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Lately, it just seems that everybody hurts. Several people in my life have serious health concerns. Others have marital or other relationship problems. As I walk through life, it often seems difficult to notice any tangible benefit for those who have been purchased out of the world. I mean, we still die from heart attacks and strokes. We lose loved ones to drunk drivers. We have all of the problems that everyone else has, and sometimes more.
So, if God doesn’t miraculously fix all of our problems, why bother? Why remain in Him? Is there anything that we can count on? There is a difference and there are things that we can count on in our faith and if God is willing, I hope to speak on it next Sunday at New Sarum Baptist church.
There are many things that God does for us that He does not do for those who haven’t received and remained in Him. I use the words ‘received and remain’ for a very specific reason. I’m not saying that the benefits of our faith are actually claimed by all Christians. What I’m saying, is that there are benefits which are available if we, as His children, would claim them.
“We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God.” 2Corinthians 1:8-9
For many people, when they endure severe ridicule or persecution, life can seem hopeless. It isn’t uncommon for some people to take their own lives when it seems like the world is against them. There is however a staying power that we see in the life of Paul, and it’s something that I have witnessed in those who hold tightly to Jesus. Paul is speaking about the adversity he has faced in his ministry for Christ. He doesn’t give specific details here, but if we study his life closely, we find that he endured more than just ridicule and condemnation. There are many who actually wanted to kill him.
Maybe this is something that is just for people like Paul. How about it? I realize that many nonbelievers get through life. In fact, most do. But when I think on the people I know who have learned to rely on God, there is a certain strength that exudes from the life they live. I don’t see them picking up the bottle or other crutch when all seems lost.
If you are thinking, ‘But I know Christians who…..’
Look carefully at the language I’m using. I’m not talking about Christians. I’m talking about people who have learned to rely only on God. Sadly, there is a difference.
Didn't get your 1Cor quote. Where is that?
ReplyDeleteSorry. 2Cointhians.
ReplyDeleteUgh...
ReplyDelete2Corinthians 1:8-9
I'm glad to know that someone is actually looking to the source. And of all the people, it's the non-churched guy. ;-)
Have a good weekend Travis.
"So, if God doesn’t miraculously fix all of our problems, why bother? Why remain in Him?"
ReplyDeleteI have a slightly different answer:
The KJ (2Cor 1:8-9) reads:
"For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: "
Even Paul got to the point where he wished he didn't have to live through the situation he was in. He would have rather been dead, but he realized that trusting in yourself is the sentence of death. Paul, if he hadn't experienced it already, knew that God could raise him out of that situation just as easily as he could raise him from the dead.
Is that a reason for a non-believer to convert to Christ? Absolutely not.
To paraphrase Ray Comfort, you don't put on a parachute (salvation) in a plane in order to get a more comfortable ride (financial bliss, healing from cancer, immunity from drunk drivers or chemical imbalances); it's worn to save you from death (everlasting torment) when the plane falls out of the sky (death of this body).
You see, God doesn't always rescue us from the hurts of life. In fact, he seldom does, except those that we are truly unable to bear. He will, however, recognize those that are in Christ and give them everlasting life.
The hurts we experience life develop character in the soul; a foundation that we will need in eternity. Just as the angels were able to choose Lucifer over God and the women of Earth over purity, so we will have opportunities to sin against God in eternity.
When you experience hurt, take the opportunity to learn about yourself and seek to know God better.
I'm completely with that.
ReplyDeleteLooking at what I have written, I think I spent more time answering the question, "Is there anything we can count on?" and I answered from the perspective on life in this world. You answered my other questions a little more directly. Unless you are implying that there is absolutely no comfort in our distress. Then maybe your answer really is different.
I suppose if I'm going to ask more than one question, I should actually take the time to answer them all.
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ReplyDeleteKevin,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your posts. You remain unpolished enough to rub some off of the rest of us. (Ever tried to sharpen an axe with a polished piece of metal? Takes *forever*!)
... and there is definitely comfort in distress; but most folks forget the facts and become overwhelmed by their emotions. For the unbeliever, there aren't many facts to hold to.