12/22/2018
Are you born again in the hope and resurrection of Jesus Christ? If so do you go through periods when you are vexed by suffering and calamity in your life? Does this cause you to confront your faith, and if so does it challenge it, or strengthen it? Many of us seem to believe that when Jesus steps into our lives we cease to feel the pain and suffering of living in the natural world, but is that really the promise?
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
1 Peter 1:3 ESV
Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior brings many blessings to us, but a life separated from the natural pain and suffering of living isn’t one of them. Christians bleed when cut, hurt just as bad when they stump their toes, face death just as certainly when cancer strikes... in other words they are alive and living just as those who have not been saved are. What sets us apart is not life itself, but in how we go about living it. Listen to the apostle Peter...
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV
Peter tells us that we will face trials in life, and that they will test our faith. This is harder for some of us than for others to understand because we have been viewing faith as being something that separates us from the troubles of the world... it is not. Every one of the twelve apostles except John met a horrific death, and they all suffered in life; yet each of life’s occurrences, even death, strengthened their faith. Their faith amidst all this brought praise, glory, and honor, to themselves and Jesus Christ... but it won’t be fully realized until He returns. The faith we exhibit outwardly, and which also lives within us, saves our souls.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV
You might take issue with the fact that we will suffer, you might ask yourself how a God who promises good could allow those who love Him to experience pain. You probably read and reread Romans 8:28 and use it to fortify your position that God promises us nothing but good... is that what it actually says?
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 ESV
This scripture is one that provides so many with hope, and strengthens their faith, but for others it is a stumbling block... why? The difference is in understanding what it says.
For those who find this verse to be a stumbling block, it is because they interpret it to say that all things are good for those who love the Lord. They use it to judge their faith, and God, on whether bad things happen to them, and whether they are allowed to suffer. This not only challenges their faith as their natural life continues on, but it can also destroy it. Is this your belief, that all things should be good, if so let me give you an interpretation that is consistent with Peter.
This verse doesn’t say that all things are good, but rather that all things, the good, the nondescript, and the bad, work together in our lives to produce a good outcome. So the pain, suffering, joys, happiness, and all the mundane experiences that make up the lives of Christians come to a good conclusion... the salvation of our souls, the treasure in heaven, eternity with the Lord. Listen as Peter continues to describe what awaits us... it is the good.
“to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 Peter 1:4-5 ESV
This is our hope, and our promise. So yes we will have hard times, yes we will suffer, have heartbreak, and many of the uncomfortable and challenging occurrences that befall all those who are living, but we also have our faith to comfort us, and if we realize that the outcome is inevitably good for us as a result, and that God helps us through these times of trouble, then life is more than tolerable... it is joyous.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for this life you have given me, and I thank you for all the joys and wonders it contains, but I also thank you for the pain and suffering that leads me to a stronger faith in you as we confront these things together. You allow me to suffer so that those who are not believers can witness your strength in me. You allow me to experience pain so that my faith might be increased by your answers to my prayers, and also your silence in them, as I trust all the more in your ultimate good that is being woven into my life. Holy Father I pray that you strengthen me in my belief and faith in you. I pray Lord that even in my darkest hour I will look to find your light shining there. I pray that as I see my hardships, and compare them to the often easy lives of unbelievers, that I will not lose faith, but realize that my good promise lies with you, and that Satan cannot tempt me by the earthly fortunes of others. Be with me always Merciful Father, and give me strength to face each day with a growing faith in your goodness, mercy, and grace! Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who guards my treasure in heaven, and awaits me at the end of my days with trumpets sounding, and Jesus Christ descending from the clouds to claim me. Praised be your name, and may all glory be yours forevermore!
Rich Forbes
“so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:45 ESV