Researchers nowadays are able to map the history of certain viral epidemics among prehistoric peoples by doing archaeological work inside our own cells. Some viral infections invade a cell’s mitochondria. It seems that when a person survives such a deadly virus, fragments of that virus’ DNA get preserved in the survivor’s mitochondria, and are passed down through the generations as battle scars of survival. Thus, researchers can recover, and identify these fragments in living persons, and know where their ancestors may have lived in the past, and some of the epidemics their ancestors survived. The benefit of these viral DNA fragments to the individual is that they can help cells combat new viruses. One does not need sensitive microscopes to identify the residual effects of one ancient pandemic. Sin has, and continues to affect everyone, everyday. We can also see in every person the persistent (though often weak) urge for goodness that existed before the pandemic of sin. The benefit of overcoming sin is that it often strengthens one to combat new temptations as they arise.
Understanding this has helped me make sense of people, and the erratic, conflicting way we behave. I believe firmly that given a set of options, we will usually choose the one with the highest level of stupidity; that if all options are stupid, most of us will choose the stupidest; and if all the options are sensible we will appoint a committee to come up with and then pursue a stupid alternative. I also believe that most people, most of the time, want to do good, and be good. I believe firmly in Murphy’s Law (“Everything that can go wrong will go wrong.”) AND in Romans 8.28: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose. I believe in the primary urge of goodness, the persistent effect of sin, and the absolute triumph of the will of God.
All this leaves me at a loss sometimes, and I am, after all these years of ministry, no more equipped to deal with a particular crisis than when I was as a boy preacher. Perhaps it is a flaw in my understanding, a flaw in my character, or (likely) both, but I am at a loss to give effective comfort when some positive, idealistic soul comes to me for counsel as things are falling apart. Some of us reject Murphy altogether, and believe that things ought to, and will go as planned – that those Walgreens’ commercials about a town called “Perfect” are not unrealistic. I don’t know where to begin with such a person. I can’t find my footing. I feel more comfortable counseling people who are not surprised by human imperfection. I don’t know if this reflects a mature outlook on my part, or if it is just a selfish mechanism against disappointment (probably the latter, but God loves and forgives me anyway).
Romans 8.28 says that God causes all things to work together for good – not that God causes all things, or that all our plans will work out. God takes what is, what messes we find ourselves in, and with that raw material produces the good – if we love Him and answer his call. What is “good”? Is it health, happiness, financial security? Or is it something specific? Isn’t the “good” God promises to achieve out of the raw material we offer him our salvation (Habakkuk 3.13)? In Acts 16, Paul is called to preach the Gospel in Macedonia. In just a matter of weeks he is run out of every town there, and is alone and worried in Athens.
And yet – those Macedonian churches: Philippi, Thessalonika, and Berea are the strongest he ever planted. And that worry Paul feels (I Thessalonians 3.1-5) is about the welfare of his brethren, not about his own salvation – of this he is confident (I Timothy 1.12-17, II Timothy 46-8) – and - that worry is soon dispelled (I Thessalonians 3.6ff). Paul was sent to Macedonia, he had a rough time there, and the Gospel succeeded anyway. That’s the way things go – the way things are on this side of the Jordan.
We are, all of us, all the time, blessed beyond our merit and beyond our comprehension. These blessings have but one source – God (James 1.17). The greatest of these blessings is a sure salvation (I John 5.13). These truths coexist with the fact of the sinfulness of humans generally (Romans 3.9-24) and the sins of Christians specifically (I John 1.5-2.2), and transcend both. This is what I believe, where I must begin and end. If you come for counsel or comfort, it is all I have to offer from the Word.
I just thought you should know.
