Today we consider the question: Why is it that some Christians put their roots down deep and others do not? After much thought about this matter, I believe it has to do with trust. Jeremiah, I think, would answer the question in this way: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh’ as seen in Jeremiah 17:5. It is far easier to put our confidence in the things we can see or quantify than in those we cannot see. It’s all too easy to drift into believing that our security and significance depend on things that are tangible, such as money and possessions, academic qualifications, business success, personal skills, or physical attractiveness. However, please do not misunderstand me, these things are not wrong in themselves, but they cannot provide us with the security and significance that deep down our hearts we long for. So it all comes back to this matter of what we depend upon. ‘Maturity’, someone said, ‘is shown by where we place our dependency.’ How true. When things don’t go as we expected in our lives, we can respond either negatively or redemptively ("Redemptively" means in a way that brings about redemption, deliverance, or salvation, often from sin or evil. It implies an act or quality that saves or redeems someone, making things better or leading to a positive outcome, especially in a spiritual or moral sense.) Responding by complaining, showing resentment, and an unwillingness to forgive prevents our roots going down deeper into God: instead they remain close to the surface. When, however, we trust God and believe that all things are working according to His eternal purposes and plans, our roots in God start growing deeper and deeper when we rely implicitly in Him. Sadly, many Christians never gain trust. Those who grumble and complain when things do not go the way they wish lose a God-given opportunity to develop their spiritual rooting system. Under such situation of unbelief with grumbles and complains their roots are restricted rather than extended.

Now let us read Romans 8:28-39; 28 We are assured and know that [[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was [b]aware and [c]loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. 30 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. 31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] 32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] 34 Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? 35 Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? 36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors [a]and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things [b]impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:28-39 offers a message of hope and assurance for believers. It highlights God's sovereign plan and purpose, where all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This includes the difficult times, as God uses them to shape believers into the likeness of Christ. Furthermore, the passage emphasizes the unbreakable love of Christ, assuring believers that nothing can separate them from His love. Romans 8:28-39 assures believers that God works all things for good for those who love Him, and that nothing can separate them from His love in Christ Jesus. This passage in addition to highlighting God's sovereign plan and purpose, also explains His unconditional love, and the ultimate triumph of believers through Christ, even in the face of suffering. To this effect, it is then our responsibility to make sure that we live our life in such a way that enables the indwelling of Christ in us! God Working Things Out For Our Good Doesn’t Mean Constant Happiness; as most people think! I read all three of those verses 28-30 because often times we just read verse 28. “28 We are assured and know that [[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” And we think, “Okay. In any circumstance, God is working together for my good.” But we often equate that, the picture of my good, with that which makes me happiest or that which is easiest or that which makes the most sense to me. When we know oftentimes there are things we walk through that don’t make us happy and that are really hard for us, and that don’t make any sense to us. Romans 8:28 teaches us that God works for our good. We are loved by God and are called to follow Him, and that follow does not matter if it’s good or bad to us but for Him God He knows from the beginning to the ending. Romans 8:28–30 Talks About God’s Ultimate Purpose for Us; But that’s where this promise totally ties in verse 28 to what happens in verses 29 and 30. Where God tells us what His purpose is for us. “28 We are assured and know that [[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” What is His purpose? His purpose is that we might be conformed to the image of His Son. That we might be conformed to the image of Lord Jesus Christ our God. More and more every day, and ultimately those whom He has called He has also justified. Those He has justified He has also glorified. Ultimately in heaven, we will be glorified, fully conformed into the image of Lord Jesus. And that’s what all things are working together toward and it is important that we know this. And that is the greatest good that we might be like Lord Jesus, look like Lord Jesus at the end. That our lives would conform exactly to His image. These Verses Show That God is With Us in Our Difficult Situations; working out things. And so as you walk through your life, I imagine some of you who are listening to this right now. You are walking through some really difficult things. More challenging things than I can even begin to imagine. And I can imagine that it’s not easy. It’s hard and it’s confusing. It’s not at all what you would have designed for your life. And I just want to encourage you that, yes, there is a loving God that we see later in Romans 38-39. His love for you is greater, higher than you can imagine. He loves you, and in the details of what you’re walking through, He is working it together for your good. For your good, and your good here is having greater intimacy with Lord Jesus when God must have worked all things together. And greater understanding of His love for you. As well as greater dependence on and trust in Him. Where He will always prove Himself faithful to you. He’s working this together for more conformity to the image of Lord Jesus. This is where your soul will find its deepest delight and rest. Romans 8:28–30: Asking God to Conform Us to the Image of His Son; So I encourage you, even as I pray and think about certain situations in my own life and your life, I say God, thank You for this Promise! Thank You for this reminder that You are ultimately in control of all things, even the worst things. Even the things that we least understand. That You who are all wise and all knowing are ultimately in control and that You’re working all these things together for our good and for the good of those who love You. And who have been called according to Your purpose, that You’re going to carry out this purpose in our lives. You’re going to bring us more and more into the image of Lord Jesus, that we’re going to know and enjoy and delight in You more at the end of this journey when it’s all said and done, in greater ways than we can even fathom right now.

