fallen world we live in
With that background, our passage today begins (28) with a basic, foundational truth. This is a truth we need to understand and believe, especially in the face of hardships¡K
2. God uses everything that happens in your life for your good
a. (28): ¡§and we know¡¨
- its not just a hope or a wish, but confident knowledge
b. assurance that God is at work
- even in the toughest times
= even when he feels absent more than present
= even in things that hurt
- it says: ¡§in all things God works for the good¡¨
= in all trials and hardships
= in all afflictions / calamities / persecutions / sickness
- God is not standing by as a spectator merely watching your life
= wishing he could do something about it
- God is at work
c. he is working ¡§for the good¡¨
- that means: for our true welfare and best interests
- doesn¡¦t necessarily mean: what we want most
= or even what we think is best
- just like a parent with a young child¡K
= God knows our true welfare better than we do
= everything he does / everything he allows in our lives¡K
= is for that higher and better good
d. as we¡¦re going to see, God¡¦s working in our lives is for a purpose
- you can see this at the very end of (28)
- this applies to every believer
= if you are a Xian / trusted in Jesus alone to be right with God¡K
= God did not just call you to be forgiven of your sins / go to heaven
= he has a purpose for your life: which we will explore in a moment
e. the whole thing is like baking a cake
- most of the ingredients, by themselves, are not appealing
= who wants to eat 2 cups of plain flour, or a raw egg?
= have you ever tasted baking powder?
- what¡¦s more: the way the ingredients are handled is violent!
= the batter is mixed and beaten with great force
= then the mix is baked in a blistering hot oven
- but the end result of those ingredients / that process: is very good!
- same is true of the trials we go through in life
= from circumstances that, on their own, would not be attractive¡K
= God is masterfully creating a good result
3. it sure makes a difference when you understand / accept the truth of (28)
a. gives you a completely different perspective on hardships
b. I¡¦ve often observed two Christians go through similar troubles
- one responds by losing faith
= the other responds by drawing closer to God
- what makes the difference?
= the circumstances were equally difficult
c. the difference: the perspective by which those trials are viewed
- the one person denies that God is working for the good
= thus loses hope
- the other clings to the fact that, unseen to us, God has a purpose
= and finds peace in any trial
While (28) mentions God¡¦s purpose, (29) spells it out¡K
B. GOD¡¦S PURPOSE IS TO MAKE YOU MORE LIKE JESUS
1. as (29) puts it: ¡§to be conformed to the likeness of his Son¡¨
a. God¡¦s agenda for your life: you come to reflect Jesus
- doesn¡¦t mean that you become a god
- the phrase ¡§firstborn¡¨ among many denotes a pre-eminence
= he will always be greater than us
= we are creatures / he is the Creator
= he is divine / we are mere worshipers
b. it¡¦s the picture of a beautiful person standing before a mirror
- the image in the mirror is not the person
= its only a likeness
- but the image reflects the beauty of that person
c. God¡¦s purpose is for us to bring greater glory and honor to Jesus
- by surrounding him with mirrors, as it were, that reflect his likeness
= thus making his perfections widely visible
- as we demonstrate in our actions how Jesus would act
= as we reflect in our character the character of Jesus
= as we image the heart of Jesus through our heart
2. this was God¡¦s purpose for you even before you existed
a. (29): God knew us in advance
- on the basis of that foreknowledge¡K
= he assigned this destiny for you and I beforehand
b. you could say: this is why we were created in the first place¡K
- and this is why we were saved¡K
- to bring glory to Jesus by becoming like him
3. then: (30) assures us of God¡¦s ability to fulfill that purpose in our lives
a. its not just an empty promise
b. but God does everything else required to make it so
- he calls us: draws us into salvation
- justifies us: problem of our sin that separates us from him is removed
- glorifies us: this is the final step, when the likeness of Jesus in us becomes complete
= when he transforms our lowly, mortal bodies
= to be like his glorious, resurrected body
4. so: when we say: God works in all things for our good¡K
a. we have to understand that in light of his grand purpose
- because our purpose in life might be: material success
= might be avoidance of pain, displeasure, grief in our lives
= might be comfort, convenience
= our purpose in life might be physical beauty / popularity
- but God¡¦s purpose is to make us more like Jesus
b. so: when God works things for the good¡K
- doesn¡¦t mean: God makes things easy / takes away pain & sorrow
- but means: whatever happens in life ¡V any suffering, any trials¡K
= God uses those things to conform us to the image of his Son
- its like your life is a great block of granite
= God, as master sculptor, chips away everything that doesn¡¦t look like Jesus
- at times, the sculptor has to use a mallet and chisel
= he might have to gouge and hammer out certain pieces
= likewise God does that in our lives until we begin to resemble Jesus
c. therefore: for Xian, suffering is never without meaning!
- God may not cause the suffering
= it may come from evil actions of other people
= or from the fallenness of this world
- but God skillfully turns it to his greater good
d. the highest example of this is the cross of Christ
- Jesus was denied and betrayed by his closest friends
= denied justice in the highest courts of the land
= abandoned by the crowds that had eagerly embraced him
= subjected to brutal and painful physical suffering
= reviled and mocked
= ultimately: put to an agonizing death
- but we know: God worked for the good in all those things!
