Clearly my mind has been on this subject for a while now. As I've shared about the River idea of God's will, and discerning His will for our lives based on, ability, desire, and opportunity, my mind has been thinking about a few verses in Romans 8 a lot.
Romans 8.28-30, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Everything in life that happens, God causes it to work for those following Him to become more like Christ. Everything that takes place is to mold us and shape us into Christlikeness. God's call on our lives is for us to become like Christ, and everything works out for our good because everything works to that end.
My mentor spoke Sunday about adversity. He used three examples, a carrot, an egg, and coffee beans. The adversity was represented by boiling water.
A carrot is strong and crisp, but when it gets put into boiling water it becomes soft and mussy. It crumbles easily in your hands.
An egg has a hard exterior that protects the life giving substance inside of it. But when it is put in boiling water the inside becomes hard and it no longer needs it's outer shell, because the life is gone.
Both of these examples show the negative responses to adversity. Some crumble, others become callused and bitter. Adversity causes them to fall apart or grow resentful.
But the third example shows what happens if we go through adversity with God, if we keep in mind that all things work to make us more like Christ. Coffee beans, once they are ground and put in boiling water, according to my mentor and countless others, become a divine gift. Boiling water turns coffee beans into a brew that many depend upon to get them through the day. And when we face adversity with God, that's what happens to us.
If we allow God to take us through the adversity and the hardship we face, to grind us, we become like Christ. We become something that is useful and pleasing, something that is delightful and in some ways essential.
All things, including suffering, serve to make those who follow God more like Christ. It isn't always easy, the Bible tells us that there will be hardships, their will be suffering, there will be death, but all of that leads to life (Philippians). God's will and God's plan for your life is ultimately for you to look like Christ, and everything is working towards that goal. And when that goal is achieved it brings the glory of the presence of God.
It is only through becoming like Christ that we can ever reach glorification. Let's go back to the river analogy. All rivers lead to the ocean, but it is only by swimming the river, by going through the rapids, that we are prepared to enter the currents of the ocean. Only the rough waters we face strengthen our arms and legs to be able to swim in the ocean.
God causes all things to work together to mold into the image of His Son. And those who become like His Son will be glorified. That is His will, that is His plan. Everything that happens in your life is to help you become more like Christ. As my mentor said, "A brew that Starbucks would be envious of."
Whatever is going on in your life, know that God loves you, and all of this is happening to help you become more like Christ. Know at the end there will be glorification for the faithful, but only through the hardships can we get there.
As the early Church Father, Tertullian, said, "Do we test the faith by persons or persons by the faith? No one is wise, no one is faithful, no one worthy of honor unless he is a Christian, and no one is a Christian unless he perseveres to the end."
Go through adversity with God. Persevere and become like Christ. Then we will be welcomed into glory.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
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