All Things Work Together for Our Good
Looking back on the past week with the death of Kobe Bryant, an international superstar, and the impact his death had on so many I can’t help but to think of how God works together all things for good. Let us not miss what God is doing in this storm. For a moment, we all grieved together. We put aside our differences, our hatred, our selfishness and we slowed down to focus on things that truly matter. Fathers have hugged their kids a little tighter. Spouses have kissed their significant other a little longer. Bitterness has been broken. Forgiveness has been sought. For a moment, we all have laid aside the temporary and thought about the more important things of life.
Last night, we saw a secular artist, Usher, sing Amazing Grace at an NBA game. A song about our heavenly Father’s forgiveness and love for us. A nation that points us in the complete opposite direction of Christ turned to the only One who can bring true healing in the face of difficulty. We saw players getting emotional during the national anthem. The same anthem that we’ve seen athletes sit for and stir up controversy over. For a moment, none of that mattered.
You see, in a time of tragedy even unbelievers turn to prayer and think about mortality. Why is this? Why did we sing a song about God’s Grace? Why does everyone turn to prayer? Why do people talk about Kobe being in heaven? The same people who live as if there is no God. I think it’s because of what Paul tells us in Romans 1.
“since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.”
Romans 1:19-21
(All of Romans 1:18-32 is worth a read)
We all have an understanding of God that we are born with. We all have a desire to worship something greater than ourselves. However, we’ve exchanged the truth for a lie. We’ve exchanged the Creator for creation. We’ve suppressed the truth. We’ve taken what is evil and made it not only good but praiseworthy.
In the midst of the loss of Kobe Bryant, I think God is trying to teach us something. I think he’s trying to draw us together and draw us into His arms. And turn a sinful nation back to Himself. Let us not miss this moment. God will use this for good and we have seen Him working mightily already. Lord, we trust You in the eye of the storm and know that You are good.
