The Value of Suffering

Suffering is an intrinsic part of life on earth.  Paul wrote all of creation is currently in the bondage of corruption brought by man's sin.  Romans 8:22 explains the scope and the effects of this corruption that brings death:  "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now."  It is not all bad news, for as certain as suffering and pain is present on earth, so redemption and freedom for eternity is assured for those who repent and trust in Jesus Christ.  Birth pangs are unbelievably painful, but necessary for the living miracle to be born.

Jesus suffered pain on the cross and drank of the bitter cup of judgment man deserved so those who trust in Him could be delivered from sin and death.  Though Jesus has taken our punishment, pain and suffering is a necessary part of life for we all who are alive and remain - especially for those who take a stand for Jesus Christ and godliness.  Jesus promised tribulation for those who willingly followed Him.  It is also written in 2 Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."  Even the desire to live for Christ comes at a cost.  If following Jesus brings an increase of persecution or suffering in this life, why bother?  Because it has been revealed life on earth is not all there is.  Like Abraham, with eyes of faith we look to an everlasting city in the heavens where Christ is.  We do not live for ourselves anymore, having been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, but for the God who loves us and gave Himself for us.

There are more reasons held forth in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ."  Because our God is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, we receive abundant consolation in our sufferings.  No matter what trouble we experience, God's comfort and grace is super abundant.  God's comfort does not eliminate our pain and anguish, but these intense feelings and drive us closer to God in desperation for relief.  Once we have received and choose to walk in God's comfort, we are granted the ability to help others to experience God's comfort as well.  Wouldn't you love to be able to comfort those who are in any trouble?  We do not need to have suffered the exact thing someone else has to lead them to the God who can comfort them too (though it sometimes helps).  The more we suffer, the more comfort is available to us by God, and the better we are able to help others.

If the lives of Christians were always easy and prosperous in a worldly sense, people would not be struck with the supernatural peace, joy, and contentment which is a stark contrast to others in the world in the midst of trials.  Even worse, people would see Christ as a means of financial gain and selfishly seek Him.  Paul had learned in whatever state he was to be content, and he rejoiced more in prison suffering for Christ than wealthy rulers who lived in palaces without Christ.  Suffering for a Christian has a redemptive aspect the world cannot know or experience.  Praise God for His abundant consolation in our sufferings, for we ourselves are comforted by the God of all comfort.  God can use suffering in our lives to receive His comfort and to lead others to take refuge in Him.  We all desire to be fruitful and used by God, and suffering refines and equips us through the Holy Spirit to accomplish His will.  Everyone suffers, but God wants all to be comforted.  And He wants to use you to do just that.

Praise God's Word

"In God (I will praise His word), in the LORD (I will praise His word), ¹¹ in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Psalm 56:10-11

Jesus is the name of above all names, having been exalted over all others by His heavenly Father.  Jesus is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, and revealed God's love through sacrificial death and mighty power through the resurrection.  It is the scripture, the Word of God, by which we learn of the true nature of God in trinity:  one God revealed in the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We ought to place a high value on the Bible in study and practice, and Jesus displayed total mastery of the holy scriptures.  The Pharisees thought the study of the scriptures would give life, but the scriptures spoke of Christ who alone has the words of life.  The life is in Jesus, and by faith we can know Jesus through the written Word.

One thing consistent in the book of Acts is the teaching of the Word - the Old Testament with a view to Christ as the fulfillment (Acts 8:4, 25; Acts 13:5; Acts 14:25, just a few examples).  Since then there has been many diversions in preaching emphasis, and some frown on those who cling to the scriptures in literal belief as a guide for practical living.  In a sermon titled "The Word a Sword" preached on 17 May, 1887, C.H. Spurgeon said, "Holy Scripture is full of power and energy. Oh, the majesty of the Word of God! They charge us with Bibliolatry. It is a crime of their own inventing, of which few are guilty. If there are such things as venial sins, surely an undue reverence of Holy Scripture is one of them. To me the Bible is not God, but it is God’s voice—and I do not hear it without awe. What an honor to have as one’s calling to study, to expound and to publish this sacred Word! I cannot help feeling that the man who preaches the Word of God is standing, not upon a mere platform, but upon a throne."

It is not idolatrous to honour the Word God has placed above His name, as David inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote in Psalm 138:2, "I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name."  David praised God and His Word, for the accepted canon of scripture has been God-breathed and inspired with divine unction.  God is truth, and every word of God is pure (Proverbs 30:5).  The Bible is not the Godhead, but it will endure as long as God Himself.  1 Peter 1:22-25 reads, "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, ²⁴ because "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, ²⁵ but the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."

God does not change, and His Word also changes not.  It is sure foundation to build our lives upon, and wise are those who hear and obey it.  Jesus said in Luke 21:33:  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  For all of eternity the Word of God will remain true, and the assurance of the promises contained therein is complete for those who heed them.  The fear of God and a love of His Word are indispensable requirements for all who will live righteously and spend eternity in the presence of the Father with exceeding joy.  May our lives praise His Word, for in God we have placed our trust.

Keep Going Deeper!

Years ago a mate of mine led my wife Laura and me on a trek through the National Pass at Wentworth Falls.  This morning I decided I would rise early and have a special morning with Jesus, worshiping and reading the Bible (with a Thermos of coffee!) at the base of the falls.  It was a moving experience.  With the access available to Christians by faith in Christ through the Holy Spirit to the Father, we do not need to rise from our beds to gave the presence of God with and in us.  But it is a profitable and glorious practice to set aside time to sit still before God when it costs something.  Jesus went away for solitary times with the Father, and we do well to follow His example.

