Post by ambassador on Aug 1, 2009 22:58:52 GMT -5
“Immunizations, Encapsulations, and Tribulations”
It was certainly never fun to receive the tetanus shot, the flu shot, or the meningitis shot. We get so worked up about the pinch, it shifts our focus away from the reason why we got the shot in the first place—TO HELP, not hurt. We Christians should view our earthly trials and tribulations just as we view those immunizations: of course they hurt, yet we are so pessimistic we tend to overlook the benefits that God will bring about. The “pinch” is but for a moment; the results are eternal.
You probably heard the erroneous idea that God promises the Christian a life free of trouble and suffering. On the contrary, the Bible confirms that we WILL EXPERIENCE heartbreak, sickness, misery, and death. God has not promised to insulate us from “immunizations” in our lives—God loves us, but we live in a fallen world filled with sin. Our suffering never originates from God; His permissive will allows us to suffer in this nasty world.
As Christians, our suffering can originate from four sources: the devil and his demonic creatures, the lost world (even our own families), the choice of making bad decisions, and the curse of sin and corruption. Man’s sin initiated suffering in the Garden of Eden: this brought about the curse, and both physical and spiritual death. As long as we are on this planet in this life, we must experience suffering, and there is no getting around that (Romans 8:18-25). Even the Lord Jesus was no exception: He suffered more than any man EVER has or ever will!
For a second illustration, think of a beautiful white pearl. From where does it come? On rare occasions, a grain of sand will find its way into the shell of a mollusk (an oyster, for instance), or perhaps a parasite is irritating an oyster inside its shell. As a defense mechanism, the oyster secretes layers of calcium carbonate, sealing off and encapsulating the irritant. Imagine that: the suffering of an oyster produces a magnificent pearl! Just like the painful immunizations are bringing positive results, the trouble that poor oyster experienced produced a beautiful, valuable gemstone.
“In order to appreciate the light, you must first be in darkness.” We appreciate God more when we are put into the predicament of needing Him more. If we lived perfect lives with no suffering, we would have no reason to rely on God to help us through our troubles because we would not have any troubles! But, God has a special purpose for allowing a Christian to suffer—read what the Bible says in Romans 5:1-5 KJV:
“1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
God does not enjoy seeing us Christians suffer. Our parents felt pity on us as they watched us struggle and squirm in pain for that brief instant, but the immunization was for our own good. Likewise, the Lord knows that our endurance through hard times will mature us spiritually. When we suffer, we pray more and we study God’s Word more. Our inner man grows stronger, more aware of false teaching, and we feel a greater reliance on the Lord. We realize we cannot make it on our own strength; it is a daily reminder we must get (and do) receive. And look at what Paul wrote in verse 3: GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS—be happy and proud when you suffer, because you know God is still in control, and He is giving you an opportunity to grow!
In conclusion, God does not take us to Heaven the moment we are saved; instead He leaves us here to grow and mature in Him; He uses us to witness to the lost world, to be His vessels, to be His ambassadors, to be His ministers of reconciliation. We grow in the Lord when we suffer in this present world. As we Christians, God can use us to reach out to the lost world that is suffering under the bondage of sin and death. The Lord utilizes our suffering to show the world how He strengthens us to endure our trials. When the lost world sees us suffering, they get the chance to see how Christ handles stress and trouble. Without your suffering, this would be impossible for the world to see.
Suffering is never pleasant, and perhaps you are going through a tough time right now. You may feel like God does not love you because He does not deliver you from your suffering. But again, those feelings we have are wrong because the cross work of Christ proved that God loves us (Romans 5:8). The important thing to remember is to focus on the Lord: keep your eyes on Him, talk to Him, read and study His Word, and He will comfort you with His Word. Even when the poor Apostle Paul suffered with his “thorn in the flesh,” God did not remove his suffering; instead, He comforted Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV). This is exactly what God tells you today: “While I will not completely remove the burdens and troubles in your life, I will give you the strength and the grace to endure and TRIUMPH over them. It will be okay; I am in complete control of it all.”
