A Promise for Senior Adults

A PROMISE FOR SENIOR ADULTS

ROMANS 8:28

Introduction:

The promise is one of the most familiar in all of the Bible, and probably one of the most abused. But it surely worthy of our consideration as a promise for Senior Adults.

Consider with me some of abuses made of this precious promise.

EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IS GOOD. Wrong! Much that happens in this world will have to be labeled evil. It is dishonoring to the Creator to lay the blame for everything that happens at His feet and call it good.

EVERYTHING WORKS FOR GOOD FOR EVERYONE. Wrong! Any careful observer of life knows that much that happens in our world makes no sense at all.

GOD CAUSES EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS. Wrong! There is another personality at work in the world--the evil one. We know from the Holy Scriptures that this evil one designs and imposes much that is deadly and destructive on the human family. You may well have been the victim of some of his attacks for evil. However we must never forget that the evil one can do nothing to us without divine permission. He cannot touch Job or His family until God gives permission. He cannot test Peter until the Lord Jesus gives and okay.

So what does the promise say then? Notice the statement in the newer translation,

Romans 8:28 (NASB95)
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

You will notice that in this translation God is the subject. He causes all things to work for good. We are the objects of His activity. And He uses "all things" as His instruments. And good is the final outcome of what He does. Now let us break this down and see what it looks like from the perspective of a godly Senior Adult.

I. GOD WORKS PROVIDENTIALLY FOR HIS PEOPLE.

1. They are the ones He has called according to His purpose.

2. They are the one who love God.

II. GOD WORKS PROVIDENTIALLY THROUGH ALL THINGS.

1. God works through all the people He allows to come into our lives.

2. God works through all of the things that He allows to happen in our lives.

III. GOD WORKS PROVIDENTIALLY FOR GOOD.

1. The GOOD is not health, wealth, and happiness.

2. The GOOD is conformity to the image of Christ in holiness.

Romans 8:29 (NASB95)
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

3. The GOOD is being used to bring glory to the Lord our Savior.