Our Good And His GlorySýnishorn

God’s ultimate goal always results in God’s glory. Ephesians chapter one highlights this for us,

In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace… to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory… with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. (vv. 4b–6a, 12, 14b)

The primary reason God is working everything out toward His intended outcome is “to the praise of His glory.” God sets about to guarantee all that He has created fulfills and satisfies its intended purpose, which is to bring glory back to Himself.

Like it or not, God exists for His own glory. Now, you can fight that truth, fuss at it, argue it, not want it, reject it, accuse it or anything else you want to do. But whatever you do about it, it’s not going to change it. God exists for God. So does everything He made. He made it for Him. That’s the reason it’s here. That’s the reason we’re here. We are made for God. Our lives are not about us; they are about Him and His glory. If you don’t care for that too much, then go and make your own universe. He made this one, so He gets to set the rules.

Anything that competes with, negates or downplays God’s glory exists in a perpetual state of misalignment. It is out of order. God made all things to display His attributes, character and power.

There is another reason, though, that God causes all things to work together. He does it for His glory, yes, but He also does it for us—for good. You’ll recall Romans 8:28 says, “God causes all things to work together for good…” Essentially, that means He is bringing about our benefit. The word good means “that which is beneficial.” Thus, God is also seeking to bring about benefits and blessings in the lives of those who love Him and walk according to the paths of His purpose.

Please don’t misread that verse to make it apply to everyone, everywhere. Too many people do that. It does not say that God causes all things in every single way to work out for good. No, it specifically refers to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Thus, there is bad in this world. Negative things do happen. The assumption that is often made when they do is that God must not be good Himself. But the presence of darkness doesn’t negate the power of light. Light exists to drive out darkness, not to eliminate it entirely. 

Romans 8:28 doesn’t say that God causes all things to be good. Rather, He integrates all things to work together for good in the lives of those who love Him and follow His paths. His is the invisible hand operating behind the scenes of the good, bad and ugly in life. He manipulates and maneuvers the many circumstances toward His intended goal.