In celebration of the life of one very special courier, Mycol Street, who was born 44 years ago today, let us ponder his favorite verse, Romans 8:28:
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
That means God worked for Mycol’s good.
How, we might ask, can we make sense of that when Mycol was taken in the prime of his earthly life?
This statement, made by the Apostle Paul, is followed by the question, ‘how shall we respond to this?’ Paul must have known that folks would read that sentence, the claim that in ALL things God works for the GOOD of those who love Him, and have been called according to His purpose, and would wonder, ‘what about when bad things happen to good people?’ It must have been a question he pondered too, because he offered a ready response:
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
That’s it. The answer to ‘how can we make sense of this when Mycol was taken in the prime of his earthly life,’ is, ‘if God is for us, who can be against us?’ But how is that an answer? Isn’t it rather vague?
Seemingly so. But consider an area of knowledge you know nothing about. I have lots to pick from. I don’t know too much about quantum physics, so I could ask a question of an expert in quantum physics, and that expert could give an answer that I don’t understand. Still, it’s an answer the expert understands.
Consider how the Lord answered Job, when Job asked God why the destruction had taken place in his life. God simply asked, ‘Where were you when I created everything?’ That’s just it. We aren’t capable of understanding everything our Creator does, but He has left us with the choice of faith, to believe that He is in fact the Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and that He will bring about Good.
Consider Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers. God then used Joseph for Good. Without Joseph in the position he was in he would not have been able to pull off what he did.
When bad things happen to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose, God is FOR us. He is FOR Good. Through Him we will conquer, overcome, win, because He will always conquer, overcome, and win.
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Does it mean we are guaranteed a lifetime of ease, wealth, and happiness? Not at all. It is God’s love for us that is the Good He works. I cannot imagine living today after the fire without that knowledge, without that comfort. What would it be like if there was no God, no purpose, no Life in Christ, no Hope?
It actually is immaterial to the ultimate ends if I do not understand or see the Good that results from the fire during my life here on earth; I am not the one who set the stars in the sky. My Creator is working ALL things for Good, and because I love Him and desire to live according to His purpose, He has promised His Good. Therefore, I will press on, so deeply grateful God sent me such a loving courier who to this day encourages me with all he gave while he was here.
Today, a celebration of the life of a courier is in order.
