Is there anyone who would not like, “All to be Well” in their lives? Media has captured this phrase, “All is Well” too well attributing film songs in popular languages in India. Shakespeare has written a play named, “All’s well that ends well.” The lyrics of the Christian version of “All is Well” has powerful words able to encourage a person who has a troubled heart. Well, what is that I have to do for all to be well in my life?
All was Well
Do you
know about a king in the Old Testament about whom it was said, “All was well.” His birth was prophesied
about 300 years ago(1 Kings 13:1-2) and he was an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew
1:10). He did what was right in the sight of the Lord. Most of us relate this
good king to the spiritual reforms he did in the nation of Judah. He did purge the
nation from idolatry and all other related spiritual evils of that time. But
how many of us know that he defended the cause of the poor and the needy and
that he was a right and just king? This was the reason in particular that all
was well with Josiah in his life
time (Jeremiah 22:15-16). Josiah did what God wants us all to do. This is what we have to do for "All to be Well": “Learn
to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the
fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17). “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And
what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk
humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Josiah
did what was right in God’s sight. But Cain was one who did not do what was
right. He did not care for his brother. In stark contrast he killed him. So God
said to him, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do
what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you
must master it." (Genesis 4:7). James says that not doing good is a sin.
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.”
(James 4:17).
All may
be Well
Ephesians 6:2-3 tells that children need to
honour their parents so that all might be
well for them. The children of Recab,
a story least known to most of us, honoured this command for generations
because of which God gave them a blessing which is found in Jeremiah 35:19.
“Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Jonadab
son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me." Does honouring parents
apply only to the singe children? “No.” Whether we are single or married, the
command of the Bible is to “honour” our parents. Now think about that for a
moment. If only people all over the world follow this command, all people are
taken care in this world! And “All may be Well” for all.
All to
be Well
Pause again. For “All to be
Well” in my life, have I have to take care of myself? The above examples would help us to say a “No.”
If I am concerned about the poor and the needy like Josiah
did, if I honour my parents like the children of Jonadab did, God would cause the blessing, “All is Well” in us. If I do not care for my own
family, like how Cain did, our lives would be in a mess like that of Cain.
Being saved is one thing. Working out our
salvation is all together different. Isn’t
interesting to know that, for “All to be Well” for me with God, I have to see
to that, “All others in my horizon are to be kept well”. Finally, hear what God says to us: “Obey
me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I
command you, that it may “GO WELL” with you.” (Jeremiah 7:23). Why don’t
we heed to his word so that all may go well us?
