Don,
I'll be reading this at church on Sunday. So you get an early sneak peek:
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This is a tale about a king. This king had a very close friend. They had grown up together. In the language they spoke, “Friend” was the friend’s literal name. He was one of those good- natured types who only looked on the bright side. It pleased the king to keep his cheery friend around to lighten the mood of the daily decision-making. And like a lot of people, Friend had an unusual habit. To some, it was almost irritating. No matter how happy or sad an event was, he would contemplate it and announce, “Ah, this is good!”
One autumn, the king took a large party out on a hunting expedition. Friend’s special duty was that of gun bearer. It was his job to load and carry the muskets for the king. But Friend had apparently done something wrong. As the king fired at a lion, the gun exploded. Everyone rushed to examine the king. His ears were ringing. His eyes were irritated. And worst of all, the end of his thumb had been blown off. Friend walks up, looks the situation over and says his usual, "Ah, this is good!"
Well, the king didn’t think it was very funny. He lost his temper. He became angry and shouted, "No, this is NOT good! My thumb will never grow back because of you!” He ordered a small detail to arrest Friend and take him back home…to prison. The rest of the camp pitched tents for several days while the king healed enough to continue the hunt.
One day, the king became separated from the rest of his group and was captured by a tribe of cannibals. They took him to their village, tied his hands, and made preparations for the king’s demise. As the king lost all hope of rescue, one of the tribesmen happened to notice the thumb. This caused an uproar among the cannibals. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So they untied the king and sent him on his way.
As the king walked home, he began thinking about his thumb, his friend, and how he had treated this best friend he had ever had. And the more he thought about it, the faster he traveled. He went immediately to the jail and ordered Friend’s release. As they met the king said, "Friend, you were right. It really was good that my thumb was blown off." And he went on to tell about all the things that had recently happened. "You see? I am very sorry for sending you to jail. It was a terrible thing for me to do this."
"Ah no, your majesty, "This is good!"
Now the king is on the verge of losing his temper yet again…. "What do you mean, this is good”? How could it possibly be good that I sent my best friend to jail?"
"Your majesty, if I had NOT been in jail, I would have been captured with you!"
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Way back in Genesis, we read about Joseph. His brothers had sold him into slavery because of their jealousy. When they feared retribution, Joseph reassured them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..”
In Romans 8, 28 it says: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but God’s promise is clear: If we accept his offer and turn our lives over to Him, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will be used by God for His glory and our benefit.
So hold on, God is faithful! May He bless you this week as you seek His will in every situation.
