For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)
Paul concludes Romans 11 by breaking out in a song of worship. In the past eleven chapters, Paul wrote about God’s righteousness, us as unrighteous and us needing Jesus to be made right with God, and we as part of God’s family by faith in Jesus. Verses 33 to 36 hold Paul’s response to all this and why it all happened, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen” (11:36). Simply, everything comes from God, includes Him, and is for Him. God is the Source and the Reason.
Nothing was made in vain. Your job (or layoff), your school deadlines, the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. election results, your ever-changing 2020 plans, an unborn child, relationships that have come and gone, your salvation by faith—they’re all from God and they all point to Him. God does not create accidents. Everything on Earth belongs to the Lord because He created everything (Ps. 24:1-2). He also created suffering and affliction which produces endurance, which produces proven character, producing hope in Him (Rom. 5:3-4). We tend to lean on God more when we feel helpless and weary. God is in control. What an honor it is that by His grace, our Lord allows us to partake in what’s His, the beautiful sunsets, fresh air, gardens, music, a safe and secure home, or our loved ones.
Better than any of this though is partaking in new life, God’s mercy and forgiveness, freedom, riches, and inheritance through Jesus bearing our sins bought by His blood. God made you and me to make Him known. Glory belongs not to us, but to Him who holds all things together (Col. 1:17). Let’s pray that our lives reflect our Father’s glory.