October 29th, 2008 by Mark Altrogge
Sin can really mess up our lives, not to mention send us to hell.
Our sins play havoc with us, and sometimes we wind up eating the fruit of our disobedience for years. Sometimes it can seem like we’ve derailed God’s design for our lives and now he’s had to opt for plan B. But that is simply not true.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28)
ALL things work together for good, including our sins.
God is in no way responsible when we blow it, for God is not the author of sin. But somehow even our worst sins and mistakes fall under the umbrella of his supreme plan for our lives.
God is so awesome he can take our wickedness and use it to accomplish his purposes. When Jacob duped his father and swindled his big brother Esau, God used it to fulfill his prophecy that the older would serve the younger. When Joseph unwisely boasted of his dreams to his brothers, God used his foolishness to provoke his brothers to sell him to slave traders who dragged him to Egypt where God exalted him to spare thousands from starving, including his scheming brothers.
God is in no way responsible when we blow it, for God is not the author of sin. But somehow even our worst sins and mistakes fall under the umbrella of his supreme plan for our lives.
God is so awesome he can take our wickedness and use it to accomplish his purposes. When Jacob duped his father and swindled his big brother Esau, God used it to fulfill his prophecy that the older would serve the younger. When Joseph unwisely boasted of his dreams to his brothers, God used his foolishness to provoke his brothers to sell him to slave traders who dragged him to Egypt where God exalted him to spare thousands from starving, including his scheming brothers.
When Jonah fled in the opposite direction from where God commanded him, God used Jonah’s rebellion to reveal himself to pagan sailors on the ship he’d taken:
Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. (Jonah 1:8-10)
Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. (Jonah 1:8-10)
David began his relationship with Bathsheba with adultery, deception and murder. Yet God gave them Solomon, author of Proverbs and one of Israel’s greatest kings. Not even the worst sins can stymie God’s purpose.
Regret can easily slide into self-pity. And excessive regret is an insult to God, because we are saying what Christ did on the cross was somehow not enough to remove all our guilt. Excessive regret is also an insult to God’s sovereignty, because we are saying that our sins are too hard for God to turn to good.
Now DO NOT go out and sin, thinking God will use it for good. For sin has painful consequences. But if you believe your sins have ruined God’s plans for you, know that the cross of Christ and the power of God is infinitely greater than your offenses. God hasn’t opted for plan B.