All Things for Our Good

I, like you, have experienced heartache and loss in my personal life. Also, I see horrific things happening in others’ lives; things that bring us to our knees asking God why He would allow “it” to happen.  We cannot even imagine a positive answer at the time – yet, we are exhorted to trust God’s promise and find comfort and relief in His words “all things”.   God can bring peace and even praise, if we allow Him to work in our lives. Reader, that is my prayer for you.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”. (NKJV); “Moreover we know that to those who love God, who are called according to His plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good”. (Phillips); “Yes, we know that all things go on working together for the good of those who keep on loving God, who are called in accordance with God’s purpose”. (Williams); “We are assured and know that God, being a partner in their labor, all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good to those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose”. (Amplified)

The author to the following little story is unknown, but the story speaks truth.

THE GREATEST SACRIFICE – After a few of the usual Sunday evening songs, the church’s pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening.  In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service.

With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.  “A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific coast,” he began, “when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore.  The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized.”

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.  The aged minister continued, “Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy would he throw the other end of the life line?  He only had seconds to make the decision.  The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son’s friend was not.  The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves.”

“As the father yelled out, ‘I love you, son!’ he threw out the life line to his son’s friend.  By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the racing swells into the black of night.  His body was never recovered.”  By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next works to come out of the old minister’s mouth.

“The father,” he continued, “knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son’s friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus.  Therefore he sacrificed his son to save the son’s friend.  How great is the love of God that He would do the same for us!  Our heavenly Father sacrificed His only begotten son that we could be saved; John 3:16.  I urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line He is throwing out to you in this service.”  With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. 

The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon, with an invitation at the end.  However, no one responded to the appeal.  Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man’s side.  “That was a nice story,” one of them politely stated, “but I don’t think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son’s life in hope that the other boy would become a Christian.”

“Well, you’ve got a point there”, the old man replied glancing down at his worn Bible.  A big smile broadened his narrow face.  He once again looked up at the boys and said, “It sure isn’t very realistic, is it?  But I’m standing here today to tell you that the story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His son for me.  You see…I was that father and your pastor is my son’s friend.

-GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION- Hear (Romans 10:17) Believe (John 3:16) Repent (Matthew 4:17) Confess (Romans 10:10) Be Baptized (Mark 16:16)

If you, dear reader, have not yet accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, it is my prayer that you will take these steps of obedience today.