Romans 8:31-32 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
These two verses follow a declaration of God’s intimate action in the lives of all those who believe and trust in Him. It is an encouragement to evaluate life from a perspective of God’s goodness, mercy and grace. And what greater evidence of that goodness can be found than the gift of His Son.
It seems to me that one of the great difficulties we have with this is our selfish and shortsighted insistence to measure God’s goodness to us by our present earthly condition. As I get older I am continually challenged to broaden my narrow and selfish perspective. If only I could be simply Biblical in my thinking!
“God has not promised us skies always blue; Rose strewn pathways all our lives through…”
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
As I evaluate things, it certainly is far more preferable to have an eternal reward than one that only reflects the vanity of this life. A well-known missionary is credited with this observation, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” I have walked next to such lovely people. Oh that I could walk in such grace myself! And beside this we have this observation from King David,
Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Let us celebrate this Christmas with grateful and thankful hearts of contentment and satisfaction.
