Romans 8:31 "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? What were "these things?" Romans 8 is full of truths about how to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Paul encouraged the Roman Christians to look at trials as light and temporary afflictions compared to the weight of glory that awaited. He also reminds them of glory coming to those who are justified and will someday be glorified as they preserve in the faith. As this perseverance continues and they continue faithfully, nothing can stop them, not even the difficulties they are facing. They may have appeared to be coming like a flood. When this happens, the question would need to be answered, "Is God for us?"
God's Word promises His children "trials of various kinds" James 1:2. God doesn't leave us to suffer these alone. God promises to be with us through the Spirit of His Son, John 16:33, "I have to you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." We can count on these troubles. When we go through them in faith, our character becomes more like Jesus, Romans 8:29 says. Our tendencies towards selfishness begin to wane, James 1:3-4. As we go through trials, we are called by Peter to supplement faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, and godliness. Going through trials the way the Scripture calls us to will only make us more useful tools for God's Kingdom, and "this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" 2 Corinthians 4:17. When we walk like that, yes God is for us. Nothing we go through can be against us. We are on the perfect landing strip.
We live in a world riddled with sin and sadly militated by God's children at times. What happens when God is not for us? This is not for the purpose of being a negative Nancy or to discourage anyone. To say that God is for us is to put some responsibility on our living obedient toward Him. There are those who say, "once you are in Christ, it isn't for you to do anything. God's the fully responsible party for the relationship." That is to not understanding the Scriptures. They are full of "if, then" statements. It also tells the story of God proving Himself faithful on behalf of those who walk obediently with Him. Also, being faithful to His character of Holiness when His children do not obey Him. God's people must understand this so that we walk humbly with our God, in the fear and admonition of Him.
What do we do when our affliction is due to our sinful behavior? What we should not do is emulate many of the kings of Judah, like Joash or Amaziah and Uzziah, who are characterized by these words, "he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD..." Yet, they sinned against the LORD. That sin brought consequences and turned God against them for their discipline, and they both became angry and died dishonorable deaths. It did not need to end that way. The hardness of the heart due to sin can cause us to follow their examples. We don't need to. King David was caught in his sin. When he was confronted, thinking a description of his sin was another man, he became angry. Then he learned he was the man. He humbled himself and repented. These are our choices.
King Ahaz "did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done.." He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. God had a covenant with David and his sons, who came through his lineage to rule over Judah. These men were part of this covenant. God was faithful to Israel under kings who honored Him. Yet God could not be for them when they sinned against Him. When His people sinned against Him, He would discipline them in order to turn them back to Him.
In the case of Ahaz, in 2 Chronicles 28:1-4, 19-21, when God disciplined the nation because of not only the king's sin but the people going right along instead of turning back, "for the LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel..." Interesting! In that statement, he was not connected with Judah other than leading Judah to sin. He was called the king of Israel. His sinful actions were repulsive to God that God was not for him or them, His people.
When God is not for someone, it is not that there is no hope. He will do what is necessary to get them to turn and repent. Now what we must do when we recognize our sin, that has God not being for us, is not to lean on our own understanding. In Ahaz's story, he attempted to get himself out of his own consequences for turning his back on God, "he took a portion from the house of the LORD and the house of the king and of the princes and gave tribute to the king of Assyria, but it did not help him." This might have been great to satisfy the ego of the Assyrian king, but it did nothing to put God back on his side, where He, God, was for him, King Ahaz.
There are people who think any bad circumstance that happens to a Christian is due to sin. God's Word does not bear that out. We find that bad circumstances, bad according to how the world defines bad, happen to everyone. Things happen, and God's people are impacted by them. Contrary to popular thinking, bad circumstances can still have God being for us. The very thing we are going through can be God helping us to see the genuineness of our faith. God is all for that in us. However, in times of sin and then rebellion against the Lord, where He must be against us to discipline and use it to turn us back to Him, there is nothing but repentance required. Consequences for sin may come, but you will be able to say with a heart full of the LORD's joy, "if God is for (me), who can be against (me)? That is a wonderful place to be.
Don't take sin lightly. God does not. I've loved reading through Chronicles and the stories of each king. Some start off honoring God and end that way. Others start off good, become arrogant and angry, and die in their sin. A couple sins against God and humble themselves in their latter years, and God responds quickly to acknowledge that. God is not fickle. Where he is for us, then all of a sudden, he is not. He does respond to our choices to walk obediently or to turn our back on Him through sin. Now many of us sin, recognize it, and repent. Those are not the times I see in the Bible. The example of these kings is a hardening that causes our hearts to look to our own understanding and become wise in our own eyes. Where Ahaz tried to rescue himself instead of repenting, we do the same. God cannot be for us in those times of life. For many, they don't turn back and repent, and they fight against God, which will always be a losing battle for us. It is best to keep God on your side, or you, His, than to face a moment where God is not for you.
It took until King Hezekiah began to rule that God's law and the Passover were observed again. He set the priest and Levites back into their God-placed positions. He warned the people in 2 Chronicles 30 not to be stiff-necked as they had been, the same as their fathers. He encouraged them to yield to the Lord so that the fierce anger of the LORD would turn from them. He ended his admonition this way, "for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him." While God is for us, as the Scripture says, we must remember his blessings are with those who are with Him. If you have turned your back on Him, it is not too late to return, so he will turn His face back to you. He is a gracious and merciful God. We are responsible to walk humbly and obedient to Him, then no matter who else is against us, God is for us.
Comentarios