The future of those who belong to Lord Jesus looks very good. Listen to what Paul says in verses 28-30: 28 We are assured and know that [[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was [b]aware and [c]loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. 30 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. As we look at these verses, I’m sure verse 28 is known to many of us, and it is a wonderful verse. However, we must be sure to clarify a couple of things about verse 28. First of all, notice that Paul says, “We are assured and know that [[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” Second, notice that Paul clarifies who the all things working for good applies to: to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. So, God doesn’t say that everything will be good for everybody. Paul says specifically what will happen (all things will work together for good) and who it will happen to (those who love God). What Paul is telling us is that if you are a follower of God, you have a good future ahead of you. All the evil, all the suffering, all the heartaches and headaches, all the misrepresentations, all the persecution, all the sin that was committed against you, will work together for your good! That is why Paul says in verse 18 that the sufferings of this world do not compare with the future glory that awaits us. It will be good! It’s all good! When you have to wait in a very slow and very long line at the fast-food restaurant, remind yourself that it’s all good! When you have false accusations leveled against you, remind yourself that it’s all good! When you are ripped off by someone, remind yourself that it’s all good. When your friends and family abandon you, remind yourself that it’s all good. When your children or grandchildren reject your love and care, remind yourself that it’s all good! When you or your family suffer health challenges, remind yourself that it’s all good! When you lose your job or you can’t pay your bills, remind yourself that it’s all good! “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” Listen, God has been planning good in your life and in your future since before you ever existed on this earth! How incredible is that? This miraculous reality is explained to us a bit by Paul in verses 29-30. Quite frankly, I wish Paul had given us more explanation but he didn’t. However, he says, “29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was [b]aware and [c]loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. 30 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being].” Paul speaks in verses 29 and 30 of God foreknowing us and predestining us. First, God foreknows us. Now, this doesn’t mean that God merely sees us ahead of time, that would be foreseeing. Instead, God knows us ahead of time. Before we ever existed on this earth God knew us and then He destined us (again before we were on the earth) to become like Lord Jesus; to be conformed to the image of His Son. This is why God can say to the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, “I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.” You see, before you were a child of your mother and father, you were destined to become a child of God, so that you could become one of the many brothers and sisters of Lord Jesus Christ who share the same likeness with Him, and thus you could be adopted as a child of God. How incredible is that? Knowing that can lead us to say, “It’s all good”, no matter the situation! Not only did God foreknow you, not only did God predestine you, but we see from this passage that He God also called us to salvation, justified us by the work of Lord Jesus, and has glorified us by the power of His Holy Spirit. Church and brethren, it’s all good and well! God is working out something very good for His people and this is why Lord Jesus Christ is coming again! We have a good future that God the Father has already guaranteed, Lord Jesus has already earned, and the Holy Spirit is already delivering in His ongoing work in the midst of men. Next, in Lord Jesus we have . . . Good blessings (31-34): Listen to what Paul says in verses 31-34: 31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] 32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] 34 Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? These verses promise us good and wondrous blessings when we belong to Lord Jesus. I’m not talking about new shoes, a new car, or a new style. I’m talking about a new life, new affections, and a new home in heaven prepared for you by Lord Jesus! God gave the life of His Son, Lord Jesus, so that we might experience the depth of His great love for us. Think about that: He gave Lord Jesus! Won’t He also give us everything else that He has promised us through Lord Jesus? He Lord Jesus is faithful, He is loving, and He is full of good blessings. What’s more: we don’t have to worry about