Trust God’s Ways

Here is what we know yet too often limit the scope of its truth.  The most life-changing act God performed for humans was Jesus’ resurrection.  Jesus’ death certainly was essential for the debt of our sins to be paid, but His death did not go beyond paying that enormous debt.  It did not give us a new life to live liberated from that sin.  The single act of the Spirit quickening Jesus’ body gave life to Jesus’ shed blood.  Through His resurrection we have the privilege and opportunity to live out a life in praise and glory to God for all that was done.  We also can live out a life that can bring significance, victory, the pleasure of having and raising a family to love Him and the list goes on and on.

However, we limit all that was involved in that most incredible act of God by failing to see that what He orchestrated was one of His classic ways of working with man!  God finds great joy in making something exceptionally good out of what seems to be so evil.  Jesus did more than ignore Satan; He defeated him at the cross and in His resurrection.  How many times has He already taken something that appeared so evil and miraculously turned it into something beyond imagination?  The Bible records this fascinating way of God in working with people and circumstances through the ages.  Consider Joseph.  As he looked back at his own life journey, he said of the evil his brothers did to him, you intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people (Genesis 50:20, NLT2) 

Consider what he was saying in that verse about God’s role in the evil he had endured; thrown in a pit by his brothers, sold to slave buyers to resell in the foreign land of Egypt, undeservingly thrown in prison because of a blatant lie told of his right and noble deed, and followed the Holy Spirit’s inspiration to speak prophetic words to two fellow prisoners.  The man who most benefited was released from prison, promptly forgot Joseph’s kindness.  Truth be known, Joseph endured far more frustration and discomfort than you and I have experienced, even in the fall-out due to Covid-19. 

Can you accept the fact that no matter who caused the dreaded virus that has brought such pain, fear, economic loss and disruption; each and every facet of it had to be approved by God before touching your life and mine?  If you are not able to do so, you are making yourself to be superior to God Himself because He had written in His Word, 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, NLT2).  By accepting this truth, each of us can rest in His care and not be afraid of any thing that comes our way.  Even if God should see it is time for you to die, you would enter a far better place in His presence.     

If I am a true disciple of Jesus Christ, I will manifest God’s ways of reshaping evil to yield a victory for me.  This so totally reverses my former fearful attitude I can even welcome whatever evil occurs to me as an opportunity for God’s love, grace and power to transform it into positive progress in my spiritual journey.  Why?  Because it’s a historical fact, whatever the spirit of God touches it absolutely changes what appears evil into something awe-inspiring good. This truth reminds me of Samson who found the skull of a dead lion that had become a beehive filled with honey.  He ate the honey from it and gave some to his parents.  Then he made this riddle about it.  “…Out of the one who eats [lion] came something to eat [honey]; out of the strong [the lion] came something sweet [honey]…”  With the right perspective of God’s grace, after this virus driven social distancing has passed, you will be able to make a riddle out of what has happened. Plus you’ll be able to enjoy God-provided sweetness from it.  Remember, keeping a good attitude about whatever evil comes your way will pave the way for greater joy!   

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