It was certainly never fun to receive the tetanus shot, the flu shot, or the meningitis shot. We get so worked up about the pinch, it shifts our focus away from the reason why we got the shot in the first place—TO HELP, not hurt. We Christians should view our earthly trials and tribulations just as we view those immunizations: of course they hurt, yet we are so pessimistic we tend to overlook the benefits that God will bring about. The “pinch” is but for a moment; the results are eternal.
You probably heard the erroneous idea that God promises the Christian a life free of trouble and suffering. On the contrary, the Bible confirms that we WILL EXPERIENCE heartbreak, sickness, misery, and death. God has not promised to insulate us from “immunizations” in our lives—God loves us, but we live in a fallen world filled with sin. Our suffering never originates from God; His permissive will allows us to suffer in this nasty world.
As Christians, our suffering can originate from four sources: the devil and his demonic creatures, the lost world (even our own families), the choice of making bad decisions, and the curse of sin and corruption. Man’s sin initiated suffering in the Garden of Eden: this brought about the curse, and both physical and spiritual death. As long as we are on this planet in this life, we must experience suffering, and there is no getting around that (Romans 8:18-25). Even the Lord Jesus was no exception: He suffered more than any man EVER has or ever will!
For a second illustration, think of a beautiful white pearl. From where does it come? On rare occasions, a grain of sand will find its way into the shell of a mollusk (an oyster, for instance), or perhaps a parasite is irritating an oyster inside its shell. As a defense mechanism, the oyster secretes layers of calcium carbonate, sealing off and encapsulating the irritant. Imagine that: the suffering of an oyster produces a magnificent pearl! Just like the painful immunizations are bringing positive results, the trouble that poor oyster experienced produced a beautiful, valuable gemstone.
“In order to appreciate the light, you must first be in darkness.” We appreciate God more when we are put into the predicament of needing Him more. If we lived perfect lives with no suffering, we would have no reason to rely on God to help us through our troubles because we would not have any troubles! But, God has a special purpose for allowing a Christian to suffer—read what the Bible says in Romans 5:1-5 KJV:
“1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
God does not enjoy seeing us Christians suffer. Our parents felt pity on us as they watched us struggle and squirm in pain for that brief instant, but the immunization was for our own good. Likewise, the Lord knows that our endurance through hard times will mature us spiritually. When we suffer, we pray more and we study God’s Word more. Our inner man grows stronger, more aware of false teaching, and we feel a greater reliance on the Lord. We realize we cannot make it on our own strength; it is a daily reminder we must get (and do) receive. And look at what Paul wrote in verse 3: GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS—be happy and proud when you suffer, because you know God is still in control, and He is giving you an opportunity to grow!
In conclusion, God does not take us to Heaven the moment we are saved; instead He leaves us here to grow and mature in Him; He uses us to witness to the lost world, to be His vessels, to be His ambassadors, to be His ministers of reconciliation. We grow in the Lord when we suffer in this present world. As we Christians, God can use us to reach out to the lost world that is suffering under the bondage of sin and death. The Lord utilizes our suffering to show the world how He strengthens us to endure our trials. When the lost world sees us suffering, they get the chance to see how Christ handles stress and trouble. Without your suffering, this would be impossible for the world to see.
Suffering is never pleasant, and perhaps you are going through a tough time right now. You may feel like God does not love you because He does not deliver you from your suffering. But again, those feelings we have are wrong because the cross work of Christ proved that God loves us (Romans 5:8). The important thing to remember is to focus on the Lord: keep your eyes on Him, talk to Him, read and study His Word, and He will comfort you with His Word. Even when the poor Apostle Paul suffered with his “thorn in the flesh,” God did not remove his suffering; instead, He comforted Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV). This is exactly what God tells you today: “While I will not completely remove the burdens and troubles in your life, I will give you the strength and the grace to endure and TRIUMPH over them. It will be okay; I am in complete control of it all.”