The Sixth Trumpet

If there is a verse of Scripture that should be heralded by a score of trumpets, surely it is that verse which the Spirit inspired Paul to write that says, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose."  (Romans 8:28)  So many of us have taken hold of that Word in our moments of dark and deep desperation with nothing but hope that it is indeed true.  We grab it with hope because when we have come to that place where life is overwhelming and nothing makes sense, we have nothing else. 

 

As important as it is to understand what God is saying to us in this verse, it is also important to realize what He is not saying.  There is no promise here that the bad stuff is going to be removed from our life.  Nor is there any reason to expect a pass from it simply because we are one of those who love God.  And finally, it is a Word which underscores the reality that the purposes of God take precedence over whatever purposes we might have declared for our own life.  Here is a powerful Word, but it is also a Word which applies to those who have surrendered the right to self as well as any self-imparted privileges for life. 

 

We have learned these things not just by reading the Word, but also by living out our life with God.  What He promises in this Word we have come to know as truth.  No matter what the circumstances, He can work to bring good from them and us through them as well.  It is a truth best seen by looking back for sometimes in the midst of our struggles, we are blinded by our pain.  The great physical piece of evidence that makes this truth truly credible is the cross where Jesus, the Son of God, died a horrible and unjust death.  The more we consider the cross, the more we come to understand that nothing is beyond the power of God to transform for good.