Trials are No Accident

This morning I read an article written in 1868 which holds forth a simple truth:  all who labour for the cause of Christ will have hard times.  We will experience opposition and setbacks while we are doing God's will.  It is a commonly held misconception among Christians that when we do something for God, He should make it easier.  Yet God does not remove from us the very trials which perseverance proves our faith to be genuine to us and a lost world.  Trials are opportunities for our growth and for deeper trust and reliance upon God moving forward.

C.H. Spurgeon had no shortage of difficulties in his ministry which was greatly blessed by God.  When there is opportunity we can certainly expect adversity.  Spurgeon was deeply troubled by an incident at the Surrey Music Hall where he was slated to speak and many people died in a panic.  Nature itself may seem to labour to hinder us by inclement weather.  He experienced loss when a strong wind knocked down a building being constructed at Stockwell Orphanage.  From the scripture Spurgeon cited the incident where a young man had a borrowed iron axe head fly off the handle and into the water as a case where a man can do a good thing with a right motive and suffer loss (2 Kings 6:1-7).  The prophet Elisha miraculously recovered the iron by making it float, and we can be encouraged by this illustration of divine aid in times of loss.  Here is an excerpt from the article titled, "Accidents In the Lord's Work:"

"God would have us serve him under trials and difficulties; to screen us from them would be to make babies of us, and not to develop the manly qualities of patience, courage, and perseverance.  In this world and under its ordinary laws the Great Master would have us labour, not under a glass case of miracles and wonders, but under the cloudy skies which look down upon a fallen world:  he trains us to work not as a race of amateurs protected from all the dust and sweat of ordinary life, and laid up in lavender by supernatural exemptions from hardships, but as real workmen, to whom things are as they are, who find trees hard to fell, and the heads of whose axes fly off unless they are well fastened on to their handles.  Of course, if trust in providence be a guarantee against flood, wind, fire, and hail, it is clear that all who meet with such calamities are great sinners, and their works obnoxious to the Ruler of all things, but this can hardly be true, when we frequently see those called to suffer who are the very cream of the church of Christ.  Paul was engaged upon no ill errand when he suffered shipwreck; his soul was fired with the noblest ambition of which sanctified humanity is capable, and yet the vessel was dashed to pieces.  The fact is, that the same events may be curses to some and blessing to others, and thus a judgment which overwhelms the ungodly may be a gracious visitation to the saint.  Our business is to learn the lessons which adversities are meant to teach us, and they are not difficult to discover." (Spurgeon, C.H. (1975). C.H. Spurgeon's works as published in his monthly magazine The Sword and the Trowel, Volume 2. 1st ed. Pasadena, Tex.: Pilgrim Publications, pp.30-31.)

Rich with Nothing or Poor with Everything

"There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches."

Proverbs 13:7

Social media is strewn with people displaying luxurious cars, watches, and jewellery.  There is enviable status attached to celebrity, money, and branding.  People seem to love showing off their homes, bodies, collections, and exotic holiday locations as they "live the good life."  The old adage goes, "Money can't buy happiness," yet the pictures and captions labour to paint a different picture.  It's a fair question:  if we are not happy with what we have now, what's to say we will be happy with more? We can only eat so much at once, but our appetites for more are insatiable.  Isn't the good life more than the pursuit of happiness?

King Solomon penned the Proverbs, and this powerful, wise, and famous man knew what he was talking about.  1 Kings 10:14 tells us how much gold Solomon received annually:  "The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold..."  A talent is about 34 kilograms, so that adds to 799,200 ounces which (at $1600 per ounce) is worth about 1.28 billion dollars today!  During the reign of Solomon, silver in Jerusalem was as common as stones (1 Kings 10:27).  Solomon bought imported wood, peacocks, apes, horses, and led expansive building projects.  His throne was made of ivory - covered in gold.  Let's just say there weren't enough Rolex watches or Ferraris for this guy.  He had his pick of women from all over the world and partied hard.  In the end Solomon came to the conclusion money, fame, sex, wine, and stuff leaves us empty.  A rich person ends up having the same as the poorest servant in the end:  nothing.  Naked we are born, and naked we die.  Someday that cold, dead person on the gurney is going to be you, and it will be me.  On that day none of us can hide our nakedness behind designer clothes, cars, makeup, or jewelry.

The Bible teaches there are riches which transcend retail value.  Jesus urged His disciples in Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  If our treasures are on earth, we will end up losing them.  Yet if we labour to lay up treasures in heaven by investing our time, resources, and money for the advancement of God's kingdom, we will enjoy these rewards forever.  I know people who could be much more wealthy monetarily than they are because they choose to work for free.  They have rejected roles which pay more so they can volunteer more to serve God and others.  They have quietly given to people in need without fanfare.  These people are not flaunting their wealth or bodies on Instagram, but are quietly storing up treasures in heaven God is reserving for His glory no one can steal.  People pay thousands to go to a concert with backstage access:  can you put a price on being in the presence of God?

Those who have a heavenly legacy with God are the ones who live the "good life" on earth and in heaven for eternity, for Jesus Christ is the source of life.  If we seek security and status in this world, we will find it hopelessly lacking.  It can never deliver what we hoped it would.  A rich man on earth can have great riches in heaven, and the poorest of men can invest his life for eternal good.  Jesus is a prime example of one of wealth and privilege (being the Creator of all things!) and made Himself poor for our sakes, so by His sacrifice we could be redeemed by Him for eternity.  Born-again followers of Jesus are His inheritance, and God is ours.  Thanks be to God for His gracious gift of life.  Isn't He amazing?

