God’s Glorious Progression
After Romans 8:28 we read the following verses: “29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” The word “for” at the beginning ties these verses to the previous one. God will work all things together for good because He is sovereign. He has all of this figured out. He has His activity performed in your life today as much as He does 20 years from now…or 20,000 years from now. I don’t have time to get into a discussion on predestination or election but notice the progression. He predestined, called, justified and glorified you. He’s already done this. It’s finished and yet for some it has only just begun and for others it hasn’t even started. I can’t promise anyone that I can make all things work together for good in his life because I’m not God. I’m bound by time and have very limited power and ability. But not God.
If you say, “but I don’t understand why God would do this or that” I would say, “Ok, I don’t understand it either”. But He’s GOD! I certainly would not advise diminishing His power or ability or love because you don’t understand Him. In Job 40:2 God says, “Shall he one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? And in 40:8: “Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified? Have you an arm like God or can you thunder with a voice like His? (thanks to Tracy Ericson for her wonderful devotional on the book of Job). Don’t try to change the revelation we have about God to fit your understanding. It opens up all kinds of problems. God is the one who predestines, calls, justifies and glorifies. You and I won’t experience the greatest benefit of this until we reach heaven. I close with the words of Paul from Romans 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” That’s amazing! That’s God!