Romans 8:28 is a powerful word of comfort when the world is turned upside down and it seems you have been having a bad hair day for eternity. I had a comrade at arms in Viet Nam who always remarked, "Momma said there would be days like this, but not all in a row," anytime things were not going our way. I remember these words and the tall skinny GI who used them so often because they were the last words he spoke to me as he left early one morning for his fifth mission without an interlude during the TET Offensive of 1965. Pace didn’t return but the words have returned many times through the years when everything seemed dark and there wasn’t a shimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

To reap the benefit of the tremendous promise of Romans 8:28 two things must first take place. First we must consider where the words originated and establish their truth in our own heart. Deep within each of us is a little box labeled truth. Into this box we deposit what in our own mind is true. From this truth we develop our knowledge base of how we go about doing things, and those that match the archetype in the box of truth become the best way. On this we build our value system from which flows our actions or reactions to the world around us. The theological word for this is world view. That is, how we view the world and circumstances around us.

Psalm eight points out the who and why we can trust those fantastic words of promise in the Romans passage. God has spoken, and it is true. David ponders how such an awesome God can care for such as man in several places in the Psalms. Yet, he always concluded it was true and God did care. Indeed what an awesome God we serve, to whom all the works of creation were but the work of His finger tips. Picture if you will the loving care of a mother in another generation as she carefully made the finest of stitches in the making of a piece of clothing for her family, or repaired a garment with stitches so fine and delicate you cold hardly discern their presence and the material appeared as new. Such care God took in the creation of all things, and of all His creation, he made man chief.

Consider how much love and care went into this creation so that every other thing living and material were first created and set in the proper place so that when at last God created that which was to be in His image, everything man needed was already in place. Consider the power of God who by the mere utterance of a word created and sustains all things visible and invisible, yet cares so much for His chief creation He has numbered the hairs of his head.

Ponder the significance of a name. Why is it that the name of God is above all things? Not God, but His very name is above all things. In the Hebrew mind the importance of a name was utmost and men lay their life down for the sake of the family name. We see a hint of the importance of a name in the book of Revelation where we are told we are given a white stone, symbolizing purity and innocence, and on this stone is written our new name which no man knows. No matter what your past, God has given you the white stone signifying His approval and pronouncing you innocent in His sight. He has given you a new name! A name no other knows, that has no marks against it in the court of God and man, for it is new and unknown to any other except God. You are truly a new child, begotten to the King of kings.

If you approached any elementary age child and asked them to go with you, chances are they will flee in fright, for they have been warned about such as this, and never to go with a stranger. Approach the same child and while yet at a safe distance call their name, the name their parents use and the odds they will go with you have increased several fold. Seventy percent will concede to your requests because you know their name. There is power in knowing the name of a person, you have access to them those without the name do not. Good salesmen know this and move to a first name basis as quickly as possible in presenting their product. God has given you a new name, and only He knows what it is! The circumstances of life don’t have control over you, for God only has the name. Such a name is to be treasured and protected. Thus, God has placed His name above the glory of the heavens. A person with such a name is all powerful, and his name is most excellent. Now if we could multiply this value beyond our wildest dreams we begin to glimpse the depth of truth and integrity of the God who said all things will work for our good. One with such a name can only speak the truth, and the integrity of their name depends upon their being able to deliver that which has been promised in that name.

This truth can be placed in the box of truth within each of us with great confidence, because that name above all names has declared it true. Here we can "see" the best way is God’s way, and set values that mean something. From such a value system will spring answers and actions that defy the nature of the dark world we live in. This will change how we view the world we live in and set our souls free from the darkness of so many days of what appears the vanity of human life. Suddenly life means something and the sun has never been brighter, the flowers so sweet nor the melody of nature so beautiful. Life is joy when the soul can sit in the high place and worship its creator.

The second point is we need to consider all these things and get this truth safely tucked away in our box of inner truth before the floods of life overwhelm us. When drowning we tend to grasp at straws in a vain attempt to save ourselves. Our God has given us a name and a promise of eternal life, as well as a more abundant life today. Claim that name given by God, "Child of the Most High God," and walk in the truth of His Word, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh that we might believe in that name of names.

Lord grant me the vision of your Spirit to see the truth of your Word and hide it in my heart for provision in the day of decision, that I may sing the praise of your name, and glorify your name forever. AMEN!

By:  Dr. Chuck Baynard