I want to take you to a very familiar verse today – Romans 8:28

The Bible 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.”

Now this verse does not say that all things are good – rather it says that all things work together for good.

Whenever I read this verse, I immediately think about my Grandma’s biscuits. She made biscuits all the time – and they were amazing!

I remember watching as she always started preheating the oven, and then she put some crisco in the pan and put that in the oven to melt. Then she pulled out her White Lily self rising flour, and added more crisco, and some milk. She would work that together to form a dough, and then roll it out on the counter. Then she would cut out the biscuits and put them in that melted crisco. Finally, she flipped them over so the grease covered both sides and baked them in that hot oven.

Now when she pulled them out – you talk about something amazing! It didn’t matter if they had butter, gravy, jelly – or really anything on them – they were good.

What does this have to do with our text verse? Well – try eating a spoonful of crisco – or maybe go eat a cup of flour – and tell me how good they are. They are awful! Try putting your hand in that hot oven for 20 minutes and see how good that feels. It is terrible! But when you put them all together – it is all good!

In the same way – everything that you and I go through in life is not good, it is not amazing – but God can take those unpleasant circumstances and use them for good!

I think about Joseph. He didn’t enjoy being sold into slavery. He didn’t like living as a slave. He didn’t appreciate being lied on, and then living as a prisoner. Being forgotten didn’t make him feel on top. But what did he say to his brothers at the end of his life?
Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

You see – God used those circumstances for good in his life – and in the lives of many other people too!

What are you going through? Is it bad? Well, just hang on – God will take those bad circumstances and use them to make Good happen in your life!

Psalm 9:17 tells us, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

Typically when I read this verse, my mind goes where most do – to the second half of the verse.

Think with me – as we examine our nation, we can see evidence of this great forgetting! We understand that our nation was founded as a Christian Nation – and yet as a whole America seems to have turned her back on God. Now don’t misunderstand me, I am not a doom and gloom person at all – I am just pointing out that this appears to be the case for our nation.

With this in mind, we understand the fear that is present when we read this verse.

But today, I want you to think, not about the nation as a whole, but rather I want to dial it in a bit to a much more personal point of view – and specifically to what the Bible says in the first half of the verse “The wicked shall be turned into Hell…”

I want to take just a moment and break this down – and my prayer is that as we go through this, your heart will be broken like mine was.

First of all, he says “The Wicked.” Who is the wicked? While we immediately think of those that maybe commit gross and abominable sin – the truth is, this phrase simply refers to those that are not saved. They may be young, they may be old. It may be a child, or an old man. It may be those that we would call a good man or an innocent man – or it may even include those that are among the most wicked of men that have walked the face of the earth. Irregardless – they have rejected Jesus as their personal Saviour and are therefore lost.

Then he says “Shall be”. This simply means that this coming event is sure. There is no way around it. While it may not be today, you can mark it down, you can bank on it – it is coming.

Next we find the phrase “turned into”. This does not mean changed – but rather it implies something being committed to the charge of another. I remember years ago taking a book to the library and turning it in. That simply meant that it went from my possession to the possession of another. Now the book was under their control. That is what is being referred to here – “turned into”.

Last of all – the word “HELL”. Hell, in this instance, is essentially the Lake of Fire. It is the everlasting home prepared for the Devil and his angels. It is the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is the place where the fire is not quenched and the worm dieth not. Friend – HELL IS A TERRIBLE PLACE! It is not for a moment, it is not for a day, a week, a month or a year – friend it is for eternity! Not only that – but once someone goes there, there is no escape!

As I have studied on this phrase from this one verse this week, my heart has been broken again to think of boys and girls, teenagers, men and women – those that are lost – being turned into Hell… and when they get there, they are bound there for ever!

What can we do? We must reach them, we must tell them while we can! Tell them about Jesus! Tell them how Jesus died to pay for their sins – and IF THEY WILL BUT BELIEVE ON HIM, then they can go to Heaven!

Let’s decide today to rescue the perishing and care for the dying! Let’s decide to send the light! Let’s do our part to fulfill the great commission and reach the wicked before they are forever turned into hell!

Today, I simply want to share the words to a song that is a great blessing. This song was written by Frank E. Graeff and is titled “Does Jesus Care?” It says:

Verse 1 Does Jesus care when my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth and song; As the burdens press, and the cares distress, And the way grows weary and long?

Verse 2 Does Jesus care when my way is dark With a nameless dread and fear? As the daylight fades into deep night shades, Does He care enough to be near?

Verse 3 Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed To resist some temptation strong; When for my deep grief I find no relief, Though my tears flow all the night long?

Verse 4 Does Jesus care when I’ve said good bye To the dearest on earth to me, And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks – Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Now the truth is – many of us have been in these kinds of places. We have been in situations just like these and we have asked ourselves the same questions “Does Jesus care?”

We are like the disciples out in the ship in Mark 4. We are in the storm. The water is coming in the boat – but our fear and worry often overtakes the faith that we have – and then we say to Jesus like they did, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”

I am glad that the songwriter did not leave us hanging though – instead he answered the question in the chorus:

Chorus: Oh, yes, He cares; I know He cares; His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.

Friend, we can thank God that we have a Savior that cares about what we are going through! Thank God that He is available to help in the day and hour of trouble!

Hebrews 4:15-16 says, “15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Thank God that HE is there to help us whenever we are in need!

