If You Know These Four Things
How can I really know that everything is going to be OK?
It’s one thing to tell someone (or yourself), “Everything is going to be OK”,
but it’s totally different to actually know it’s going to be OK.
It’s nice and encouraging to reassure someone with those words, but the
harsh reality is that none of us have the power to guarantee that it actually
will end up OK.
There is only one way we can be completely confident that indeed, in the
end, everything really will be OK – it’s by knowing these four things.
1. There really is a God.
Yes, I mean God in the classic Creator, all-powerful sense. Only if
there is such a being can anything be guaranteed. Every good
outcome we could wish for could never be anticipated with iron-
clad confidence unless there exists a transcendent superior force or
being with the ability to guarantee outcomes.
Amazingly, every human being has a deep inner-sense or suspicion
that God indeed does exist. I believe the overwhelming evidence of
design all around us certainly seems to point in the direction of a
Designer. The Bible talks about a basic belief in God as the
necessary starting point of life and faith: “ … anyone who comes to
God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who
earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
2. God really is Good.
If He does really exist, the second thing we have to be sure of is
that His intentions are good. Ultimately, we need to know that His
intentions are the best good; as in final, longest-lasting, richest
good. Many have left the journey at this juncture in their lives
because they’ve mistakenly concluded God isn’t good because
they’ve experienced something very bad and painful. God’s perfect
goodness may include allowing us to experience tremendous
badness … temporarily. Sometimes we can see meaning or
purpose in our suffering, even through our very limited
perspectives, but sometimes we cannot – either way, our
temporary pain isn’t the full story from God’s perspective – and it
isn’t the full or accurate verdict on God’s goodness.
I believe His track record assures us of His trustworthiness. We
not only have the countless testimonies of His tried and true
followers to consider, but also the historic record of His work and
love in both biblical and extra-biblical writings. To me the
ultimate mic drop on the debate of whether God is good or not is
the self-sacrificing death of Jesus for us on the cross of crucifixion.
The Bible concludes the matter this way, “He who did not spare
His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also,
along with Him, graciously give us all things?” – Romans 8:32
3. God really is able to guarantee certain outcomes, i.e. He is in control.
God’s ultimate complete control of the universe and
everything/everyone in it: its plot, climax and conclusion is assured
over and over in holy scripture. King Solomon spoke of it this way,
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose
that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
4. I’m one to whom His guarantees of goodness apply.
This is just as critical of a point as the first three. For me to know that
I’m going to be ok, I need to know God’s all-powerful goodness is
aimed at me and applies to me. For many people, this is the most
unsettling and uncertain of the four. For many people, believing in
God and His goodness and power aren’t the hard part, it’s knowing
what to do with my own lack of worthiness that’s the problem.
Just about all of us are aware that, compared to a God-level standard
of goodness, we’re not good at all. Our internal “guilty consciences”
and sense of justice bring serious doubts about whether or not it’s all
going to be OK for me.
Here is where the reliable record of holy scripture comes through
with the ultimate point of comfort and encouragement – it clarifies
that God is so good, that He has made a way for everyone of us, as
guilty as we are by His standards, to be included in His good plans.
He says this, “ … to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in
His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12.
He is so good that He sacrificed Himself (Jesus) to cover our guilt and
make us not only forgiven, but even included in His forever family.
He goes on to guarantee eternal life with Him in paradise – no pain,
no tears, no fears – just joy and goodness – forever.
When you’re sure of these four things you can absolutely know that
everything is going to be OK! Actually way better than just OK!
Have you “received Him”? Confessed you need for His forgiveness and
your trust in Him? Then, for you, for sure, everything is going to be OK!
And, as you grow to know Him more through walking as His child and
follower, your confidence and peace about everything being OK, no matter
what might happen in the short-run, will just grow and grow.
I hope this has been helpful to you. This is Tom Gray, and This Stuff Matters