Why Wouldn’t You?

"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."

- St. Paul, Romans 8:28

"When you spend a day being fully present with your child....you quickly discover how much the rest of your life you were weren't fully present."

- Anonymous

Romans chapter 8 is like the Apostle Paul's Magnum Opus. The passage illuminates both the heights of God's majesty over creation while simultaneously describing the depths of His intimate knowledge and love for you and me. Just before the Apostle reveals one of God's greatest assurances for the followers of Jesus in verse 28, he talks about God's absolute, unmitigated, sovereign control over everything and everyone in heaven and earth. Paul details how God is moving all of creation toward a breathless future glory when we are outfitted with new imperishable bodies in a place of unending and unparalleled wonder.

It's this unlimited capacity of God's total control over Everything that prompts the Apostle to declare that God can, therefore, squeeze something Good out of every situation for those who love Him. That's Amazing!

During my B.C. days (Before Covid), I was standing in line at the Starbucks in RB after church one Sunday morning. A fella from across the room shouted, "Hey Pastor!" I waved and nodded as the young lady in front of me turned and said...

"I really don't believe in organized religion."

I said, "That's great… cause we're not that organized."

"No," she said, "I'm not religious."

"Neither am I," I replied, "but I do have a personal relationship with God."

And that's when she asked me, what I believe is the greatest most important question anyone could ask on the planet today...

"Why?" she asked, "Why would I ever want a relationship with God?"

And I smiled and said, "Why in the world wouldn't you?"

Her caramel latte with an extra shot was up so she smiled and said I had given her some food for thought... but, as usual, as she walked away I thought of all the things I wished I would have said. I would have told her I remember a time when I thought I was way more capable than I am now… when I had all the answers and walked with an air of invincibility. But then I got married, had two children, and realized… I know nothing! I would have asked her if she ever had a challenge or a problem or something in life that was beyond her capacity to fix that made her feel small. You see, sooner or later, life will convince us that there are so many things that are bigger than us… and no matter how strong, how gifted, how smart, how experienced, how connected, or how resourceful we are, we cannot stop bad things from happening to us or to those we love from time to time.

Which is precisely why the Truth that the Bible reveals about our God is an infusion of such great comfort! The truth that God will cause - in other words, He will make certain - that everything… not some things… but everything will work out for Good in the lives of those who love Him. Our God is big enough to bring Good even out of the Bad things that happen in our lives.

Wow! Why would I ever have a relationship with God? Why in the world wouldn't I?

Pastor Harry

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