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Sunday 28 April 2002 - "God's perfect plan"

(Summary of sermon by Rev Erlo Stegen)

Rom 8:28

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Firstly, those that belong to Christ know, without any doubt, that all things work for the good of them that love God. Christians build upon the rock that cannot move, which is Christ. Even in the greatest storms and trials, they experience God's peace, and are immovable.

Those in the world do not have this certainty. They build on sand, and are blown around like dead leaves in the wind. They have no steadfastness. They don't know where they are going or where they are coming from. They are depressed and without any hope in this world.

What is the reason that Christians can be so certain about their future? It is because they belong to Him who is the great "I am", the Creator of the universe, who has everything in His hands. And yet, though He is so great, He even numbers the very hairs of our heads, and knows them individually. He knows each one of us from before the foundation of the world. This is indeed a great privilege, to know Him who has all in His hands. No accident or illness can happen without His appointment. He even has the keys of death in His hands. This is how a child of God can "know" in all situations.

Not all people have this certain knowledge about the future, even if they are very intellectual, or are even church-goers. Many try to become certain about the future by going to witchdoctors, palm-readers, or they themselves read the stars, but still they remain in darkness and are uncertain about the future.

Only those that love God can be certain about the future. This love towards God is the characteristic of true Christianity. Those having this love towards God are blessed, even though they are hated, persecuted or experience various other trials. Trials and persecution only brings them closer to God. They humble themselves under God's hand, and patience and long suffering are produced. Whatever a child of God meets up with, it only makes him better, and draws him closer to God. However, those that do not love God become angry and bitter when they are persecuted. When trials come their way, they complain.

These days some of our young people were preaching in some schools. At one of these schools, almost the whole school turned to God and repented from their sins. However, not everybody was happy about God's working. A certain man was extremely angry at these young people, and he hired three young men to shoot them. They went to the school where these young people were preaching, and waited outside the hall until one of them started to preach. One of the young men drew his gun, and aimed at the preacher through the window, but the preacher simply continued preaching. After some time he withdrew his gun, and his comrades asked him why he did not shoot. He replied that every time he took aim, a brilliant light around the preacher blinded him that he could not aim.

This just shows again how everything is completely in God's hands. Even if someone puts a gun to your head and pulls the trigger, it will not go off, unless God appoints it.

Secondly, we see that "all things work together for good". All trials, persecutions, accidents, or anything else that can happen in this world, always work together for the good of those that love God. Even if you say that this calamity that happened  is the end of everything, still, it is only the beginning of the good God has planned. Anything that can happen to you that love God, remember that God not only allowed it, but actually appointed it to happen, for your good. Take Joseph as example. After his brothers ill-treated him, wanted to kill him, sold him into slavery, etc., he only saw God's hand in it all. When his brothers thought that he was going to repay them all the evil they had done to him, he replied, no, it was not you, but God that appointed it to happen for the salvation of many.

God teaches those that love Him to be more and more separate from the world and the things of the world, and to set their heart and mind on the eternal things, and trust in God alone. Everything that happens to us is sent and appointed by God, because it is necessary for our welfare.

Thirdly, we are called by God Himself. This is a great calling and should be first in our lives. Not our parents, wife or children, or anything else should be in the way of this calling from God. How is it possible that some can even turn their backs on God's great call for the opposite sex? Don't they have any brains?

God has planned our lives from the foundation of the world. He planned that such and such a person should be born on such and such a day. He even has a perfect plan for your life. Do you fulfill that plan according to His will?