While listening to the story of Saul’s conversion to the apostle Paul, I was struck by how God had taken over Saul’s life and put him on the inescapable path of being converted to Paul.
If you know the story (Acts 9), Saul is on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians. Christ intervenes and commands Saul’s attention through a great light from heaven and by speaking to him. Saul listens and asks, “Lord, what will you have me do?” Saul recognizes his blindness to God’s love up to this point, and when he opens his eyes he cannot see. He is led into Damascus by his assistants.
Meanwhile, God prepares the next step of Saul’s conversion. He speaks directly to Ananias in Damascus, who is a devout student of Christ, and tells him to preach Christ to Saul. He even tells Ananias the address in which Saul is staying. Ananias rebels because he is aware of Saul’s vicious terrorist reputation, but God assures him the contact will be okay. Ananias is obedient. Saul listens. Saul is converted, and Paul, the new man, becomes one of the greatest evangelists the world has ever known. And all because of what God did for Saul.
After thinking about how God had orchestrated Saul’s conversion to Paul from beginning to end, I began to wonder if God was at work in my life in the same way, moving me from Point A to Point B to Point C. Points that maybe I’m not aware of right now, but will be in the future when I have some hindsight?
I decided the answer was yes. And I believe the answer is yes for you too.
Why?
It’s because there is a law of inevitable good at work in our lives. It’s inevitable that everyone, one way or the other, discovers their true identity made in God’s likeness—healthy, whole, free and overflowing with love. It’s inevitable that all evil be overcome and God will keep busily at work in our lives to ensure the triumph of good over all bad. We must grow out of a limited material sense of life.
Either through suffering or Science, we learn the spiritual lessons we need to learn to advance and understand Life in Spirit.
As Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Either here or hereafter, suffering or Science must destroy all illusions regarding life and mind, and regenerate material sense and self” (Science and Health, p. 296). Suffering does not have to be a bad thing when gleaned for spiritual merit.
As I look back over my life and study the times when I suffered, I see clearly that a spiritual lesson was being learned. I always came out of the experience a better person, more moral, more spiritually minded, and feeling closer to God. There was a purpose for the experience. I needed it to conquer some painful sin and advance spiritually.
And thus God’s law of progress marches on for each of us every day.
Every experience we have is for a purpose. There is some vital spiritual lesson being learned, and the sooner we learn it, the faster we progress. But no matter what, progress is inevitable! Good always overcomes evil one way or the other. Every child of God finds home in heaven. There is no other resting place.
So, I find great comfort in knowing God is at work in my life moving me to a better position in understanding and experience every day. Progress is unavoidable. Progress is inevitable. Progress is absolutely certain. There is no way to escape it.
To say God is orchestrating my life is not confining at all. It’s liberating. It means good is overcoming all evil to my sense of things, and I’m going to fully realize my undeniable perfection in God’s likeness. That’s an event I can happily embrace!
Amazing text, thank you for your words, Evan !
It’s absolutely comforting and liberating to know that God is always orchestrating our lives =)
Thank you Even for this precious reminder that God is always caring for us and guiding our every step! Truly, it made me weep! Your sharing is both comforting and challenging! Once again, thank you!
It’s my life…
In God’s hands! Rejoice
Hymn #82 came to mind as I read your message Evan dear. Thank you for this valuable reminder as to what is really going on here. The big picture. We cherish your love too, thanks for all you do.
Hymn #82: God is working His purpose out As year succeeds to year, God is working His purpose out And the time is drawing near; Nearer and nearer draws the time, The time that shall surely be, When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God As the waters cover the sea.
What can we do to work God’s work, To prosper and increase The brotherhood of all mankind, The reign of the Prince of Peace? What can we do to hasten the time, The time that shall surely be, When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God As the waters cover the sea?
March we forth in the strength of God With the banner of Christ unfurled, [Our God-like identity revealed] That the light of the glorious Gospel of truth May shine throughout the world; Fight we the fight with sorrow and sin, To set their captives free, That the earth may be filled with the glory of God As the waters cover the sea.
