I was listening to David Jeremiah’s “Turning Point” program today in which he preached a sermon about suffering. Of course, there are any number of scripture passages which refer to suffering. One favorite of mine is:
“My
brothers, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials that you are enduring, as
though something strange were happening to you.” (1st Peter 4:12)
Of course,
the last thing any believer or non-believer on this earth wishes to encounter
are circumstances related to physical, emotional, mental or spiritual suffering.
I think the stoutest of us would “go two miles out of our way” to avoid
anything associated with the prospect of suffering. To do otherwise would be to
purposefully assume the role of a martyr, (and I think any casual reader of
Hebrews 11 would prefer to avoid such a distinction).
Obviously,
Jesus suffered like no man ever suffered before, physically, spiritually,
mentally and emotionally, as He willingly laid down His life on the cross. And
prior to that event we see Him in the Garden of Gethsemane communing with His
Father, and sweating what appeared to be great drops of blood. Strangely
enough, there is a condition in which people literally exude blood through the
pores of their skin as they are in the midst of anxiety, despair and untold
suffering.
Pt. 2
In Matthew
5:10 Jesus speaks about those who suffer for doing right, and refers to them as
“blessed.”
In 2nd
Timothy 2:12 we are reminded that “if we suffer for Him, we will also reign
with Him.”
Granted,
none of us go out of our way to suffer needlessly, but suffering is part and
parcel of every life, and simply can’t be avoided. After all, Jesus said, “In
the world you will have tribulation…”John 16:33)
And in John
13:16, Jesus reminds us that “the servant is not better than his Master.”
Each and
every one of us will encounter circumstances that are altogether out of our
control, and in which there is no escape. There is no going left or right, or
over or under. There is only going through.
And I think
if we, as believers, could grasp a couple of scriptural principles, I mean
really incorporate them into our thinking, it would make all the difference in
the way in which we approach suffering.
The first
principle is this:
When we
suffer, we are granted the unique privilege of identifying with Christ, and He
with us. Notice the following scripture.
“Filling up
in my own body the unfinished sufferings of Christ.” (Col. 1:24)
“Filling up
in my own body…” The notion that we have mysterious ‘something’ to add to
Jesus’ sufferings. And that mysterious something, my friends, is simply …our
participation.
I inferred
earlier that suffering is a privilege. Now that is an amazing thought! This
certainly puts a new ‘spin’ on suffering, doesn’t it?
How can I
support such a possibility? Allow me to point you to one of the best examples,
perhaps the best example of which I am aware.
In the midst
of the martyrdom of Stephen, while the religious rulers gnashed their teeth,
and picked up stones to stone him, he exclaimed,
“Look! I see
the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
(Acts 7:55-56)
I believe the inference of this scripture is that Jesus, the Supreme Creator of the Universe, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Lord of lords, and King of kings STOOD UP from His throne to honor the powerful testimony of Stephen, and his fearless example in the midst of his waning moments on earth.
Pt. 3
Yes, I
think, as believers, we should think of suffering as a privilege.
The second
principle I would like to share with you, and which I think has the power to
lessen the pain and confusion of suffering is that… we have a hope in heaven,
and what we endure here is only temporary in nature.
If only we
can grasp this wonderful truth. In the Book of Romans, Chapter 8, we are
encouraged with the words,
“For I
reckon the sufferings of this present time aren’t worthy to be compared to the
glory that will be revealed in us.” (8:18)
Even in the
midst of Christ’ ghastly suffering on the cross, He was already thinking about
the next stage in His journey, when He assured the thief,
“Today you
will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
Whatever we
endure here, my friends, is only temporary. It will pass, as surely as the
darkness of night yields to the dawn’s light.
Another
scripture which attests to this truth is:
“But this
life, and the lust of it is passing away. But He who does the will of God
endures forever.” (1st John 2:17)
Allow me to
encourage you, my friends. As strange as it may seem our participation in the
almost unendurable is a privilege, and should be thought of as a privilege. We
have been afforded the privilege of participating in His suffering.
And take
heart, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Nothing you experience and
endure here is permanent. There will be an end. And scripture assures us that
the suffering of this present world isn’t worthy to be compared to the glory
that will be revealed in us.
It will be
worth it all when we see Jesus.
by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright pending
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