Romans 8:28. And we know -
Now we are getting upon a dear old passage which reads like music. There is no eloquence in the world that ever touches the eloquence of the Apostle here.
Romans 8:28. That all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
I do not like to hear this text quoted, as I often do, only in part - only half of it. "All things work together for good," say people. "Oh! yes; somehow or other, good will come of it." It does not say so here. It says, "All things work together for good to them that love God; to them that are the called according to his purpose." A special purpose and object of God for a special people. And if you do not belong to this people, things are not working together for your good. No; but you may find that they will work together for your banishment from life and from the presence of God. Take your heed to this. The stars in their courses fight against you, if you fight against God; and the very earth groans and complains of bearing up your weight if you are a rebel against the Most High. You must, first of all, be reconciled so as to love God, and the eternal purpose must be wrought in you by your effectual calling from out of the world, or else you must not dare to intrude into the holy sanctuary of my text. "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Of course, they do, for God loves them. "To them that are the called according to his purpose." Of course, they do, for that purpose which called them is not consistent with anything, but a purpose of infinite love to them. The great eternal purpose encompasses all things that happen, and bends all to the grand object of the good of the called ones.
Romans 8:28. And we know -
Now we are getting upon a dear old passage which reads like music. There is no eloquence in the world that ever touches the eloquence of the Apostle here.
Romans 8:28. That all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
I do not like to hear this text quoted, as I often do, only in part - only half of it. "All things work together for good," say people. "Oh! yes; somehow or other, good will come of it." It does not say so here. It says, "All things work together for good to them that love God; to them that are the called according to his purpose." A special purpose and object of God for a special people. And if you do not belong to this people, things are not working together for your good. No; but you may find that they will work together for your banishment from life and from the presence of God. Take your heed to this. The stars in their courses fight against you, if you fight against God; and the very earth groans and complains of bearing up your weight if you are a rebel against the Most High. You must, first of all, be reconciled so as to love God, and the eternal purpose must be wrought in you by your effectual calling from out of the world, or else you must not dare to intrude into the holy sanctuary of my text. "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Of course, they do, for God loves them. "To them that are the called according to his purpose." Of course, they do, for that purpose which called them is not consistent with anything, but a purpose of infinite love to them. The great eternal purpose encompasses all things that happen, and bends all to the grand object of the good of the called ones.