The Creative Goodness Within
Romans 2:1-4
1. Therefore you have no excuse, O man, whoever you are, when you judge another; for in passing judgment upon him you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. 2. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who do such things. 3. Do you suppose, O man, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? 4. Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Romans 9:14-21
14. What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15. For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16. So it depends not upon man's will or exertion, but upon God's mercy. 17. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth." 18. So then he has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens the heart of whomever he wills. 19. You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" 20. But who are you, a man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me thus?" 21. Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for beauty and another for menial use?
I wasn’t really sure why I was led to Chapter 9 this morning. I read it over a few times, and then as I read the notes, I was referred to the verses in Chapter 2. At first it seems as if God decides who will be saved because he chooses who will repent and who won’t. That’s what I thought, anyway, and it confused me. As I delve a bit more deeply though, and tie the two scripture together, I think I understand what’s being said. (At least I hope so!)
Paul is saying that God already knows in advance who will repent. Not that he chooses, but that he knows who will choose, and which path they will choose. Knowing that, he allows the poor or wrong choice of one to be a warning or a message to others. Or he uses their lack of repentance to allow us to see why we must repent to be saved. Did that take you in a complete circle? I’m not sure I’m articulating that effectively.
God demonstrates his patience and his forgiveness by allowing us to find our own way to him and then to confess our sins and turn our lives around. Then knowing that we need signs, encouragement and direction, he uses those who will never be saved for his good purposes. My first thought is why doesn’t he just make us all do what we’re supposed to do? Why didn’t he make Pharaoh see the error of his ways? Why did Hitler become such a monster? Why did he allow 9/11 to happen? Or the Tsunami? Did any of those people who died deserve what happened to them? Of course not!
What happened, though, after the Twin Towers collapsed? Didn’t this country rally together? Didn’t we reach out to each other—even total strangers? Didn’t we become the wives, the husbands, the parents and the children of those victims along side all of them? How about the Tsunami?! Isn’t the whole world united in one cause? Isn’t that God at work in man? Aren’t we seeing the very best of what man has to offer? No, God didn’t make those things happen! But he used the pain, the sadness, the hurt, loss and death around those situations to refine us, to test our limits, to expand the boundaries of our understanding and compassion. He uses evil to create good.
That’s like the ultimate recycling project isn’t it? There I go being sacrilegious again! But that’s the best way I can explain it! Nothing in our lives or in our world is wasted! God created everything and we have no business questioning how he uses his creations – including us! God wants good for us—happiness, fulfillment, peace, love, the list goes on and on. Sometimes to gain those, there is a tremendous price to pay. Eternity is usually hard won. But I’m betting it’s worth the cost!
I hope today you will look around your world and see the ways God is using all of his creations for his purpose and plan. And that you’ll see a way to acknowledge and respond to the creative goodness he’s placed within you.
Mary
