Romans 8:28 reads:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (KJV)
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. (NIV)
I found this verse in a very interesting, and unorthodox way. A new TV show has started on NBC called “Manifest” about a plane that went missing for five years and suddenly returned. The flight number was 828 and that number seems to figure prominently in the plot. (I’ve only seen one episode, and I find it intriguing.)
The mother of one of the people on the flight had a favourite Bible verse, and it is Romans 8:28. That is interesting in itself, because mainstream television for the most part avoids religion so as to be politically correct, but in my opinion it is important to reintroduce religion in as many places as possible. But enough of my soap box, lets look at the verse in question.
While this verse appears to paint a rosy picture, and tells us that no matter what hardship we’re going through, it will all work out in the end because God wants it to. That may not be the full meaning of this verse. Yes, God does want us to live in a life without pain and sadness, but if pain and sadness do appear do we accept that God caused it to prove that we can get through anything?
I don’t think that is fully what this verse says. While God does allow a certain amount of pain, sadness, discomfort, etc to enter our lives (read the Book of Job), He doesn’t test us beyond our abilities to withstand it. (1st Corinthians 10:13) Instead we should look at Romans 8:28 in the grander picture of not what is happening today, on this earth, but what is ahead for us in the future when we leave this earth.
The Apostle Paul is telling us that no matter what we endure here on earth, it will all be worthwhile in the end, when we spend eternity in the Glory of God. Our struggles on earth for our short earthly life will be rewarded with an eternity of painless, sinless existence. Isn’t that a small price to pay for such a wonderful gift?
God bless
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