The Necessary Piece of the Puzzle

Yesterday our family returned safely from a visit to the United States.  It was a refreshing and encouraging time of meeting with friends and family.  I was also able to attend a pastor's conference hosted at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and to teach at Jericho Road Christian Fellowship.  As I reflect back upon the things the LORD showed me during the trip, one that has been useful for me is an illustration God provided me to share for the fellowship at Jericho Road.

As we live out our days on earth, we face situations and circumstances we cannot explain or understand.  With our limited vision, it is impossible for us to see how fiery trials can work for good.  Before assembling a jigsaw puzzle, the complete picture has already been printed clearly on the front of the box.  Should you come across a strange or oddly coloured piece, an inspection of the picture provides clues where the piece fits in the big picture.  But when it comes to our lives on earth, God does not reveal the big picture all at once.  Our vision for our lives could be better compared with the bare brown cardboard of the lower box!

The amazing thing about that odd-shaped piece we can't seem to fit into our big picture - that trial, attack, illness, injury, or circumstance we can't understand or explain - is that in His love, wisdom, and sovereignty God has seen fit to use that particular piece to bring our lives to ultimate completion in accordance to His will.  God allows things that are not according to His will to accomplish His will.  For instance, God allowed His own Son Jesus Christ to die - something that is not God's will - to accomplish His perfect will, that all who trust in Him through the Gospel would be born again and never die!  God is not willing any should perish, but He allowed Jesus to be crucified so all could live.  This is a remarkable, wondrous aspect of God.  Paul knew it to be true and all Christians can affirm what is written in Romans 8:28:  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

We should receive joyfully the exhortation in 1 Peter 4:12-13:  "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."  We are not always able to receive such words, but their truth remains despite our misgivings and current pain.  Trials are not strange events unknown to God, void of divine purpose.  Indeed, they are among the most instructive, refining, and sure tokens of God's presence, power, and faithfulness.  We may never understand how an artist paints a masterpiece  or why the sculptor formed a curious vessel:  can we explain the thoughts or plans of God whose ways are past finding out?

Our call is not to understand or explain but to believe and trust.  We can be glad despite pain and difficulties, for Christ has promised never to leave or forsake us.  As the song goes, "When darkness veils His loving face, we rest on His unchanging grace."  Corrie Ten Boom used to say that we only see the back of the embroidery.  God sees the big picture, and He will work all things for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose!