Based on Romans 16:25-27 (New King James Version)
“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”
As the close of one year comes, and another year starts, we should keep something in our minds and in our hearts: God is in all things, in good things, in so-so things, and in things that are unpleasant. He does not produce evil by His own hand, but rather, allows for the agents of evil to do the evil they want to do, even Satan himself. Nothing moves without God’s permission. God is the Sovereign of all the universe, and there is none higher than Him. And well, things being what they are, I can imagine some of you asking this question: “How can God that is supposed to be good allow evil?”
Evil exists with only one purpose: to make something so complex as choice or free will possible. For free will to exist, there must be a difference in things. There must be good and evil. There must be a positive and a negative. And for a genuine choice to be possible, the evil that exists must be almost as powerful as good. It must be something attractive, desirable, and tempting, at least, at first glance. We see this since the beginning of humanity, when Eve saw the tree that God had said that they should not eat of its fruit. She saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise. Eve found the tree to be just as special or even more special than all the other trees in paradise. And well, we all know the results from that choice, that both Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, and that’s why we are where we are today. And for those that think they would not have fallen like Adam and Eve did, they unfortunately have a problem with reality, that we are all made of the same material that they were made of. Because of our nature, we would have all fallen just the same because we have all sinned. And the result of our sin is that we follow the way of our consequences until we end up in hell, just as God designed it (because God created everything, and He is behind everything); unless something different happens with our power to choose; unless the destructive cycle of sin is broken somehow.
And, here is where the difference comes in: that the same way God established a way of perdition as the consequence of sin, He also established a way of eternal salvation through the Lord Jesus. Even though God designed a way of perdition, His desire is not for us to be lost. He did not create man for loss, but rather, so that he could have the opportunity to choose for Him despite our sinful and evil condition. For it is written: “Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4. God wants us to choose for Him, fighting against our own evil desires and lust. God created salvation through His only begotten son, for it is also written: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Juan 3:16.
We need to understand something very basic. We are not doing God a favor by acknowledging Jesus as Lord, but rather, we are merely acknowledging an irrefutable reality. Now, if it is done in time, before the great judgement, by using our own free will to choose for God, we are doing ourselves the favor by gaining salvation. Because in the end, absolutely every being in the universe will have to acknowledge and humble themselves before the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, even Satan himself and his legions of demons: “For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’” Romans 14:11.
Now, how does all of this tie together with today’s passage? By using our free will to choose for God, God can then work in our lives for good, using good and even evil for our own benefit. If we choose to love Him, despite the circumstances and the pain that sin produces in this life, God can even use evil for our own good, for it is written: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. And so, God can establish us according to the gospel we have received and the preaching of Jesus Christ. He can reveal to us personally the mystery kept secret since the world began. He can manifest the Scriptures and help us follow the obedience of faith. God is the one that makes everything possible in our lives, despite our fallen nature, through the Holy Spirit, by transforming us after we have repented and converted.
And finally, God gives us this counsel: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:6-11.
So then, I ask you this question (that I also ask of myself): Shall we let God work in our lives, regardless of how difficult things get, so that we can become that which glorifies Him? Lord bless! John