Luke 10:38-42

[38] Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. [40] But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. [41] And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: [42] But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Here in this passage, we find Mary and Martha as they had received Jesus into their house – and we find Martha busy working to care for whatever physical needs that were present.

In many ways, I both admire Martha and Identify with her in that. Rather than being caught up in the fanfare of having Jesus there, she worked hard to care for everything that was going. In essence, she was meeting the behind the scenes needs.

The truth is, we need people like that that just get in and get the job done. We need people who will just work hard caring for others!

As often seems to be the case, Martha had a sister – and this sister was no help. In fact, the sister was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to every word that he said.

One summer, when I was young, our family worked to can a bunch of produce. We made a bunch of apple butter, we made pickles, relishes, jellies – all kinds of things! Earlier that year, my sister had been given a calf for her birthday. She loved that calf – in fact, she would brush its hair and even sit with it throughout the day. Many times as my mother and I were in the hot kitchen working, we would look out the window just to see her sitting and reading a book to that calf. I guess in some ways, we felt like Martha did here as she saw Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Martha of course finally had enough – and she begged Jesus to tell Mary to get in the kitchen and help her finish up the meal! But Jesus did not rebuke Mary – instead He had some amazing words for Martha.

What did He say? “Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

He pointed out that Martha was worried about many things – but only one thing ranked as most important or needful – and Mary had picked it!

The truth is we often live like Martha. We get so busy that we forget that which is most important and most needful – but Jesus said “one thing is needful.” I wonder what was He talking about?

Well, He mentioned that Mary had chosen it… and Mary we find sitting at Jesus’s feet listening to His words. Apparently this is the most important thing – for us to stop and listen to the word that He has for us.

That begs the simple question: have you stopped and listened to Him today?

While He does not audibly speak to us today, He has left for us a written record of those Words – and we call that the Bible. We MUST take time to stop and read it – DAILY.

In Matthew 4:4, Jesus quotes from the Old Testament and says, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Friend, we must read it! We must study it! We must meditate on it! We need it!

I challenge you – spend time in God’s Word today!

Mark 4:35-39 [35] And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. [36] And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. [37] And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. [38] And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? [39] And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Here is a beautiful passage that tells us a story about Jesus calming the Sea of Galilee.

Now on the surface, the story if of great significance to us… you see, here are the disciples – and they were being obedient to Jesus completely. Only in their obedience, they came to storms.

For us, we may often find ourselves in the same exact situation. We follow what he says, and the storms come. What I find is that this seems to happen to everyone! You see, the more I strive to do right, the more the storms and trials come my way. The more I obey, the more it seems that things go wrong. That is just a part of life.

That brings the question: what did the disciples do when they came to this point? Well, the obvious answer is they went to Jesus. What did Jesus do about it? He calmed the storm.

They experienced peace as soon as they went to Jesus.

For us, this again is a great lesson – peace only comes from Jesus. You recall, John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” That is the only real source of peace that we can have!

But the title of this thought is not “how do I get peace?” The Title is “Why we must find peace.” The answer is actually found in the text passage itself. Notice again Mark 4:36 – And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

That last sentence is important to note – you see there were with them on the Sea of Galilee “OTHER LITTLE SHIPS”.

These ships were in the same storm. They experienced the same waves. They had the same problems. But for them, there was one thing, one person who was not present in their boat – and that was Jesus.

But when the disciples went to Jesus and they received peace, we find that the sea was calm for ALL the ships.

Now here is the application – when I am in turmoil or in tribulation, my family goes through that difficulty too. We often think about Job and all that he went through – but we often forget that Job’s wife endured all those same trials too. We think about the load that Jesus carried to the cross, but we forget what his mother endured watching as her innocent Son was both betrayed, beaten and crucified. You see – when one person is going through the troubles and trials, it affects their family. It affects their business. It affects their co-workers. It affects their church. But when that one who has been in trouble finds the peace of God – that wonderful peace that passes all understanding – all the sudden those that my trial affected now experience that peace too, and those that don’t have Jesus, they get to see how His Help carries the child of God through the trials and troubles of life!

I challenge you – as you face the troubles and trials – find the peace of God. How? Well – by going to Jesus (John 14:27) ; by yielding to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to bear fruit in your life (Galatians 5:22-23); by falling in love with God’s Word (Psalm 119:165). Find peace so that you can help others to make it through their storms.

I was just pondering the verse where Jesus said that the fields are “white unto harvest”(John 4:35).

For most of us today, we don’t spend a lot of time harvesting grain of any kind… but most people have seen some other kind of fruit or vegetable being harvested.

Last week, our family went to pick strawberries at a local farm. You can easily tell which strawberries are ready to pick based on their color. Of course, the idea is that you pick the bright red ones and the ones that are green, those you leave on the plant.

Now looking at a strawberry for this analogy, you could easily say that the fields are red all over and ready to be picked.

I mean- they are ready TODAY! Tomorrow may be too late – they MUST be harvested NOW!

As we were picking, I encountered several beautiful berries that unfortunately had waited too late to be picked. Unfortunately, they had decayed.

Friend, the same thing happens when we look at the harvest of souls and we say “I’ll go by in a few weeks” or “Maybe some other time”. Later may just be too late. In fact -it could be eternally too late.

Let’s determine to look at the field… and go work to reap while we can!