A Broke Evangelist

November 24, 2024

Romans 8:28-30

God's Purpose in All Things

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Yesterday, I was thrilled to finish my work (yes, I occasionally work on Saturdays) early enough that I wasn’t burning the midnight oil. Most days, I end up working late into the night, which leads to sleeping in the next morning. But yesterday, I wrapped up everything before the afternoon ended and made a promise to myself to get to bed at a decent hour for once. Now, for me, “decent” means midnight, which is early compared to my usual schedule, but I managed to be tucked in before the day was over.

Good sleep, right? Well, not so much. I woke up every hour and a half, either needing to go to the bathroom or just randomly waking up. Then I’d fall back asleep, only to dream that I was awake, trying to fall asleep again (yes, that’s a thing!). Finally, around 6:00 a.m., I managed to get into a restful sleep, waking up at 10:00 a.m.—just in time for the first football game of the day. Still feeling wiped out, I decided to sneak in another hour of sleep, but that hour turned into four. By the time I woke up, it was after 3:00 p.m., and I had a splitting headache because I hadn’t had my coffee yet. To top it off, I realized I was coming down with a cold.

There’s nothing worse than feeling like you’ve wasted an entire day, especially when your football team adds insult to injury. My 49ers completely wet the bed today, and it’s looking like they’ll be packing up for a fishing trip after Week 18. The only hope is that they somehow get healthy enough to sneak into the playoffs and make a miracle run at the Super Bowl. Everyone knows that when the team is fully healthy, they’re the best in the league. BUT… right now, they stink, and watching football is no fun.

Thankfully, my happiness doesn’t depend on any team’s wins or losses (Ha!).

But in all things…even losing…we can know God’s plan in Romans 8:28-30…

Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

Paul is still chatting with us about life in this groaning, imperfect universe. He’s painting a picture of what it’s like to live in a world that feels like it’s falling apart, stuck in a cycle of decay, where suffering is a constant companion. It’s the messy in-between—what we endure while we wait for the big moment when everything is made new, including our own bodies. But Paul doesn’t leave us hanging in despair. He’s already encouraged us with a sneak peek of the glorious future when God’s children will be fully revealed in all their splendor. And, as written in the two previous verses, he reminds us that the Holy Spirit himself steps in to help us in our moments of weakness. When we don’t even know what to pray, the Spirit speaks on our behalf with those deep, wordless groans that connect directly to God’s heart.

You know, my wife loves watching those home renovation programs on the DIY channels. Most of these shows center around a house that is virtually unsalvageable—they’re old and creaky, with leaky pipes, cracked walls, and roofs that grown every time the wind blows. There is no way to escape the mess. There’s dust everywhere, noisy tools are hammering away, and there is the occasional frustration when something breaks before it’s fixed or the person that can fix it is not available. They’re in that “in-between” phase before it starts to look good, and it’s hard for us to imagine how this chaos could ever turn into the vision that is painted before the audience’s eyes. But here’s the thing: while the design architect on television is an expert in their own specific skill, the Design Architect in life is an expert in everything—someone with a proven track record of making the impossible beautiful. The blueprint shows us glimpses of what’s coming: walls restored to perfection, sunlight streaming through spotless windows, and a strong, stable roof. Sure, it’s not finished yet, but the promise of what it will be keeps us going.

And while we’re in the middle of the mess, we’re not remodeling alone. The Architect doesn’t just leave us with instructions and disappear; He steps in to help. When we’re overwhelmed, He takes over the hardest tasks, guiding and encouraging us through it all. Even when we don’t know what to say or how to move forward, He anticipate our needs and bring the tools to help us that we didn’t even realize we needed.

This is where Paul is with us. As if he were piling comfort on top of comfort, he adds on another layer of hope. He’s reminding us that, yes, life can feel like a groaning, messy construction zone. But he’s also pointing out the blueprint—the glorious future God has for us when everything will finally be made new, including us. The Holy Spirit is like the assistant, stepping in when we’re too weak or unsure to keep going. And Paul piles on even more hope, saying, “Hang in there. Every nail driven and every wall rebuilt is part of the plan, and the finished project will be worth it.” God’s plan is still unfolding—and it’s worth holding onto.

So, while we’re living in the mess, we hold onto the promise that the dream home—the redeemed, glorious creation—is already in progress. We just need to trust the Architect and keep going, one step at a time.

Romans 8:29 - For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 

God’s plan for us isn’t some random, fly-by-night idea. It’s more like an unbreakable chain, where each link connects perfectly to the next—foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified. It’s a process, and every part of it shows that God is intentional about what He’s doing in our lives. Imagine God as a master craftsman creating a beautiful mosaic. Long before He even starts, He already knows exactly how it’s going to turn out. Each piece—every little shard of glass—is carefully chosen and placed to reflect His ultimate vision. When He picks up a piece, He doesn’t just toss it aside halfway through. No, He keeps working until the masterpiece is complete.

That’s exactly what Paul is reminding the Romans—and us! God didn’t kick off this amazing work in their lives only to give up when things got tough. He foreknew them, meaning He had them in mind long before they ever knew Him. He predestined them, which is just a fancy way of saying He had a plan to shape them into the image of Jesus all along. Then He called them, justified them, and, finally, will glorify them. The best part about this is that God doesn’t abandon ship when we hit a rough patch. The Romans were dealing with suffering, and Paul’s telling them—and us—that God’s plan is rock-solid. The tough times don’t mean He’s forgotten about us. Instead, they’re part of the process of transforming us into something amazing, a reflection of His Son.

So, whether we’re in the “called” phase, the “justified” phase, or we’re just waiting for the “glorified” finale, we can trust that God’s got this. He’s the ultimate craftsman, and He’s never left a project unfinished. Hold on, because the masterpiece He’s creating with our lives is going to be amazing!

Romans 8:30 - And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Picture God’s plan for us: it’s like a perfectly choreographed dance, and He’s been leading us through every step since the very beginning. It’s not a chaotic free-for-all or a game of chance—it’s a carefully designed sequence, and every move is filled with purpose. Paul breaks it down by saying that if God predestined us—that means He planned for us to be part of His story before we even existed—then He called us, like a divine phone call saying, “Hey, I’ve got an incredible purpose for you.” But He doesn’t stop there! When we pick up that call, He justifies us. In other words, He takes care of all the baggage that might’ve held us back, making us right with Him. And as if that weren’t already amazing, He promises to glorify us, meaning He’s preparing us for something beyond our wildest dreams—a future where we’ll shine in His glory.

It’s like a five-star meal with every course leading up to the grand finale. First comes the appetizer of predestination, then the main course of being called, followed by the rich dessert of justification, and finally the fireworks of glorification. And here’s the best part: God’s already got the whole feast prepared, and He’s making sure every single course is served perfectly. Paul’s reminding us that this isn’t some “maybe it’ll happen, maybe it won’t” situation. God has a 100% track record for following through. If He’s started this good work in us, He’s going to see it through to the very end. So, we can just sit back, trust the process, and get ready to be amazed. Because when God says, “I’ve got this,” we can believe He means it!

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 24, 2024

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