Bible Exposition Commentary

In our study of the first phrase we saw that there are no accidents in the life of the child of God.  Now Paul demonstrates what this means in his own life.

“…have actually turned out…”

The phrase “turned out” is in a tense which means the action was completed in the past with the results remaining unto the present.  His imprisonment and near death experience has had a permanent effect on advancing the gospel!!  Man proposes but God disposes.  The best laid plans of men are not adequate for God’s designs for the universe.

God overruled all the unfortunate events of Paul’s life.  He took Paul’s imprisonment and turned it into a benefit.  Souls have come to personally know Jesus Christ as their Savior as a result of his incarceration.

This same principle is found in Romans 8:28, “And we know (this is often something we do not know) that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  God does not make a mistake.  God is too good to do wrong and too wise to make a mistake.  If we are in deep pain at the present time it is no mistake.  God is in control of everything.  Nothing is capricious with God.  He manages every thing that comes into our lives and works them together into a pattern which will result in “good.” 

We may be disappointed from the standpoint of our personal design; however, from God’s design he has something better in mind.  God knows our plight better than we do.  God knows the future.  He has not chosen to reveal to us everything in that plan.  He is infinite and we are finite.  Finiteness cannot fully comprehend infiniteness.  We do not have to take an exam on “why” God has allowed our predicament to happen.  We will take an examination on our confidence in God’s plan for our life.  If we flunk it, we will have to take the course and exam again.