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In their great wisdom, the Rolling Stones sang, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes well you just might find you get what you need." Now, of course, Mick Jagger wasn't actually offering the wisdom of the ages there, but if you twist it just enough, you might find that it's in there.

When we face hard times, one of the very popular verses believers might try to hand us is "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Really good stuff. What we don't generally hear in these circumstances are the next verses.

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:29-31).

Isn't that interesting? Whatever Paul just said, his conclusion is "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" His conclusion is, "We can't lose." What did Paul see in what he said that led him to that conclusion?

Well, of course, it is true that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God. And that is a "We can't lose" concept. But how can't we lose? It's found in the promise that follows. There is a certainty about "those whom He foreknew". The "good" that God causes all things to work together for is this promise. We are "predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son."

So you have to ask yourself, "Is that good to me?" If being conformed to the image of His Son is a good thing to you, here's what else you can be assured of. It will happen. Have you ever wondered, "Why did God allow that to happen to me?" or something like it? There's your answer. "Being conformed to the image of His Son." And that's a good thing. Ifyou see it as a good thing, then you should be able to rest knowing that God is for you and no one and nothing can be against you. We can't lose. You may not always be able to get what you want, but God will see to it that you always get what He needs for you to get.

If being conformed to the image of His Son is a not a good thing to you, then perhaps you don't love God. Perhaps you aren't among the justified. If that's the case, then perhaps you need to take a good hard look at yourself and see about correcting that.

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Satan's Strategy