Dr. Dan Hayden •
The Bible says all things work together for good for the person who loves God and yields to God’s purpose. Is that fact or fantasy? Can you rely on it, do you know it to be true, or is it simply wishful thinking?
One of the great verses in the Bible to encourage us in difficult times is Romans 8:28. It begins with the words, “And we know.…” “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” So, let me ask you, do you know that?
“Know” is the Greek word oida, which means more than just knowing it in your head. It means “to have knowledge of something, primarily from experience.” God is not saying that you need to learn this, although if you don’t know it, you ought to learn it. What He is saying is this is something that needs to be part of your experience. It needs to part of your working knowledge whenever you are facing a difficulty in your life. You need to know this in a way that you are counting on it.
I have a friend (a pastor), whose wife died of cancer years ago. She had breast cancer, and it was a long, drawn-out illness that eventually took her life. Over the days and weeks and months, I watched my friend wrestle with the agony of that terrible disease, and eventually the death of his beloved wife. And in the process, I noticed that he took great comfort in this verse. In fact, he later wrote a booklet on this verse as a help to others. But I will always remember the title that he gave to that little booklet. He called it, “Fact or Fiction?” He had come to the conclusion that Romans 8:28 was not mere wishful thinking. It was a fact – not fiction. It was a truth to be known and believed.
So, how well do you know it?
God is always good and that is something worth knowing!