When All is Lost, God is Not

In 1947, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists published what has come to be known as “The Doomsday Clock.” It is a symbolic clock face that is intended to graphically show just how close the world is to global disaster. The closer the clock is to midnight, the closer the world is to destruction. When the clock was first established it was set at seven minutes to midnight.

The clock has been as close as 11:58 PM when in 1953 the United States and the Soviet Union both tested their first thermonuclear weapons within a nine month period. In 1991 the clock was at 11:43 PM because of the signing of the  Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. But since that date the scientists have included global warming in their calculations and the clock has moved closer and closer to disaster. Last week, the clock was reset again, to 11:55 PM; five minutes to midnight.

When we get one threat reduced it seems like others take its place. Mankind continues to find ways to “press our luck” when it comes to self-destruction. It almost seems hopeless. The human race just does not seem to be able to live in harmony with each other or with the world that we inhabit! Even Christians do not have a unified perspective on these problems. But we should have a unified perspective on the problem of hopelessness!

Paul talked about it in Romans and we can find truth there in the 8^th chapter, verses 22-28. Turn with me to Romans 8:22-28 (ESV).

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

May the Lord add his blessing to the reading of the Word.

Paul’s letter to the Romans contains much of his Christian theology and the basic doctrine on which the Christian faith has been built. He had been discussing the work of the Holy Spirit and in this section, he paused to make a comparison of two opposing facts; there is a glorious future and there is a suffering present.

Previously he wrote to the believers in Corinth. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV)

This passage reiterates those statements. The weight and pressure of the difficulties of their lives were so intense that Paul said that it was difficult to even express. He wanted his readers to know that when they could not even find words to express their suffering the Spirit would intercede. They were not alone in their suffering. He said that the whole creation was groaning together like a woman giving birth. That image may be a good one to examine. He said that all creation was groaning like a woman giving birth.

I have always thought that it is remarkable that any woman has a second baby. It is one of the most painful and difficult experiences a person can have. Forgive me, I have no personal experience of what the pain of childbirth is like. But, I helplessly “coached” as some of my children were born and I find the bravery of women amazing. I am also amazed at their ability to forget. When the joy of the baby is fully formed and in their arms, they forget the pain they have just gone through; well, nearly so! The joy of what God has done is so vast, intense and overwhelming that even the most difficult pain is dulled and nearly forgotten.

Paul tells the Romans that it is a matter of perspective. The joy and glory of what God had in the works would overwhelm their current suffering. He told them that that was their hope. They were to wait patiently and they were wait in hope. When the deep pain of their lives became so intense that they could not voice it, the Spirit would voice it for them.

Then comes a verse that has caused much confusion, both for the world and for many people of faith. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. This might be called the “Pollyanna Passage.” Too many Christians have read this and walked away thinking, “God is going to make it all good. If I love God, the difficulties I am going through will come out alright.”

Is that really what this verse says? No. It is not. Paul told his readers that God would use their trials, their sufferings, their awful situations for his good purposes. It certainly did not mean that they would not suffer. It did not mean that they would not experience loss or injustice. It did not mean that they would not experience deprivation or even violence. On the contrary, it is as if Paul was telling them that could expect those things to happen. Paul told them that if they could pry their eyes off of their own self-interest and somehow see God’s perspective, all of their turmoil would seem puny compared to the joy that God had for them.

I would have been difficult for them to do. How do we know that? We know that, because it still is difficult to do! It is still difficult to tear our thoughts away from the difficult circumstances of our lives and refocus on the glory of God. You and I come into church on Sabbath morning and we are rushed and harried. We are worried about money. We are worried about our surroundings. We are worried about relationships and health and unknown disasters.

Oh, my goodness, mankind’s clock of disaster clicks down and down and down. Global disaster approaches and you want me to take on that “Pollyanna” notion that somehow God is going to make it all OK? No. I do not.

Why? Because life is not all about you and life is not all about me. The life I have belongs to God. Your life comes from God and he will do with it as he sees fit. At the end of his trials, Job said to his friends, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” (Job 13:15a). That is the kind of commitment to God that Jesus lived and died. That is why he rose again. Life is only hopeless if your hope is in yourself! When all is lost, God is not!

So, in the long run, what can we say about this? Well, Paul said that if God is for us, who can be against us? He gave up his Son for us. Why would he hold back now?

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present 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 in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The clock is ticking! There will indeed be a doomsday. It will come in God’s time and that should be the clock we are watching.