= didn¡¦t he?
= God accomplished the highest purpose through those afflictions
= and we¡¦re glad he did! or we would still be in our sins!
- can you trust God to do no less in his dealings with you?
In the weeks to come, we will explore in much more depth how trials and afflictions are used by God for good. But for today, it is vital that you accept this important starting point: when God allows suffering, he is working toward a purpose in your life, and his purpose for you is always perfect.
I also want to encourage you today¡K
II. GOD¡¦S FAVOR TOWARD YOU IS ALWAYS FERVENT (31-39)
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all ¡V how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died ¡V more than that, who was raised to life ¡V is t the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
¡¥For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.¡¦
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A. GOD IS ALWAYS AND COMPLETELY FOR YOU (31)
1. 31: our response to the basic fact of God¡¦s good working
a. ¡§what then, shall we say in response to this?¡¨
- if God has called and justified us
= if God is at work in our lives ¡§in all things¡¨
= if God is making us more / more like Jesus
- then how do these truths effect us?
b. our response: the affirmation that God is for us!
- in times of hardship, we often assume that God is against us
- there are many forces in the world against us
= certain people might be against you
= certainly the devil is against you
- but God is unwaveringly in favor of you!
2. if you know God is for you: how does that change your response to trials?
a. you¡¦re going to look at suffering differently
b. can it be true?
- is it possible that a God who would allow pain & affliction in our lives
= is truly for us as this verse claims?
c. the passage underscores four evidences that God is indeed for us
- four ways that demonstrate: that God¡¦s favor for you¡K
= God¡¦s positive, approving attitude toward you¡K
= never fades
The first and greatest evidence of his favor¡K
B. GOD GAVE HIS OWN SON FOR YOU (32)
1. what we often ask God / expect God to do in our lives¡K
a. something he did not do even for Jesus
- we ask God to spare us from suffering
= while at the same time: he did not spare his own Son
b. this is the measure of his heart toward you
- Rom says: God demonstrate his love toward us in this¡K
= while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
2. the argument here is from the greater to the lesser
a. if God handed his own Son over to the powers of darkness on our behalf
- allowed him to take the full brunt of his wrath against sin ¡V for us
b. if God would do that,
- why do you doubt his love / concern for you in circumstances of life
- that was the greatest gift / the greatest sacrifice possible
- if he would do that, why do we assume, in times of suffering¡K
= that God will not also give us all things we need for our welfare
That¡¦s not all. The second evidence of how God feels toward you¡K
C. HE DEALT WITH YOUR SINS (33)
¡§Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.¡¨
1. when God justifies a sinner: his act of declaring that sinner ¡V you or me ¡V not guilty
a. it is a legal move, as you stand before the judge of universe
- the sins of your whole life ¡V the charges of a holy God ¡V are read in condemnation against you
b. but God declares those sins forgiven: every last one of them
- because a substitute has stepped forward to bear the penalty for us
2. this corrects a terrible misunderstanding we sometimes have about suffering
a. we mistakenly view suffering as God¡¦s retribution
- this must be happening to me because I did something wrong
= God is punishing me for some sin
b. why is that wrong?
- because (33): God is not the one bringing charges against us
= God is the one who has justified us
- God already sent his Son to pay the ultimate price of our sins¡K
= nothing more needs to be added to what Jesus already did
c. my point: if God was not for you¡K
- he would not have made that sacrifice to deal with your sins
Third evidence of his heart for you ¡V something you need to understand when you¡¦re going through tough times¡K
D. JESUS INTERCEDES FOR YOU (34)
1. Jesus not only gave himself up for us, but was also raised to life
a. he is alive today
- seated in position of ultimate honor / authority in universe
b. his work on our behalf is not done
- having the ear of his Father in Heaven¡K
- Jesus intercedes on ongoing basis for us, his people
= intercedes (34) against any condemnation
= as the devil presents to God our faults / failures / sins
2. Jesus is addressing your interests before God¡¦s throne every day
a. its not as if God the Father does not already know all things
- but its a picture that presents Jesus as your advocate
= it reminds us of his care and concern for you and I
- you, personally, are presented to the Father
b. this past week we¡¦ve been trying to work out the settlement with our insurance company over our car
- we can¡¦t always get an answer
- about 5 different people seem to be working on it
- it doesn¡¦t feel like any of them are really representing us
= they¡¦re covering their own interests
= they¡¦re not FOR us
c. Jesus takes up your case before the Father every day
These three points are really important. But the fourth one is the icing on the cake. This is one of the most eloquent and beautiful passages in the Bible. The subject deserves the most exalted language possible. It¡¦s the fourth evidence of God¡¦s favor toward you, no matter what happens¡K
E. JESUS LOVES YOU DEEPLY (35-39)
1. (35): ¡§Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?¡¨
a. this is phrased in such a way that the answer is obvious: No One!
