God's Gonna 180 My Problems!

C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is one of my favorite books. My older brother bought the set for me when I was a child. I remember being fascinated by it from cover to cover. At the end of the book, the character Lucy Pevinsie is watching Aslan the Lion walk away and disappear out of sight down the shoreline. She’s saddened by his leaving because she loves him so much. Mr. Tumnus the Faun reminds Lucy, “After all, he’s not a tame lion,” to which Lucy replies, “but he is good.” I know today that The Chronicles are an allegory depicting much about Christ, salvation, etc. But that brings to mind the issue of God’s goodness.

This idea of God being good and being full of goodness is often put to the test during difficult times, and often causes people to turn to one of the most popular verses in this regard, Romans 8:28, “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 (Rom 8:28 NIV).” The goodness of God is easier for many people to accept when they’re younger. But, as we grow older and the challenges and scars of life become reality, some find it harder to see the biblical perspective found in the old saying, “God is good all of the time, and all of the time, God is good.”

To say that God is good is to say that within the heart of God, he is morally excellent and kind. His heart is true, his love is pure, and his kindness is seen in the goodness and mercy he gives in abundance (Psa. 23:6).

In difficult, painful times, people like to comfort themselves with Romans 8:28 and we Christians are quite fond of spouting this verse to our friends and relatives who are experiencing hardships, but is it appropriate to do so? Romans 8:28 is, quite often, misunderstood and misapplied. People comfort themselves that no matter what life’s circumstances, God is good and that “all things work together for good.” But what does this promise in Romans really mean? Does it mean that whatever happens in life, everything will eventually be fine? When the doctors finally say that there’s nothing they can do but make a loved one, or you, comfortable and that death is inevitable make Romans 8:28 false? When the banker knocks on your door and demands you vacate your house because you can’t pay your mortgage and you become homeless overnight make Romans 8:28 unkept promise? When your spouse cheats on you and abandons your family has God flat out lied? I could go on, but you get the point. Too often Christians, and others, lay false claim to a promise they just simply don’t understand.

What, then, is Paul saying in Romans 8:28?

The wider context of the Book of Romans is helpful in understanding Paul’s statement of 8:28. Paul wrote the epistle of Romans to the church in Rome which was most likely founded by Jewish proselytes who had heard the gospel and seen the miracles at Pentecost in AD 33 or so. The epistle was written in AD 57-58 while Paul was living with Gaius in Corinth (Rom. 16:23; 1 Cor. 1:14). Paul’s them in Romans centers on the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16-17). The apostle is deeply concerned that his readers understand how a sinner may be received as righteous by a righteous God and how a justified sinner should live daily to God’s glory. After sending a proper greeting, Paul attends to some personal items and addresses the theme of the book (1:1-17). Chapters 1:18-5:11 deal with the matter of justification or the imputation of righteousness in the gospel. Chapters 5:12-8:39, in which we find our often misused text, deals with life found in Christ or union with and ultimate conformation to Christ.

The immediate context is found in the discussion about the believer’s new hope in life as it relates specifically to suffering and glory (8:18-39). Paul opens this discussion by comparing suffering and glory in verse 18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom 8:18 NIV).” He continues by stating three groaning: creation which longs for the day it will be relieved of the curse placed upon it as a result of Adam’s disobedience (vv. 19-22), believers who wait for the finality of our adoption into God’s family and our final glorification (vv. 23-25), and the Holy Spirit who intercedes on our behalf (vv. 26-27).

It is after setting this stage that we get to Paul’s statement in 8:28. So how is this text to be properly interpreted? Thematically, Paul has set forth the idea that believers in Christ are set to receive an inheritance from God and are bound for glory, which puts our sufferings in perspective (vv. 18-25) and reminded us that until that day arrives we have the Holy Spirit who intercedes on our behalf in all of our day-to-day weaknesses (vv. 26-27). Verse 28 reminds believers that though we may not always know how to interpret our day-to-day struggles, or even know how to pray about them, due to our human limitations and weaknesses, there is something we do know for sure. Paul matter of factly states that God is working for our good in all things. But for whom is God doing this? God is not working all things for the benefit of everyone. This promise is given only to Christians; it is only for “those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Unbelievers simply cannot claim this truth. What does it mean when Paul says that God is at work for our good? Paul doesn’t define good the way we might today – general success, personal or familial health, financial security, or personal happiness. Rather, Paul defines good in verse 29 as conformity to Jesus Christ, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (Rom 8:29 NIV).”

Romans 8:28 never guarantees that everything will be OK, or that every situation will turn out fine if we just see it through. That’s what we want, but not always what’s best for us. Some situations in life may never be resolved to our satisfaction, we may never have victory over some things, and we may never recover from an illness or side effects of some tragedy. As believers, we have to junk our superficial, fleshly definition of what’s good and trade it in for a theologically correct and robust definition of good. God’s definition of good is what’s best for us that brings us into the closest conformity with Jesus. It’s not unlike a parent who lets his child get frustrate while learning to tie his shoes rather than step in an tie them for him (or just buy all Velcro). Learning to tie shoes correctly is good for the child, as is the struggle. It’s a simple illustration, but you get my point. The ultimate good God has designed for believers is to glorify Himself through our complete conformity to the image of Jesus Christ (v. 30).

When we and those we love struggle through hardships, trials, sufferings, and problems of life, it’s perfectly fine to remind ourselves and our loved ones of this great promise in Romans 8:28. It’s fine as long as we understand that it’s not a magic talisman that guarantees that God’s going to get me out of the situation, end the situation to my express liking, or keep me from suffering, sickness, or death. Rather, Romans 8:28 is an awesome promise that reminds Christians of God’s ultimate goal for our lives – complete conformity to Jesus Christ. The road we travel will undoubtedly be fraught with pitfalls, bumps, twists, and turns we can’t foresee and would never embrace, but God is good. He allows these hardships for our ultimate benefit. It’s our responsibility to see them through while depending completely on God’s grace, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, and love for us to conform us into the image of Jesus; whether in this life for eternity.