2002-01-01
Hi There Dear Friends,
Have you ever been in a situation where you ask God, “why this?” It’s not hard to imagine coming to this question when you or someone you love is told a complicated surgery is your only option, or you find yourself sitting in a court room when you would rather be almost anywhere else. Maybe it happened when you were in a hospital room with a chemo drip hooked up to your body, or your boss just told you how “sorry” he is but your job is being eliminated in the latest downsizing of the company that has been your place of work for years. Perhaps you are a young parent who comes to this question at the same moment that your 2 year old is screaming, the phone is ringing, someone is knocking at the door, and the dog just upset your favorite potted plant. Consider the person alone in a hotel room emotionally alienated from family wondering how it all came to this. There are as many reasons which bring us to this question as there are people who ask it.
Imagine Abraham’s frustration when God’s angel came to him to tell him his nephew, Lot, must be rescued from Sodom’s sinfulness (GN 19) or when he was told by God that he must offer Isaac on the altar (GN 22)? Consider Jacob’s frustration when he realized that Laban had deceived him, and he would have to work another seven years for Laban to earn the right to marry Rachael, the daughter he loved (GN 29: 15-30). A 15 year old, Daniel, must have felt confused that he was being taken captive by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar when he had never done anything unfaithful. (DN 1: 1-2). Stand in Paul’s shoes as he describes his own suffering for the sake of the Gospel in 2 COR 11: 23-33. Now, there’s real frustration!
Our Abba knows that we ask this question in the face of our suffering. This morning, He directs me to look at His responses to it. In previous devotions, I cited Acts 2: 23, AC 4: 27-28, and 1 PET 1: 20-21 in which the pre-creation council between the persons of the Trinity made the decision that Christ should become incarnate, leading to Him becoming a sin sacrifice for our salvation. Can you imagine God asking, “why this?,” as He realized He would have to see His only begotten Son suffer and die? God knew that Jesus would have to be tempted in the wilderness (MT 4: 1-11) and would have to endure material poverty, rejection by His own people (LK 4: 16-30), and a temporary separation from the Him which began in the Garden at Gethsemane (MT 26: 36-42).
As you can see, suffering is nothing new. But, by now, you are wishing I would get around to the answers God reveals to us for why we should endure it. Of course, this brings to mind Romans 5 : 3-4, “We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God’s approval, and His approval creates hope.” But like the ad for the Ginzu knife, there’s more...
The more part is the promises our Lord makes to believers in His Son which, because of our faith, we know He will keep. In 1 COR 15: 51-54, the Lord reveals through Paul that people of faith will one day be glorified, that is to be given resurrection bodies (changing them from the mortal to the immortal) and enjoy victory over spiritual death. Back in RO 5: 21, we learn that sin rules by death and grace by righteousness. Those living in grace can look forward to eternal life. RO 6: 22 tells us that through faith we are set free from the consequences of sin, resulting in eternal life. 1 THESS 4: 16-18 describes the rapture, the time when believers will meet with Christ in the clouds to be taken up into heaven. Just to help us to understand why all this suffering is worth enduring, it is revealed to us in Hebrews 8: 1-2 that Christ is our Advocate, our Intercessor in heaven carrying our prayers directly to the Father.
One of the questions that might come up in your mind is, “Lord, will there be justice?” I know I have asked it in times of extreme frustration. Even this sticky question is answered in the Scriptures by our loving Abba. In MT 25: 31-33, Christ tells the disciples about the final separation of sheep and goats. This metaphor refers to the last judgment that is yet to come. As far back as Daniel 2: 34-35 and 7: 26-27, prophecies of this all-important event and of Christ inheriting the Kingdom of God are made. Since Daniel is a “man of high esteem” in God’s eyes, we can take him at his word. 2 THESS 2: 6-7 tells us, “…At the proper time the wicked one will appear. The mysterious wickedness is already at work, but what is going to happen will not happen until the One Who holds it back is taken out of the way.” My understanding of this passage is that the antichrist is the “wicked one,” evil is the “mysterious wickedness,” and the Holy Spirit indwelt in the believers is the “One who holds it back.” My study of the book of Revelation really revealed in a very thorough way why I personally should endure suffering in faith. For in it, we find the consummation of every prophecy made, every promise God has delivered throughout the Scriptures. REV 19: 5-10 reveals the wedding feast of the Lamb, the “marriage” between Christ and the church. At the culmination of the battle of Armageddon in REV 19: 20-21, it is revealed that the antichrist (beast) and the false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire. Satan, himself, will meet that same doom in REV 20: 10. At that point the final judgment will ensue (REV 20: 11-15) just as God promised. At last, we are told amazing details of the establishment and nature of God’s Kingdom in REV 21-22.
I hope by the time that you explore these citations for yourself, a peace will settle on you about God’s willingness to keep His promises and about why we should endure our hardships in faith. This has surely been my experience. I hope to share some of my feelings about our need to encourage each other and not be Christian “lone rangers” in an upcoming message. For now, be assured that your loving Father in heaven knows what you are going through and that HE WILL KEEP HIS PROMISES made. Know that while you are suffering, you are not doing so without a loving Lord watching over you or without friends “in Christ” rooting for you to be victorious over spiritual death. Keep the faith, Dear Friends. Nothing has ever been more worth it!
May God Bless and Keep You Always,
Lynn