Caution: Objects Are Closer Than They Appear

Week 22, Monday

Kathy Jett

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (esv)

I was driving home from the grocery store and glanced in my passenger side mirror to check on the motorcycle that was moving around me. As I took a second and third glance I noticed the words on the mirror: “Caution: Objects are closer than they appear.” The statement proved to be true for when I turned my head to look, the motorcycle was much closer than I thought.

“Caution: Objects are closer than they appear.” For the rest of the day I couldn’t seem to get that statement off my mind. I began to wonder if that was true about life as well. Did the things behind me—the things from my past—have more influence on me than I wanted to admit? Do those hurts still affect me today?

Suddenly I began to realize a very important biblical principle. Everything in my past has influence on my present situation. But is the influence for good or for evil? Paul said, “All things work together for good.” The two stipulations he gave are stated here as well.

First, do I really love God? My initial answer is a resounding yes! But are all things really working together for good? Everyone has a past. Everyone carries wounds. Their effects on the present are much closer than they appear. It’s easy to see how the good things have worked for my good, but what about the bad things? Do I see the pains from my past working together for my good?

Second, am I living as one called according to His purpose? Am I living for His purposes or my own? If I am living for myself then the things from my past are hurdles I have had to cross and burdens I have to bear. But if I am living according to His purpose, then all things work together for good.

Ask yourself these questions: Do I love God more than my past pain? If I do then I can release all that pain to Him. Do I trust God more than I trust myself? If I do then I can trust Him to fulfill His purposes through me every day knowing that nothing comes my way that does not fit into His purposes for my life.

Dear heavenly Father, I pray that You will fill me with Your Spirit and enable me to love You with my whole being. May I live each day according to Your purpose. You alone are able and worthy. In Jesus’ name, amen.