Who Controls My Future?

In review of Romans 8:28 it says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (NLT).

Today’s verse comes from Romans 8:18-30 where Paul speaks of our future glory. He tells me that what I suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to me later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future date when God will reveal who his children really are. Because of Sin, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. As a believer I also look forward, even though I have the Holy Spirit within me as a foretaste of future glory, I long for my body to be released from sin and suffering. I wait with eager hope for the day when God will give me my full rights as his adopted child, including the new body he has promised.

The Holy Spirit helps me in my weakness. I may not always know what God wants me to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for me with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And I know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn around many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

As a follower of Jesus, I have hope for a future glory. I can look forward to a new heaven and earth that God has promised, and as such wait for God's new order that will free the world from sin, sickness, and evil. In the meantime, I go with Christ into this world where we can make a difference in others lives and fight the evil effects of sin in the world.

My heavenly Father however, never makes promises he won't keep. His plan however may take more time than I expect. Rather than acting like an impatient child as I wait for God's will to unfold, I should place my confidence in God's goodness and wisdom.

God works in "everything', not just isolated incidents, all for my good. This does not mean that all that happens to me is good. Evil is prevalent in this fallen world, but God is able to turn every circumstance around for my long-range good. God is not working to make me happy, but to fulfill his purpose. This promise is not for everybody. It can be claimed only by those who love God and are called by him, that is, those the Holy Spirit convinces and enable to receive Christ. As such I have a new perspective, a new mindset. I trust in God, not in life's treasures; my security is in heaven, not on earth. My faith in God does not waver in pain and persecution because I know God is with me.

God's ultimate goal is to make me more like his Son Christ. As I become more and more like him, I discover my true self, the person I was created to be. I become more like Christ by reading and heeding the Word, by studying his life on earth through the Gospels, but spending time in prayers, by being filled with his Spirit, and by doing his word in the world.

One of the great fears we all face is the fear of the future. We fear for the futures of our families, our friends, our jobs, our communities — and everything else in between. It’s natural. We’re not in control. But that realization should drive us to trust God more deeply.

We might not be in control of our future, but God is. He created the whole universe. If he wanted to, the Lord could just snap it out of existence in a moment. Yet he is working his plan in history. He is moving history to a climax, a destiny. One day Jesus Christ will come back to Earth. Nothing will stop that. Just as he is working in history to move events toward that day, he will work in my life for a purpose, too — if I’ll let him.

The Bible says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT).

God’s Word doesn’t say that everything is good. It also doesn’t say that God causes everything. He doesn’t cause war. He doesn’t cause cancer. He doesn’t cause rape, abortion, abuse, or molestation. He doesn’t cause evil. We do that. God gives us the freedom to choose. Evil is the price of that freedom.

But the Bible does say that God causes everything to work together for good. He can take the dumb, evil, and bad decisions I’ve made in my life and use them for good if I’ll trust him. Romans 8:28 isn’t a promise for everyone, though. It’s for “those who love God.” It’s for those who trust God and say, “Here, Lord, you take all the broken pieces of my life and put them together.”

So when I watch the news or read the headlines each day, I don’t need to worry. There are a lot of problems in the world today, but God is still in control. God is still moving history to a climax. And God is still moving his people toward his best for them. One day God will work everything out for his purpose.

Because God is in control, I can trust him with everything — including the good, the bad, and the ugly of my lives.

Bottom Line:

God causes what happens to work together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to his purpose.

What this means to me:

I know that God causes everything to work together for my good, because he loves me and has called me for his purpose.

What I suffer now is nothing compared to the glory I will receive later. For now I have the Holy Spirit who will pray and intercede on my behalf. Because I love God, he causes everything that happens to me to work together and fulfill his purpose Meanwhile I go with Christ into this world and make a difference in others lives. God's ultimate goal is to make me more like his Son. As I become more like him, I discover my true self, the person God created me to be. I can fear the future, especially since I am not in control. But that realization should drive me to trust Him more deeply. Because God is in control, I can trust him with everything.

This morning I thank you Father for choosing me as someone you want to do your will through. Please give me the insight and understanding I need to serve your will. I pray this morning Father for your wisdom to help me continue to lead and put plans and actions together to meet the needs and requests before me. Allow me to communicate in a loving manner with those around me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!