At the top of the falls, I was delighted by the crisp air and beautiful scenery.  The volume of water was not as much as I have seen before, but the water happily rushed along.  It was in my mind to head straight for the bottom of the valley, down the "Slacker Stairs."  I do not know the history of the title in context, for it is not for the faint of heart or for those with feeble knees!  Down, down, down I went, waiting for the breathtaking moment when the lower pool of the falls came into view.  I was not disappointed.  It was gorgeous, and the time spent singing, reading, and praying with the LORD was more precious still.

As I trudged back up the steep incline, I passed several groups of tourists.  It was not so long ago I was a tourist in a foreign land, but now I am a citizen!  If I could speak the language of the travelers I would say, "Don't stop at the top - make sure you go all the way to the bottom.  You are in for a real treat!"  People smiled and gasped in amazement at the top of the falls, and others seemed a bit underwhelmed from the lookout points near the carpark with cameras in hand.  Imagine traveling from a faraway country, I thought, and staying in the carpark.  Imagine being content with pictures at the top of the falls because you are unwilling to climb down because of the climb back up.  Some people don't have the time built into their tour schedule to go down to the bottom, and for some it would be unsafe due to physical limitations.  But if you could go deeper into the canyon, the views would blow you away.

I believe many people know and love God, but they are fine with the vistas from the lookout near the carpark and to hear the waterfall in the distance.  Others are content to expend a bit of energy and see the falls from the top, even cooling their tired feet in the clean streams.  But then there are others who have discovered the beauty and grandeur of going deeper still.  Forty years of my life has passed, and I have been happy with a level of commitment of faith and sacrifice unto God which could be much deeper.  It took a friend who cared enough to drive me to Wentworth Falls and took me on the National Pass, but now I have gone beyond where we went before.  The same is true of discipleship and following Jesus.  We need people in the church willing to invest their lives in others, demonstrating a life of faith and love in Christ, so others can learn and go deeper on their own.

Keep going no matter the cost, follower of Jesus Christ!  You are in for a real treat in this life if you press on, and eternity will be even more glorious still.

Literal Unbelief

God says what He means, and means what He says.  There is no "fine print" with God, hidden caveats and conditions from which He benefits through the ignorance of men.  The truth is, most people do not believe what God says - even when He speaks literally with clarity.

Take the children of Israel, for example.  God put words into the mouth of Ezekiel the prophet, warning His people of certain destruction at the hands of the Babylonians.  In Ezekiel chapter 20, God laid forth the facts concerning their rebellion and disobedience.  He went through the history of the people, how they carried with them idols from the land of Egypt and continued to blaspheme His holy name.  God spoke of the future, how they would know He was the LORD when He brought them back from captivity.  Despite the clarity of God's words, Ezekiel lamented by the response of the people in Ezekiel 20:49:  "Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! They say of me, 'Does he not speak parables?'"  What Ezekiel said didn't fit with the people's understanding of God, so they thought he must be speaking figuratively.

It is tragic when God speaks and His own people assume He is speaking in parables or riddles.  Would you believe this happens today?  There are some who think the first dozen chapters of the Bible are little more than symbolic language.  Because some view science and scripture at odds, they lay aside the literal account of the creation of the earth by God as figurative.  They claim to believe God and love God, but they assume He must be speaking in parables because they cannot see "days" fitting when some scientists affirm millions and billions of years must have passed.  God has spoken, but men find reasons not to believe.  This reminds me of John 12:42-43 which reads, "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."  People who believe the Bible is the literal word of God are afraid to admit it, because it could ostracise them from people they admire.  To risk a career, advancement, or a reputation over a proclamation of belief doesn't seem worth it.  And God's verdict?  Such love the praise of men more than the praise of God, and that should be most troubling to a rational mind which remembers the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:32-33, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."

The crazy thing about unbelief is when God speaks the truth men assume He speaks in parables, and when Jesus spoke figuratively they were offended because they took His words literally!  Jesus said in John 6:47-55, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. ⁵⁰ This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." ⁵² The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" ⁵³ Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed."  After hearing this saying, many who followed Jesus departed and followed Him no longer.  Many followed Jesus for a season and were interested in filling their bellies with bread, but they were offended at the suggestion to eat Christ's body and drinking His blood - not kosher!  Having established the Law Jesus was not an advocate for cannibalism, but spoke figuratively of partaking of Christ's body and blood by faith, symbolism maintained in Communion.

Both literal and figurative speech are stumbling blocks to those who refuse to trust in Jesus Christ and receive Him as LORD and Saviour.  Jesus Himself is a stone rejected by the builders who has become the Chief Cornerstone.  After people left Jesus, He turned to His disciples and asked, "Are you going to leave too?"  He would not have stopped them.  He desires fellowship only with those who freely choose to remain faithful to Him, unmoved by the protests of the world.  John 6:68-69 says, "But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Do you believe the word of God?  Or do you assume the Bible must be speaking figuratively because it opposes your current belief?  The Bible ought to always be taken literally unless the scripture itself suggests otherwise.  Using scripture to interpret scripture whilst deferring to literal language is good and right, for God will not contradict Himself.  Interpreting scripture by any other means strips the life right out of it, and fabricates a monstrosity out of the wickedness and hypocrisy found in our own hearts.  Our lives depend on the literal Word of God, Christians, so hold it fast and boldly proclaim it.  All other footing is sinking sand which leads to destruction.