By Michael E. Brooks

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

The taxi driver in Charity, Guyana was talking to the local preacher as we went to the airport to leave his city. "I am a fatalist," he said, "what will be will be." I could not resist entering their conversation, saying, "You don’t believe that." His reply was firm, "Oh, yes I do, whatever is going to happen will happen; there is no changing it." "In that case," I said, "take your hands off the steering wheel, close your eyes and keep driving. If you are going to have a wreck it will happen whether you watch or not; if you are not going to have a wreck it will not happen even if your eyes are closed." He thought a minute, gave a rueful smile, and kept driving, eyes open, hands on the wheel.

Fatalism is the conviction that we are helpless before the future – it will do as it wills. But more than that, it is the abdication of responsibility for the future. I can do nothing to influence it, therefore why bother trying? Live for the moment, do what I want; it will all work out according to the intended purpose. There is freedom in irresponsibility, and millions seize it gladly. Let the future take care of itself; we will live for the present.

But fatalism is obviously flawed. We do influence our futures, and that of others. A moment's carelessness causes a traffic accident. Without the careless behavior the accident would not happen. Science has repeatedly established cause–effect relationships and our experience proves them daily. The Bible affirms, "whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7). That this is true in physical matters is indisputable. Its application to the intangible (spiritual, moral, ethical) is a matter of logic to the thoughtful person and of faith to the one who accepts inspiration of Scripture.

However, the fatalist rightly insists no one can control his future. One may influence it, but he cannot dictate its outcome. And this becomes a dilemma to the person of faith who, like Job, seeks to assure success with right living but becomes a victim of someone else’s consequences. If my righteousness cannot guarantee me happiness why should I strive? The righteous does suffer. "[It rains] on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45). Would I not be just as well off living the life of the unrighteous?

The answer lies in the basic goodness and love of God, and in his providential power. "All things work together for good…" This is not the simplistic statement that everything is good, that the righteous will never know sorrow or pain. It is rather the bold faith in God that trusts him to bring it to a loving conclusion in his own time. Through sickness, poverty, war, famine or any other circumstance of life, God is with us. His love and power assure us that "in whatever state [we] are, [we can] be content" (Philippians 4:11). Bad things may happen to us, but they are not the final conclusion. God is sovereign, and he "is not mocked" (Galatians 6:7). So we place our trust in God’s mercy and love, endure patiently "our light affliction, which is but for a moment" (2 Corinthians 4:17), and "make it our aim...to be well pleasing to him" (2 Corinthians 5:9).

"If God is for us, who can be against us? … neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:31, 38-39).

by Tim Hall

"Take away the stone," said Jesus as He stood before the tomb. His friend Lazarus had been buried in that tomb four days earlier. It's understandable that Martha, Lazarus' sister, objected to Jesus' request. "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days" (John 11:39, New King James Version).

Have you ever wondered why Jesus asked for help in moving the stone? If Jesus could raise the dead (something He would shortly accomplish), why could He not also levitate the stone out of the way? How impressive would that be? Instead, He called on others to assist Him with this chore.

My friend Jim Bob, a farmer, had the best answer I've heard to that question: "He wanted them to smell death," Jim Bob suggested. And I believe he's exactly right. Jesus wanted all those present to know that Lazarus had indeed been dead for four days. No one would be able to argue later that the man had simply been in a coma. The smell would be convincing. Yet out of this state of undeniable death, the Son of God called for life to return. And the work of Jesus Christ would be all the more glorious now that all had smelled the repulsive smell of death.

Could this be the reason why Jesus calls upon us to "move the stone"? Sisyphus was a legendary figure in Greek mythology who had been condemned to repeatedly roll a large stone to the top of a hill. Every time the job was almost finished, his grip would slip and the stone would roll all the way down again. Some find in that image a picture of their lot in life. "Why would God consign us to such a hard life?" they wonder. Could He not simply create us as angels, and immediately place us in heaven?

I suspect that's the advantage we will have over the angels. They've never had to roll the stone up the hill, nor have they had the smell of death linger in their nostrils. And for such reasons, they cannot appreciate as we will the glorious power of God through Jesus Christ.

Paul used roughly the same imagery in 2 Corinthians 2. In describing a scene of a victorious army returning to their homeland, he wrote, "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death to death, and to the other the aroma of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Cor. 2:15,16).

Some will not believe in Jesus as the Son of God. To them, Christianity is merely a stench of death. "Give up my pleasures? Deny myself and take up my cross? You've got to be kidding me!" But those who see the wisdom of God revealed through His Son smell more than the smell of death; they can already sense a more wonderful aroma -- life!

"Take away the stone." All of our lives that will be our task. It is often unpleasant as we are confronted with the smell of death. But that smell will not remain. The Son of God who called forth Lazarus out of the tomb will bring life to our mortal frames. We just have to be patient until that day.

by Leroy Brownlow

1. More Knocking on Doors and Less Knocking on Each Other. The Great Commission demands that we busy ourselves in taking the gospel to others (Mark 16:15). The Bible says, "Speak not evil one of another..." (Jas. 4:11). It is so much better to be busy doing good rather than evil.

2. More Sound Heads and Fewer Soreheads. Perhaps there has never been a time in the history of the church in which we have had a greater need for men sound in the faith and wise in judgment. Sometimes the voice of the wise goes unheeded and the voice of the foolish takes over (1 Kings 12:6-8).

