Yesterday I wrote that the light of Jesus shines through the black darkness of this world. A reader responded:
“Not for me, my life is a shamble been praying all my life and now all I get is nothing – my husband in hospital with severe head trauma had to put his favorite dog down, cars broke down, can’t get to work, and I am home all alone – Amen”
Another wrote:
Hey Bob, It does seem hopeless at times. I know that I have been feeling like I fell in a black hole of late and it is not fun. Seems that everything happens at once too . . .
Another friend called and expressed his frustration that his sister’s many illnesses and suffering remain and yet the Bible states: “By His stripes we are healed.”. He went on to quote several other Scriptures concerning the promises of God regarding healing and angrily stated that God has promised healing and yet his sister suffers.
It’s an age-old question asked by billions since the dawn of time. Why do bad things happen to good people? The Bible does not give me enough information to understand how best to answer it, and aside from an answer from the Bible the rest is just my human conjecture and worthless drivel.
We do know that this life compared to the endless trillions of years of eternity is but a vapor. And for believers in Jesus Christ, eternity in paradise will be forever. But that is like hitting your thumb with a hammer. Logically you know it will stop hurting, but when you hit it – doggone it – it hurts!
I often turn to the Apostle Paul when I’m suffering. Geez – he was stoned, took 39 stripes on three different occasions, was caned four times, was badly beaten numerous times, bitten by a poisonous snake, imprisoned, reviled by his friends and others, ship wrecked, and tortured and beheaded by the emperor Nero. Paul was a man of God – he was an Apostle and is largely credited for bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles, not to mention writing a major portion of the New Testament, and yet this holy man suffered.
No one escapes, not even Jesus Christ, who suffered as no man has ever suffered. Why does God allow the suffering? We know that God told Adam, Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you . . . ”
Job said, “How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble!
We suffer and Jesus suffered because of sin. Actuarially this life lasts just 79.9 years. Eternity lasts forever. Our sins can cause us to suffer for eternity, or they can be forgiven and we can spend eternity in bliss with Jesus where there will never be suffering, tears, stress, violence, disease, or even a headache again.
It is often said that death and taxes are two things that happen to us all. I say add trials and tribulation to the mix, because we will face them sooner or later. It’s inevitable. Being a devout Christian does not exclude anyone from the pain of this world, but it does give one hope of one day entering endless eons of peace, joy, and love.
My advice to those who are suffering is to focus on Jesus and not your problems. Think about the future, not the past or even the present. We all suffer in this life but only for a whisper of time thanks to the suffering and blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Through Him we have hope and therein lies the peace beyond understanding that we all crave. Listen to Paul the man who suffered so much:
Romans 8:18
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ – if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him. I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God . . .
Have a great weekend and go to Honey Lake Church on Sunday. We have a talented bunch of children that will be singing for us, a great message delivered, and a wonderful time of worship will be in store for us all . . .
March 10 2017 – Click here to listen