No Power of Hell nor Scheme of Man
By: Raul Collado
March 11, 2020

In Romans 8:28 it says: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

Notice that the text does not say that all things will eventually work together for good, pointing to sometime in the future to come, but rather it plainly states that “all things work together for good” in the present tense. This means that all things are working together for our good presently despite what any given circumstance may look like, or how we may feel about it. We do not know how things will work together for good, but that is not our business to know. It is our Heavenly Father who knows the beginning to the end and He remembers that we are dust. What is our responsibility? To rest and trust in the promise that, “all things work together for good to them that love God”. Our heavenly Father has countless ways to provide for us of which we know nothing about.

If we do not know that all things work together for our good it is because we do not love God with all of our heart. Therefore, we cannot trust Him with all of our heart, leaving us unaware of His purpose for calling us.

What is the purpose that God has called us for?

God has called us “with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:9). This is why it says in 1 Peter 1:15-16: “As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [what we say or do; our behavior], because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Holiness refers to sacredness; to be set apart or to be consecrated. We know that all things work together for our good when we are consecrating ourselves and surrendering all to God, and love Him with all of our heart and understand the purpose of His holy calling. We then begin to understand the principles of God’s law which is “holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good”, and that “His commandments are not grievous” (Romans 7:12, 1 John 5:3). Knowing the love of God and the divine sacrifice of His Son will compel us to surrender all;  to love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to obey all of God’s commandments.

When we are afflicted by others, whether it be by oppression from governments, or scorn by family members and friends, we can perceive that they are not our enemies. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

We must view affliction through God’s Word which says: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

When we are lightly afflicted with trials and temptations we can know that we are entering into “the fellowship of His [Christ’s] sufferings being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10).

Whether through the stormy trials or in the moments of calm stillness in life we must stand firm upon the promises of God. We can be encouraged with the many promises He has given us. God’s Word is creative. He speaks and it is so. His Word does not change.

“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever. . .” (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

Jesus says to those who know His voice and follow Him: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” (John 10:28)

When Pilate said to Jesus in John 19:10: “knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?”, Pilate did not know that he had absolutely no power of himself and that all power only comes from the God of heaven above.

Jesus clearly tells Pilate in verse 11: “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above”. Pilate could have no power against Jesus except it were given from above; from God the Father. As long as Jesus was living according to His Father’s will, nothing was allowed to harm Him unless His Father permitted it to happen.

Even so it is with us who are called to bear the cross after Christ: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

When we are walking completely surrendered to Jesus Christ and His will for our lives, no power of hell nor scheme of man can ever pluck us from the Divine Hand of Christ.