Our behavior, our spirituality, our decisions, our relationships, and definitely other examples to be sure. In todays world, a person has been known not to even think of the word ‘Good’ especially when involved in a death, or disaster in their life. I would go as far to say even a crisis or event that is devastating to that person regardless of what it is. We each have the purest intentions to define in our lives what ‘Good’ really means. Do you know why? I’ll explain that later!
Just not too long ago someone mentioned to me how they didn’t think they was a ‘bad’ person. I thought, well who would think that they are a bad person. Everyone on earth will always want to think of themselves as Good wouldn’t they. However, there is some that tend not to live a good life, or portrait themselves as good, but down deep, we all have our own definition of Good and what it is.
The National Institute of Health done a measure on parents and their children towards the study of being a Good Parent. Of all the comments, these was the top three. Focusing on their child’s quality of life, advocating for their child with the medical team, and putting their child’s needs above their own. Now to the child, do you think these statements hold true? Not in every circumstance I must say. For example, if a student goes to medical school and pass’s all the classes and tests which then results in becoming a Doctor, but if you was to learn that Doctor just barely passed all the requirements while minimuly making efforts during the course of study, would that information make the Doctor less qualified as being a Good Doctor or not? Something to think about huh!
Now there are events and circumstances in our life where ‘Good’ can be a disqualifying calculation. How about being a Good Patient? Well if you are a patient because of a serious condition then Good isn’t really relative is it? Or so it may seem! How we look at things, our attitude truly can affect nearly every aspect of our lives. When you look at War, war in your family, war on drugs, war on crime, war on terror and so on, it starts with a objective to complete something or even get something in return, but is that a Good thing? Can it end in something Good? Not always, but friends it is in God’s best interest and foremost his promise all things will work together for good to those that love him and are called according to his purpose. What does that mean? How does that apply when you lose someone very special to you? They was swept away and you feel left with a feeling without. In the Bible, there is several examples to give you that will help answer this question, but lets look at Joseph.
Joseph was a bright, energetic and hateable child, so it seemed to several of his brothers. He was second youngest of the 12. Israel (also known as Jacob) placed Joseph on a pedestal that not only seemed to seal Joseph’s fate, but help drive a wedge between Joseph and his brothers. Joseph however, had another trait that seemed to escape the minds and hearts of his family. He was a chosen individual for a great purpose. And the so called wedge I mentioned, well that was an observation, not necessarily the truth. At the beginning of all of this, no one had a clue where it would end up, but what they took as strange dreams and arrogant attitude Joseph portraited came across so negatively that the innocence of Joseph was driven away and beyond his brothers minds, or so they thought.
Look at us today! Do we have a clue where God will lead us, or where exactly we are to go? Not at first, but we look at the circumstances, the mishaps, the tragedies in our lives that seem to drive us to a conclusion that is not grounded in God’s will or purpose. Even though he promises us he will be with us, we sometimes conclude “God isn’t here, I don’t feel him, I can’t hear him”.
I wonder if Joseph felt this way! Scripture tells us Joseph was an obedient servant, but no doubt the fleshly experiences was present. From feeling abandoned, hurt, violated, distrusted, persecuted for no cause, and many more… we are left with the feeling or thought that Joseph should be a story that ends with a major tragedy that was to be expected.
Oh my friends, that could not be further from the truth!
God had a plan, just as he has a plan for each of us. You might not think it, or feel it, but its still true. Scripture tells us ‘Our thoughts are NOT his thoughts.’ We could NOT possibly comprehend fully what God has in store for us. Scripture also say ‘We are to Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding.’ Now I could stop there and that would be sufficient enough, but here is another one ‘For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’. BAAAAMMMM
How could you possibly think negative now! Just those few verses out of so many promises God has made to each one of us, can we possibly think something else.
Remember what I mentioned earlier to define ‘What Good really means?”
Because God said in Genesis “Everything he had made was very good.” Everything! Even to date!
Look at Jesus! Gospel of John gives us a glimpse of what the human and sinful flesh thinks. When Jesus was identified to being from Nazareth, here was Nathanael that asked “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Wow, even though Jesus was starting his ministry, already from the beginning the label of not being Good was associated to not just a person, but also a place, like it was some disease.
Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Auschwitz survivor Elie Wiesel passed away on July 2, 2016, at the age of 87. He is remembered for many things, one of which was to share his experience of living in a concentration camp in books and in speech, so that the horrors of the Holocaust would never be forgotten. “‘If I survived, it must be for some reason,’ he told Michiko Kakutani of The New York Times in an interview in 1981. ‘I must do something with my life. It is too serious to play games with anymore, because in my place, someone else could have been saved. And so I speak for that person. On the other hand, I know I cannot.’”
Though it’s unclear where Wiesel stood in his faith, he recognized that all that he had experienced could be redeemed for some good. So Joseph also saw that what his brothers intended for evil, God meant for good, and he used his position to care for Israel during the dark times of famine and drought.
Like Christ, Joseph endured rejection and persecution. Yet they forgave. They became a blessing to those around them, but also blessed those that hurt them.
Friends, in closing there is three lessons to draw from this message I want you to walk away with.
First, do NOT assume you will have a long life! Both John the Baptist and Jesus died in their early thirties and none of us is as obedient as they are. Scripture tells us no one knows when God will call us home, but we are to be ‘READY’
Second, God is the ultimate giver and taker of life, he gives it as long as our mission remains, and he takes it when our mission is done. Granted scripture does tell us he will full fill the desires of our hearts, but don’t take this out of context. The desire must be in Gods will for you and your desire must be of genuine purpose.
Lastly, those who love God are called according to his purpose should ‘NEVER’ believe that a wretched and painful turn of affairs is a sign that God is against you. On the contrary, its God’s hand at work for you in your life. This alone my friends is a hard pill to swallow.
Reflect on these: God is actually for us in our despair or tragedy. “I will always be with you” he said time again. Who could ever have convinced Israel that his beloved son Joseph, the apple of his eye that was taken from him, would be restored to him for the good of the world?
Second its hard to believe God is for us in our tragedies when they come several in a row. In Josephs life, when attempting to get over a previous event, another comes along. At first the apple of his father's eye, but then sold as a 17 year-old into slavery far from home. Then he prospers in Potiphar's house, but just when things look bright, he is cheated and thrown into jail. How many of us has experienced that. At the end, Joseph was blessed beyond comprehension and saved lives. Oh how easy it would be to ‘throw in the towel’.
Thirdly its hard to believe God is for our good when setbacks does not give us life but leads us into potential death. Joseph reminds us ‘As for you, you meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good.” Herodias meant it for evil; but God meant it for good. There is no greater comfort than to know that no matter how absurd and irrational circumstances may seem, God is in control and means it for good. Let's always trust in him. Ask him to help us LEARN to trust him! I will repeat Romans 8:28 “All things work together for Good, for those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” Friends, every cloud has a silver lining.
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost