A Good Outcome

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. " (Romans 8: 28)

This verse is very well known by Christians. It is one passage that is learned and memorized quite early in the young Christian's new life in Christ. It affords great comfort and gives him God's answer to the "problem of evil."

Evil is not suffered by Lord God for its own sake, as an end in itself. Lord God hates evil, and hates evil working, and hates telling falsehood. He may, and thankfully does, "bring good out of evil," but such an act of his does not make the evil good. The "end" does not "justify" the means if God bring a good out of evil means.

"If our evil deeds show how right God is, then what can we say? Is it wrong for God to become angry and punish us? What a foolish thing to ask. But the answer is, "No." Otherwise, how could God judge the world? Since your lies bring great honor to God by showing how truthful he is, you may ask why God still says you are a sinner. You might as well say, "Let's do something evil, so that something good will come of it!" Some people even claim that we are saying this. But God is fair and will judge them as well. " (Romans 3: 5-8 - Contemporary English Version)

Simply because it is true that Lord God can bring good out of evil, can turn my sin into an occasion to bless, does not justify the sinner for his sin and evil doing. If it did, Lord God would not be just and could not fairly judge the sinful world.

"There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief." (Proverbs 12: 21)

These words are saying the same thing as the passage in Romans, only in reverse. Does not evil "happen" to the just nearly every day? How can the above words be taken then as true? The answer is in reading the passage as saying - "no ultimate or lasting evil will happen to the just." Yes, God's people experience evil, but it is short-lived, and ultimately turned into a blessing.

This ability of Lord God to turn an evil into a blessing is vividly seen in the story of Joseph being sold into Egyptian slavery by his brothers. His brothers did this evil act with a diabolical and sinister purpose. Yet, Lord God turned this evil into a great blessing.

By Joseph's going into Egypt, and his being blessed there by Lord God, he ultimately becomes the means of saving the very brothers who did this evil deed to him. Joseph saw this wonder working providence of God at work in all this and later exclaimed to his brethren, in regard to their selling him into slavery -

"But as for you, ye thought (intended or purposed) evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Genesis 50: 20)

It is in knowing this wonder working power and providence of God that brings the greatest hope and comfort to those suffering under manifold evils. No wonder then that Paul was led to exclaim this doxology of praise.

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11: 33-36 NIV)

The story of the death of Christ on the cross is the greatest example, however, of how Lord God is able to bring the greatest good out of the greatest evil.

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. " (Acts 2: 22-24 KJV)

"For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. " (Acts 4: 27, 28 KJV)

One day all suffering, sin, death, and evil will be eliminated from this world. Evil will have been suffered long enough by Lord God and will have served its usefulness in demonstrating to all creation both the grace and wrath of the Almighty. The evil of the past will become a distant memory, yet it will never be forgotten what Lord God has revealed of himself by the story of man's fall into sin, his great grace, mercy, and compassion, and the glories of Jesus Christ, his eternal begotten Son.

Friend, do you despair of life? Do you see no hope for life after death, for a world in which there is nothing but good? I urge you to look to the Lord to show you these great truths which have the power to deliver you from a hopeless state.