- Jesus¡¦ love for us is brought up three times in these verses (35, 37, 39)
- it is the beginning, the middle and the end of the whole matter
b. no one who might accuse you or persecute you¡K
- nothing that might happen to you¡K
- has the power to put distance between you and God
= unless you let it
- trials often make us question God¡¦s love
= they can alienate a believer in their love from God
= but they don¡¦t have to have that effect
- he mentions seven possible threats
= trouble: pressure / affliction from external causes
= hardship: anxiety / distress within ourselves
= persecution: people who oppose Jesus through us
= famine &¡K
= nakedness: both „³ when we are forced to do w/out some necessity
= danger: peril of any kind
= sword: the threat of violence
- these are the things most likely to make us doubt Jesus¡¦ love
c. (36) quotes from the OT to strengthen the point
- the quotation from Psalm 44 becomes an apt description
= of the extent / magnitude of the trials you might be facing
- when we go through these kinds of difficulties¡K
= they¡¦re hard / they hurt
= why would God allow these things?
= if he really loved me, he would spare me from the pain
2. but (37) says ¡§No!¡¨
a. God¡¦s Word affirms: none of these things can invalidate J¡¦ love for you
- while we may mourn over our own weaknesss¡K
= we have every reason for confidence in Jesus¡¦ strong love for us
b. in fact, instead of being overwhelmed by trials¡K
- Jesus¡¦ love gives us the power to conquer
- in Christ no trial / hardship has to defeat you
= your hope need not be shattered
- you can do more than just survive the trial!
= you can grow / you can be used by God
= you can be filled with praise / you can be a light to other people
= even in the toughest times
c. in fact, far from putting distance between you and him¡K
- his love becomes more real, more precious
- his love becomes the very source by which you can face the trials of life
- because you know: no matter what comes¡K
= God has a purpose / destiny for you
- because you know: when you need to know it the most¡K
= that God is for you, not against you
3. this is not just wishful thinking
a. not just the opiate of religion to dull our senses against the pain of life
b. notice (38): ¡§I am convinced¡K¡¨
- this is the nature of faith..
= a settled trust in the character / promises of God
- the writer chose to adopt the biblical perspective
= chose to believe what God said about himself
- he was able to stand in a settled place w/ unshakeable conviction
c. so: what he offers in (35) as a question for us to think about¡K
- ¡§who can separate us from the love of God?¡¨
- now comes back with this certainty (38-39)
= ¡§I am convinced [nothing that exists] will be able to separate us from the love of God.¡¨
d. then he lists just about every combination of forces / factors in all creation
- neither death nor fear of death can separate us from the love of God
= death merely unites us with him forever
- life (and whatever life brings) cannot negate God¡¦s love
- angels / demons can¡¦t do it
- nothing you¡¦re facing in the present
= nothing that might come your way in the future
- no power can do it
= nothing (39) that might come from above
= no depth, not even the lowest, most debasing circumstances of life
- ¡§nor anything else in all creation¡¨
= just in case he forgot to cover something
= just in case you have doubts that whatever you¡¦re facing didn¡¦t make the list
= that the one thing you are going through is the exception to rule
- nothing has the power to separate us from God¡¦s love
= which we experience in and through Christ Jesus our Lord
f. I believe: only thing that can separate you from experiencing Jesus¡¦ love
- in trials and hardships of any kind¡K
- is when you reject his love yourself
4. so: when hardships come down on us, we have some choices to make
a. every one of us makes choices when things happen
- when good things happen or bad
- the choice is: how we interpret / understand the event
b. when something good happens, our choice might be to think¡K
- Gosh, I¡¦m good!
= or God, you¡¦re good!
- those are two different interpretations of the same event
c. when something bad happens, how you interpret the suffering is not determined for you
- it¡¦s a decision you make
= based on your worldview & your understanding of what¡¦s real
- you can choose to think: this suffering proves God doesn¡¦t love me
= or that God doesn¡¦t exist; or that if he exists, God is cruel
- or you choose to think: no matter what, God works all things for good
= God is for me; Jesus loves me
- there is as much evidence for the one perspective as for the other
d. but when we reject the biblical interpretation of suffering
- when we reject God¡¦s love / favor / purpose in spite of his assurances
- we¡¦re saying: we actually know more about life & reality than God
= our interpretation of events is better than his
CONCLUSION
Sometimes people ask: What kind of God would allow this suffering in my life? What kind of God would allow his faithful children to get cancer and brain tumors and multiple sclerosis? What kind of God would allow my house to be ruined by the negligence of others? What kind of God would allow my baby to die?
I¡¦ll tell you what kind of God allows those terrible afflictions! A God who loves you intensely! A God who has a grand purpose for your life! A God who is utterly and absolutely for you! A God who will never abandon you no matter what he allows to happen in your life!
I want you to remember today that not even the worst afflictions can cancel out God¡¦s purpose or God¡¦s favor in your life. Whatever you¡¦re going through, turn to him. He won¡¦t abandon you. Don¡¦t abandon him. Let¡¦s pray.