The Pierced God

"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."

Zechariah 12:10

When Jesus preached and performed miracles, people wondered in amazement:  "Is this the Son of David?"  He was of David's line and was born in Bethlehem, but this question is concerning His identity as the Messiah, the Anointed One sent by God to be a Saviour and Deliverer.  After Jesus claimed to be sent by the Father John 7:31 reads, "And many of the people believed in Him, and said, "When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?"  It would be the death and resurrection of Christ which was the ultimate sign He is indeed the Christ, the Son of God.

Last night I read through Zechariah 12, and God spoke through the prophet of what He would accomplish.  Over and over in the passage God says, "I will."  He said, "I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication."  Then there is a shocking shift through a pronoun change:  God goes from saying "I will" to "they will look on Me whom they pierced."  And then again:  "Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."  God identifies the pierced Messiah as "Me," but also referred to this Saviour as "Him."  In this passage we see strong evidence of the Triune God:  one God revealed in three Persons:  the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Another great passage to illustrate this truth is seen in Paul's exhortation to church leaders in Acts 20:28:  "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."  Jesus affirmed in John 4:24 that God the Father is a Spirit, yet the Acts passage states God purchased the church with His own blood.  The only way God could have blood to shed is if He became flesh and dwelt among us, and Jesus Christ shed His blood on Calvary for the sins of the world.  Isn't God amazing, whose ways are past finding out?

Let us look again upon the One who was pierced, whose blood has atoned and purchased us to be children of God.  He exchanges ashes for beauty, sorrow for gladness, and grief for unspeakable joy.  With transformed hearts and renewed minds, give God the glory for His goodness towards us as it is written in Romans 5:8:  "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

The Christian "Rope" Theory

Despite having the solid truth of the scripture, it is possible for myths to worm their way into common Bible teaching.  I do not know the motives of those who do so at the first, but the human tendency to parrot stories without critical thought is prevalent.  As a kid I remember being told in Sunday School God was unapproachable in holiness.  This was illustrated by the chief priest wearing bells on his robe so other priests could hear him beyond the veil in the most holy place in the temple.  I was told a rope was tied to an ankle so if there was a prolonged silence (because the priest had offended God and been struck dead!) his corpse could be hauled out without endangering anyone else.  Perhaps you have heard a similar tale?  You might be interested to learn there is no scriptural evidence to support this idea and much which contradicts it.

This morning I read the scripture where God laid out in great detail the clothing of the high priest.  In Exodus 28:33-35 it reads, "And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around: ³⁴  a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around. ³⁵  And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the LORD and when he comes out, that he may not die."  Ministering unto the LORD is a sober business, and God gave commands to what the priest was to wear from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.  God did not always explain why each item was significant, but it would be foolish to add or omit what God commanded.  The Priests carefully followed each command as carefully as a scribes were trained to copy the Torah letter by letter, for their lives depended on it.

In observing the text the alternating pomegranates and bells were important, and when the High Priest moved the bells would make a sound.  God's command was not that the High Priest continually make noise with the bells, but when he walked into the most holy place and out from the presence of the LORD the bells sounded.  The bells were not for the benefit of those outside but the one who ministered.  There is also no suggestion the priest would be struck dead on the spot, for the passage says, "...that he may not die."  I do not know of a single place in scripture where a priest was struck dead as he ministered in the Temple.  I remember King Uzziah was struck with leprosy when he sinned in offering incense in the holy place and was a leper until his death (2 Chron. 26:19).  Zacharias was struck mute in the Temple for his unbelief when he was met by the angel Gabriel who spoke of the son which would be born to his wife (Luke 1:20-22).  There were a lot of shady things done by wicked men who defiled the Tabernacle and Temple, yet I cannot recall one of them who was struck dead in the Temple.  People were struck dead many times in scripture for their transgressions, don't misunderstand.  My point it is a gross misrepresentation to portray God as One who slays His sanctified ones, flawed though they certainly are.  Wasn't the blood of the sacrifice graciously provided by God to cover sin?

There are other reasons why the "rope" theory is without merit.  All the articles of the Temple were to be cleansed and sanctified.  God was very specific about the composition of fabrics, types of wood used, the intricate thread and dye used in the ephod, ingredients for bread and incense, and articles of gold and silver.  Of what materials was this "rope" to be made and how was it to be sanctified?  Would not wearing foreign material tied around the leg in the most holy place be reserved for priests with a death wish?  The picture created is a group of priests listening to the tinkling priest beyond the veil, even as the servants who waited until they were embarrassed outside King Eglon's summer chamber.  Can you imagine the High Priest praying in silence before the Ark of the Covenant and suddenly there was a terrific yank on his ankle?  It would be funny if it was not so ridiculous.  The Levites would have a quick conference in hushed tones:  "We'd better give him a few minutes.  Maybe he's only mostly dead."

As followers of Jesus Christ, it is important we do not parrot teaching or men's interpretations of dubious origin.  A parrot is able to mimic sounds, but these are spoken without understanding.  Praise the LORD He has given us the Holy Spirit, His everlasting Word, and brains to think!  There is a lot I do not understand and questions I cannot answer.  I do not know why pomegranates were chosen over bunches of grapes, or why the bells and pomegranates were in an alternating pattern.  But the Law tells us plainly the bells were important, for refusing to include the bells would cost the High Priest his life.  If those little bells were so critical, how important is it to speak clearly the words of life, not diluting or corrupting them with men's assumptions or commonly used illustrations.  May God open our eyes to rightly divide His Word of truth, and to faithfully hold it forth to impressionable hearts.