3. More Open Hearts and Fewer Open Mouths. All conduct proceeds from the heart. Prejudice closes the heart to a true consideration of the facts. If the heart was made right before the mouth was opened, most church problems locally and universally would cease to exist (Jas 3:5-6; Prov. 26:20).

4. More Seed Slinging and Less Mud Slinging. The task of sowing the seed of the kingdom is so great that it should leave no time for the slinging of mud at a brother. The fact that we have the whole world as our foe should draw us closer together (Prov. 18:24). There should be no division in the Lord’s camp (1 Cor. 1:10). One can never whitewash himself by slinging mud at another. He who tries gets his own hands dirty.

5. More Sacrifice of Self and Less Sacrifice of Others. There are plenty of members of the church who are willing to sacrifice the other fellow — his talent, his time, his money, and even perhaps his reputation. Sacrifice should begin at home (Luke 9:23).

6. More Concern over Direction Than Speed. This is the jet and missile age. Speed is being enthroned and multitudes bow before it. But in the Lord’s work, the greater question is not: “How fast are we traveling?” But rather, “Which way are we going?” (John 14:6; Matt. 7:13-14). All speed is not progress. On the other hand, neither is standing still.

From Vol. 38, The Voice of Truth International.

by Warren Baldwin

Ever feel like your vote really didn't count? It might not. Columnist Charley Reese recently wrote: "There are 30,000 to 40,000 lobbyists and representatives of special-interest groups in Washington, compared with 435 members of the House, 100 senators, one president and one vice president. Ever wonder why it's so hard for your voice to be heard?" (Idle Thoughts On The Road To Understanding, Friday, Aug. 8, 2003). reese.king-online.com

Wow!! Our elected officials are constantly bombarded with visits from well-meaning "friends" bearing gifts and advice on upcoming legislation. That may be why sometimes it seems like politics and economics just happens without us. People can begin to feel disenfranchised in their own country.

People sometimes feel that same way in their spiritual life. God has so much to be concerned about, how can he possibly find the time or energy for me? There is so much evil in the world, how can he conceivably recognize and remember the little I am able to do? And on that final day, what hope can I possibly have before his throne?

The answer is: Representation. The one who represents us before the Father is on a mission to secure our liberty and guarantee our freedom for all eternity. He can not be bought off or side-tracked from his mission. The evil one has already tried all that. Early in his mission Jesus was approached by this "lobbyist" promising power and wealth if he would forget his mission of intercession for the people and throw his lot behind the evil one. Jesus refused. Leaving Satan, Jesus marched straight to Nazareth where he preached,

"The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed" (Luke 4:18).

Not even the wiles of the evil one with promises of great personal benefit could deter Jesus from his course of saving you.

Today Jesus is in the very presence of the Father continuing his work of securing eternal liberty and freedom for us: freedom from sin and its consequences of despair and death; liberty to live as sons and daughters of the Father.

Want some assurance of that? Consider Hebrews 7:25:

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

Jesus' very mission, his very purpose, is to appeal to God on your behalf. He is always interceding for you. He offered his own life for your sins (Heb. 7:27), becoming your high priest. He continues to appeal to God on your behalf, working since the day of your salvation to keep you saved. Jesus is representing us in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle (8:2).

When we vote to send someone to represent us in Washington, we have no guarantees that the desire of our hearts will be honored. We can only hope. But when Jesus ascended into the throne room of the Father to represent us to Him, He went without any personal motive or ambition. His whole purpose was to tell the Father, "Yes, he's mine. Yes, she's mine."

We couldn't hope for better representation! Our character isn't enough. Our good works aren't enough. Our Bible knowledge, good intentions, sacrifices -- none of them are enough to gain acquittal from our sins before the Father. But Jesus is our guarantee of God's promise of salvation. This is one representative we can count on to represent our needs and interests. Completely.

"Father, thank you for the continued presence of the Great Intercessor on our behalf. May we, today, experience the confidence and joy that you meant for your redeemed to experience. Bring peace to our hearts. Thank you."

by J. Randal Matheny

Not a few people lose big on the stock market. Offerings like Enron seemed to promise huge gains. But appearances were deceiving.

What seems to be right or pleasing or advantageous to us often isn't.

One example.

The problematic Corinthians had stopped or slowed their giving for the poor saints in Jerusalem. After an ambitious and zealous beginning, they had begun to feel the pinch of the pocketbook.

It just seemed right to put this off until a more convenient, more prosperous time.

Not so, says Paul.

"I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may also be the completion of it by your ability" (2 Cor. 8:10-11, NASU).

This is to your advantage,* he declares. You may not think so, the circumstances may appear adverse, finances may be tight, but it is to your advantage. Your spiritual advantage.

• You will learn to see through what you decided to do and finish it, in spite of difficulties.

• You will become a world-wide partner in the gospel by helping needy saints in other places.

• You will discover the abundant grace of God who makes you sufficient for every good work.

Don't think first of your pocketbook, or your personal situation. Think broadly. Think brotherhood. Think will of God.

Paul is not afraid to stick his nose in so sensitive a matter as money. Because the Kingdom of God touches every facet of our lives. And brings true spiritual advantage through everything we do.

Even when all signs point the other way.

• The phrase translates the Greek word, sumpherei, an impersonal construction meaning something is good, useful or helpful to someone. ESV: "this benefits you."