what others might say about us or do to us because we know that God is for us! If God is for us, who can be against us? It’s all good, Church! Who can condemn us? God has already justified us and He is now sanctifying and glorifying us! He had made us holy, He is making us holy, and He will one day make us fully holy. When your boss at work speaks disparagingly towards you, remind yourself that God is for you, who can stand against you? When your teacher or coach tells you you’re not good enough, remind yourself that God is for you, who can stand against you? When someone decides that you are no longer worth loving, remind yourself that God is for you, who can stand against you? When you’re hurt by someone who is supposed to be a friend, remind yourself that God is for you, who can stand against you? When Satan tempts you to despair, remind yourself that God is for you, who can stand against you? There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Do you now understand it? Lord Jesus took all the condemnation on Himself on our behalf and now we can live in all the divine celebration of the wondrous work of Christ. You know what I’m saying, Church? It’s all good and well! Lord Jesus died, He was raised, and now He sits at the right of the Father and He says to the Father, that one is with me! It’s all good! Church, there are good blessings in Lord Jesus. So let us seek Christ in our life! Good security (35-39): I often get asked, “Rev Obi, can someone lose their salvation?” Or, “Can suicide send us straight to Hell, even if we’re a Christian?” Or, “Can the devil have victory over a Christian?” I’m so thankful for Romans 8:35-39 because it helps answer these questions and so much more. So let’s look at verses 35-39: 35 Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? 36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors [a]and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things [b]impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This passage brings so much clarity! The question is asked, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?” Paul has told us about all the blessings that come with Lord Jesus all throughout the book of Romans. There are amazing blessings that come with the love of Lord Jesus! However, what if we can somehow lose those blessings? What if someone can separate us from those blessings? You can be separated from other blessings, can’t you? You can have great good health one day and then find out the next day that you have cancer. You can have a very healthy retirement fund and then 2022 can happen. The love of your life can one day tell you that they don’t love you any longer. Your Church can betray you or your pastor can betray you. Your new car can get wrecked or your new shoes can get scuffed. However, Paul says that nothing can separate us from the love of Lord Jesus! Nothing can separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. It’s all good, Church! Notice that Paul doesn’t say that we won’t encounter things that try to destroy us or try to separate us from the love of God. Most of the time we can’t even go a single day without the ways of evil and the dangers of this world clawing at us trying to bring us down in despair and darkness. Paul even quotes Psalm 44:22 when he says, “Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.” Paul is pointing to a verse that happened a long time before he was around to point out that God’s people have always suffered. The point is not that we won’t suffer. The point is that if you are in Lord Jesus, nothing can separate you from God! Nothing! Not affliction, not distress, not persecution, not famine, not nakedness, not danger, not sword, not death, not life, not angels, not rulers, not things present, not things to come, not powers, not height, not depth, not COVID-19, not politics, not racism, not school violence, not high fuel prices, not a poor economy, not hypocrisy from other Christians, not negativity in the Church, not a godless society . . . No, nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Church, we have good security in Lord Jesus! Whatever you can think of, that thing cannot separate you from the love of God found in Lord Jesus. It’s all good!

So our prayer should then be Lord God help us to always trust in You. I pray for those who are walking through hard times especially right now, That You would help them to trust in You. Help my brothers and sisters to trust in Your promise here in Romans 8:28-30. Help me when I walk through certain things that I can’t even imagine right now and in the future to trust in You. God, help me to cling to Romans 8:28–30, and we pray that You would indeed fulfill Your promise to work all these things together for our good and bring us to glory with You. We long for that day. We long for the ultimate fulfillment of this promise. In Lord Jesus’ name we pray, amen.