Romans 8:28, “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.â€
We know that the Lord does all things for good for those who love Him (Rom 8:28). This is a verse that plays through my head constantly, and as it is intended to do, often gives comfort and hope. It has been said that His promises are either true all of the time or none of the time, and I am convinced that the Lord’s Word is true and unwavering. I have never doubted the Lord’s faithfulness in upholding His part of the promise, my doubt is whether I am upholding my part.
My concern is that too often my love for Him isn’t love at all, but rather a self-centered dependence upon the Lord. Paul tells us to die to the self daily (1 Corinthians 15:31), thus we must recommit ourselves to the Lord constantly. Yet as we do this, we do it knowing that we will have an expected end, a greater reward in eternity. Now I realize that as we mature as Christians our commitment continues to be more Christ focused, and I have certainly found this to be true in my own life. Christ tells us that love is being willing to lay down our life for others (John 15:13). I do sincerely believe that if called to do so, through God’s grace, I would lay down my life for Christ. However, even in this seemingly sacrificial act, I would do so knowing that a greater eternity awaits me. Yet as Christ died for mankind, He gained nothing from it for Himself, but rather selflessly endured suffering for us. I wonder, would I be willing to make such a sacrifice if there was absolutely no benefit for me, eternal or otherwise?
Obviously we all make sacrifices for others, some even with their lives, but they are finite in comparison to eternity. Not coincidentally, there seems to be this a-priori understanding that there will be a reward for sacrifice, whether that remuneration is in this life or the next. But that comes around to my point; we are still doing this with some expectation of gain or appreciation. Can we say this is love? or in the end is it self motivated? Does our condition after the fall, our total depravity, allow us to sincerely love in this absolute and sacrificial way? Obviously it does, this being the final attribute of Christian maturity in 2 Peter 1:5-11. Therefore, does obtaining this characteristic finally bring us to perfection in Christ? If this is the final and most difficult step of the growing process, at what point can we rest in the promise of Romans 8:28? At what point can we truly say that we love the Lord?
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=35711.0