Excellent expression of one’s purpose that is equally true for each of us.
What a GIFT to read this today, and to think deeply … Both about your question AND your well described answer! My heartfelt gratitude for the joy to feel 100% certain that God is so graciously overseeing good and strong progress specific to each of our lives! Thank you for your valuable sharing!
Thank you, Evan. These wonderful truths are so helpful in what I am going through right now!
I appreciate your and the commenter’s above sharing so much. What blesses one, blesses all.
Thank you, thank you. Words of wisdom as I think about retiring and “what next”? I am looking forward to seeing God’s perfect plan for me 🙂
Thank you Evan. Hymn #82 is beautiful. I remember some 30 years ago when myself and others were getting our first glimpse of the Truth. For some they thought their life might be boring since God was in charge. For some this truth seemed to cause more trouble yet the status quo wasn’t satisfying or a search for the truth would never had began. We were making choices as to where we wanted to live. Really no choice in reality. Once you got a glimpse there would never be any going back. I remember a thought telling me that I would never suffer from the Truth but I would suffer from hanging on to the lie. This has proven true time and again. It gives me comfort to know that whether I understand it or not I am always, every second, being moved to higher ground.
Thank you, Evan. Two beautiful lectures are found above: (1) Saul/Paul’s and (2) your’s Evan, both on living three primary commandments regarding man being reborn, i.e., to preach, to teach, and to heal.
There is a lot for me to stand up for especially what’s going on in the USA. There are laws pretty much based on God’s law of Love. Those laws I will follow. But the laws based on material greed, I will not follow, and there is where the problem lies. JUST WHO IS ORCHESTRATING MY LIFE? So there it is, there is still plenty of work to do to recognize just what and who is governing.
Thanks Evan for this wonderful post! And to everyone for the great comments. It was nice to be reminded of Hymn 82; I’ll add Hymn 263:
“Only God can bring us gladness, Only God can give us peace; Joys are vain that end in sadness, Joy divine shall never cease. Mid the shade of want and sorrow Undisturbed, our hearts rejoice; Patient, wait the brighter morrow; Faithful, heed the Father’s voice.
“As the stars in order going, All harmonious, He doth move; Heavenly calm and comfort showing, Comes the healing word of Love. Who the word of wisdom heareth Feels the Father Love within, Where as dawn the shadow cleareth, Love outshines the night of sin.
“So we find the true atonement, Know in God the perfect Friend; For in Love is our at-one-ment, Where all hearts in Him may blend. Here from prisoning pain and sorrow Have we all a sure release, Only God can bring us gladness, Only God can give us peace.”
The choice for Truth is moment-by-moment, and it’s not always an easy one (for me, anyway) – there’s so much that tries to draw us back into false sense. It’s great to be reminded that God is always with us, teaching us and caring for us, so even when things seem tough, we don’t have to dwell in (or on) the pain – we can put our focus back on God’s loving care.
Yes. Thank you, Evan. Helpful, as always.
In considering the pathway out of dark dreams…belief in materiality/mortality…it lifts spontaneously to know
that we are, in fact, not on such a path! God’s idea man is not a dreamer or a …slogger through matter-beliefs.
We know only Truth.
Whew.
In thinking about Saul’s conversion, I love the thought you shared, how God took over Saul’s life. It humbled Saul. Let’s apply that lesson to every wrong-doer. God has them in mind and is turning them around. In the meantime we need to be holding them in Love, cherishing their humbling conversion from hate to love.
18 ” Right is radical. The teacher must know the truth himself. He must live it and love it, or he cannot impart it to others.” Science and Heslth 452:18-20. Thank you Evan for sharing your personal reflective lessons of God’s love for all of us.
You are welcome! Thanks everyone for sharing. Your comments greatly enrich this blog! And people love to read them.
Wonderful, thoughtful article! It makes my day!
What a wonderful reminder Evan.. God is always in charge even if we don’t realize it at the time. I have found that out so often… but sometimes I forget so thanks for this so timely
reminder.
Thank you Evan. And thank you all for
your thought-provoking comments.