Subject: Getting it all together

Have you ever been hindered from accomplishing a task because everything failed to "come together" at the right time? Let's say, for example, you have the intention and think you have the ability to make it to work on time, but, traffic accidents, weather conditions, other drivers, etc., all combine to make you late. I could give many other examples, but I won't. I just want you to get the point that, in order for a goal to be reached, or, something to be accomplished, there are many variables that all have to come together at the proper time and in the right way. One variable can throw the plan completely out of kilter. The statistical likelihood of success decreases geometrically with each additional variable involved. That's with only one goal. If additional goals are tied to it, the chances it will not happen as planned are literally astronomical.

Where am I going with this? i want to remind you of two verses of scripture. Ephesians 1:11 speaks of God as, "Him Who works all things according to His will.” Romans 8:28, as probably all of you know, says, '"We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Now how many things do you think are included in "all?" Remember, when more variables are involved, less chance exists that something will be accomplished as planned. Do you have any idea how many variables are involved with everything happening in the entire universe? Of course you don't! It's impossible for us to even conceive, yet we have just read God's Word telling us our God is working all (everything and every variable involved): 1, together, 2, for our good, 3, according to (or dictated by) His will.

We, though we love God, are sinners who go after our own way and live in a world that does it's best to do us (as God's beloved) harm and destruction. Now those are variables that would seem to preclude much, if not everything, in our lives from resulting in our good, yet, we know that our God is making everything come and work together so that our good results. That's beyond awesomely amazing. In fact, it's impossible, but with God all things are possible! When we pray, "God, do your will; many of us act like, "Uh-Oh, this is going to be bad. HE's the Righteous Judge, The Lawgiver, The High and Holy One; I'm going to just have to grit my and go through this." Well, God will work His will, working all the variables through the counsel of His will, but that is not His only goal involved. Remember, HE is at the same time working all of those things together for our good. In God's: all-knowing, all-seeing, all- powerful, all-present, all-sufficient person, HE can and does accomplish both these goals; because HE Is: all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful, all-present, and all-sufficient.

I don't believe I can get all the thought I want to get across to you in these few lines. I just want you to spend a few minutes meditating on the impossibility of combining all of the world's assets and being able to accomplish what our God can do with, pardon the expression, "His eyes closed." Then spend a few more minutes meditating on the fact that your and my God is always, has always been, and will always be working everything according to His will, while at the same time working everything together for our good. Take the following as examples of what went through my mind as I did this meditation:

The rate of, and how each cell of a plant grows affects the rate of carbon dioxide/oxygen exchange in the atmosphere; which affects the air every living thing breathes; which affects the rate of oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange in the atmosphere; which affects how quickly the paint on my house oxidizes; which affects when I have to re-paint my house; which affects when and how I have to spend money; which is affected by where I work, what and when I'm paid (so I can pay the money for paint); which affects the economy of the paint store and each of its' employees; which affects the economy of the company making the paint and the economy of where all of us live; which affects the economy of our country; which affects the economy of the world; which affects.................

Apply the "domino effect" to everything that comes to your mind as you are meditating. It may "blow your mind" to do this exercise on just a few things, but God is, has been, and always will be working all of these and every other thing: 1. together, 2. for our good, 3. according to His will.

I can't grasp it and have surely done a poor job of explaining it, but I believe and know it is true! Praise, praise, praise be unto our mighty God. Give Him praise!

           In the Name of our indescribable and unbelievably awesome God,

    Ben