John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Since the fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, there has been pain, suffering and trouble on the earth due to sin. When we look around us, instead of being distracted by the pursuit of happiness through fleshly desires, we see the reality of a world of hurt. 80% of the world population live in poverty with 22,000 children dying daily in poverty. 815 million people do not have enough food to eat, there are disease outbreaks, ramped drug abuse, violent crime and murders, injury and lose every day.
I heard a message from the late pastor J. Vernon McGee stating that most asked Bible-related question by both believers and unbelievers is “Why do people suffer?” More books have been written on this subject than the subject of how to live the Christian life. McGee explains that too many have believed the unbiblical sales pitch that if you will only trust Christ, then you will move into the green pastures on the other side of the fence where all is calm and the problems of life are solved. Prosperity Gospel proclamations tell you that you have joy without any sorrow. In other words, Christianity has been made an inoculation against disease, trials and trouble.
Job 5:6-7 “For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.”
Pastor McGee is not trying to mislead anyone. There is joy in the Christian life. There is peace and there is healing. Galatians 5:22-23atells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. All of them are certainly true. However, it is an axion of the Christian life that God’s children suffer in this fallen world. There is no escaping from it. But, the Lord Jesus Christ came from heaven’s glory and took upon Himself our frail humanity to bring man to God. Job didn’t have the benefit of the New Testament, but what faith we see in this man.
Job 19:25-27 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!”
This is the one prop that held Job upright when he was robbed of all the others. Living on the promises of God, we have the rock-solid foundation of truth. Hebrews 10:19-22 tells us, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Pastor McGee points out that many of us don’t draw close to God until we face crisis. We’ve become complacent and distracted by existentialism and materialism to where we, too often, become blind to reality. But God may move you into a crisis, and you’ll hear the Apostle Peter encouraging you: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)
Pastor McGee concludes, When the props are knocked out from under you, let the love of Christ hold you up.
Romans 8:16-18“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Blessed in Christ
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