God never says, “Oops!”

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CURRENT RADIO SERIES Songs of Encouragement   CURRENT TV SERIES Songs of Encouragement

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 D.L. Moody, the great evangelist, used to say, “I would rather live in the eighth chapter of Romans than in the Garden of Eden.” Now here’s what he was saying. In the Garden of Eden man sinned and fell and was cursed. But in Romans 8, we find a place where there is no condemnation, where we discover security in Christ, and where he promises to cause things to work together for our benefit! Maybe you’re going through a difficult time right now. Perhaps you feel alone or abandoned. Perhaps it looks like evil is winning. But because of Jesus, evil can’t be victorious. Ultimately, God will transform the evil in this life into good, as Romans 8:28 says. You can trust him with the struggles and pain in your life. Nothing is outside the purposes and parameters of a sovereign God! He never makes a mistake. There’s never been a time in eternity or in your life where God has said, “Oops!” Not one time! Let God touch those things that are so terrible and tragic in your life. And in his love and grace, let him work all things together for good. You have his word; God will work things out. NOTHING IS OUTSIDE THE PURPOSES AND PARAMETERS OF OUR SOVEREIGN GOD!

The Problem Lies Within

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
James 1:13–15

In 1958, a high school guidance counselor wrote a recommendation to Harvard University, urging them to admit one of her students. She said, “I believe Ted has one of the greatest contributions to make to society. He is reflective, sensitive, and deeply conscious of his responsibilities to society.” The student she was recommending had an IQ of 167 and was graduating from high school at just sixteen years of age. The young man, who so many expected to do great things was Ted Kaczynski, who became the terrorist murderer known as the “Unabomber.”
Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. used to say, “Behind every tragedy in human character lies a long process of wicked thinking.” We do not accomplish good things because we are good. Every human born into this world starts out with a sinful nature that is opposed to God. The most brilliant minds and the best education money can buy cannot change the inherent nature of man. Only God can do that through the power of salvation that provides a new nature. The only hope, the only cure, for sin is found in turning to Christ. The Bible tells us, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Once we are saved, we still wrestle with fleshly desires that lead us into temptation. Only by recognizing that we have been delivered from sin and relying on the power of God to resist temptation will we be able to experience victory.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Rather than blaming our circumstances for temptation, we should look to God for His help in overcoming it.