And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

At this point we have one of the greatest assurances that we could ask for, the concept that “for those who love God, all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).  Someone might ask, “Wait a minute, I love God, but how can all the bad things that are going on in the world be for my good?”  There are two separate concepts at work.  The first is that we are a part of the creation that is in bondage to decay and futility.  By being a part of this creation, we need to understand that things that are not good for us will happen.  Paul, himself, in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 enumerates a whole list of not-so-good things that had happened to him.  He was not under the false illusion that things on planet earth are always going to be rosy.  Certainly he understood Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:45 when he said, “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”  He understood the writer of Ecclesiastes frustration when he stated, “It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice.  As is the good, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.  This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all” (Ecclesiastes 9:2-3).  Paul also came to the same conclusion as the writer of Ecclesiastes when he said, “The end of the matter; all has been heard.  Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” Ecclesiastes (12:13-14).  This brings the second concept into play, which is that when one looks at the overall circumstances of life, including eternity, we have the assurance that things will work out for the good of those that love God (Romans 8:37-39).  Looking at Paul’s conclusion, it is easy to see because he taught that those who love God will ultimately be “glorified” (Romans 8:30).  To understand the passage one has to look at each of the key words in Romans 8:28-30:

1. Called according to hispurpose – (see Acts 2:22-23; Ephesians 1:7-10; 1 Peter 1:18-20) God’s eternal purpose, the one he always had in mind, was to provide a way we could be saved and reunited with him.
2. Those whom heforeknew – (see Acts 1:24; 1 Peter 1:1-2) God knows and searches the hearts of individuals (Romans 8:27).  Consider as examples the conversions of the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40), Cornelius’ household (Acts 10 and 11) and the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:25-34).  God knew their hearts and made sure that an evangelist would come into contact with them to preach the gospel to them.
3. Hepredestined them to be conformed to the image of his Son (see Ephesians 1:5 and 11 and 1 John 3:1).  Notice that the predestination is to be conformed (made like) his son.  When Jesus came into the world this was one of the things that happened (John 1:12).  Paul has told us that this is one of the benefits of being led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14-17).  To be a “fellow heir with Christ, with all its promises, rights and privileges is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith (see Ephesians 3:6).  
4. He alsocalled – (see Romans 1:6-7; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; Hebrews 3:1 and 9:15; 1 Peter 2:9 and 5:10).  The way that one is called is through the gospel (II Thessalonians 2:14 and Romans 10:14).  That calling is to a life of holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7 and Philippians 3:14).
5. He alsojustified – (see Romans 3:24 and 28; Romans 5:1 and 9; 1 Corinthians 6:11 and Titus 3:4-7).  The word “justified” may be defined as “acquitted” in a legal sense or “declared to be righteous.”  Using a play on words, someone has said, “It’s just-as-if-I’d-never sinned.”  When God justifies us it is just as if we had never sinned.
6. He alsoglorified – (see 1 Corinthians 15:43 and 49; 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 4:16-18 and Revelation 2:10).  To be glorified is to be saved in the final sense, when we get to heaven.

God’s eternal purpose was to provide a way for human beings to be saved and reunited with him.  The ones who fit into this plan are the ones who love him.  Knowing the thoughts of the hearts of individuals allows him to know which ones fit the love criteria.  Because he knows that they love him, he predestined them to be just like his son, that is to be his children.  So they could be like his son, he called them through the gospel.  When they are called through the gospel, he justifies them and since they are justified, they are going to be saved, reunited with him in heaven.   Therefore, God’s eternal purpose is accomplished.  He has promised that those who love Him are the ones who will be glorified with him when he comes to claim his own!

God has never promised Christians wealth, power, an easy life, or fewer problems than the nonchristian.  Suffering for us and everyone else is a direct result of our great grandfather Adam and the changes that took place at the fall (see Genesis 3:13-19).  There are three reasons why things tend to happen.  Sometimes, it is because God wants it to or causes it to happen.  At other times, it is the direct result of Satan (Luke 13:16; 2 Corinthians 12:7 and 1 Peter 5:8).  The third reason events happen is due to the nature of the world we live in (Luke 13:1-2 and 4).  For example, God is not going to suspend the law of gravity because you fall out of an airplane, even though you love him.  Therefore, bad things can and do happen to good people who love God.  His promise to us, however, is that when we look at the totality, from here to eternity, all things will end up working for the good of those who love him and ultimately, that person will be saved or glorified.