Feb 18
13
Good Out of Evil
Acts 8: 6: And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7: For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8: And there was great joy in that city…12: But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Everything that has ever transpired, even the most horrendous evil which is the crucifixion of our Lord, has not only been overruled by God, but has come to pass exactly according to God’s purpose, for the good of those that love him (Rom 8:28.) We attribute our actions to one of two things. We say it was an accident or I did it on purpose. With God there are no accidents. He works all things together for his children according to his purpose, For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? (Isaiah 14:27.)
The Lord Jesus loves God and was called of God to save his people from their sins. Therefore the whole time he walked this earth, God worked all things together on purpose for his good. Through all the persecution he endured and the wrath of God he suffered we behold him raised triumphant in glory! He is held up before us with the preeminent title of, the Faithful One, the Just One. He has the glory he had with God from the beginning, but now as both God and Man. The glory of declaring God’s righteousness in being just and the justifier of all who believe came to him through much suffering. He has the glory of being the King of heaven and earth, the Savior of sinners, of all fullness dwelling in him, and of being the Firstborn among many brethren. This was the joy set before him in the everlasting covenant which caused him to run the race with patience, enduring the cross, despising the shame. All according as he determined before the foundation of the world and brought to pass on purpose.
In like manner, our Lord works all things together for the good of his elect children. Here in Acts, he scattered his preachers and his saints bringing the word to his children in each place where they were scattered. He even saved the ring leader of this persecution–Saul of Tarsus–as a monument of his sovereign, saving, grace. Paul knew what mercy and grace God had shown him through this great persecution of the church and he knew why. It was the same reason he hardens the hearts of vessels of destruction and reveals Christ in his vessels of mercy (Romans 9: 17-23.) Just ask Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4: 34-37.)
God works everything together on purpose because he is absolutely sovereign, because he will glorify his Son, and because he will save a people from their sins whom he loves freely and everlastingly.
Clay Curtis.