God Blog

Approaching God One Thought At A Time

To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.
- Friedrich Nietzsche

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Why Suffering?

Suffering comes in many forms and degrees. It can originate and be exacerbated by circumstance and society, strangers and enemies, family and friends.

Frequently self imposed, it can be fueled and reinforced by poor attitudes and actions. Perhaps the one thing suffering can not be is avoided. Our initial question is "why?" With overwhelming, yet not incontrovertible. evidence of
benevolent within what is clearly Intelligent Design, why would a gracious God allow overwhelming loneliness and depression, illness and disease, bitterness of loss, and eventually pain and death? Furthermore, why would frail humanity so often treat itself so harshly? Finally, the logical next question is what if anything, can be learned and/or done to mitigate suffering for ourselves and others?


For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.


- 2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV



Life can be enchanting and/or exacerbating, pleasant and/or
painful, happy and/or horrible. Depending on dozens of factors, our lives can seasonally and even simultaneously seem a gift and/or a curse.

The quality of human existence primarily hinges on the part of the world in which we live. Through the gift of technology, First World citizens live lifestyles rivaling mythological gods by comparison to our Third World counterparts. Like a modern day reenactment of Christ's story of the
Rich Man and Lazarus, it's as if we've received the answers to the prayers of all past generations. Easily taken for granted, unparalleled blessings as common as a grocery store act as a buffer to the harsher realities of life faced daily by less developed nations.

While many aspects of suffering are relative, sadly others are shared in common throughout the
world of mortals. Loneliness and depression, bitterness and loss, illness and disease, social and economic distress plague planet earth. So much so, to say the whole of humanity has issues with God would be putting it mildly. Truth be told, mankind has every reason to be frightened and angry, to the point of calling into question the goodness and fairness of God.

Inquiry into these issues requires an unusual degree of honesty. First, it must be admitted that many of the ills of mankind could be easily remedied. Just diverting a fraction of the estimated $360,000,000,000 annually spent on
illegal drugs could end global poverty, not to mention reduce the heartache and needless destruction of millions. While such remedies are beyond the reach of individuals, corporately the human race is accountable for much of its own suffering. Not to mention the fact that each of us could be doing quite a bit more in this regard. Click here to watch the excellent video "A Thousand Questions?"

Next we need to come to terms with the fact that humanity's apathy extends beyond physical and social impoverishment to the spiritual and eternal. Though the apparent
silence and distance of God poses daunting challenges, they are far from insurmountable. Science and technology deals with the nearly infinite to the infinitesimal on a daily basis, modern advances having all but proven the adage, "we do the difficult immediately, the impossible takes a little longer."

Excellent in obtaining worldly wealth and pleasure, our diligence diminishes sharply when it comes to understanding the human soul and caring for it as mandated by our Creator. Even as billions crave answers to life's
ultimate questions only the slimmest margin methodologically pursue them. The majority of today's brilliant minds have all but written God off as mythology, and that in the face of a growing list of compelling and rational reasons to believe.

Additionally, the ease and accessibility of a variety of forms and formats of the
Bible, by far the bestselling and most researched book of all time, makes mankind's apathy and ignorance of Scripture as without excuse as the Book of Books is without equal. Tragically, the serious study of the Bible's no longer in vogue even among church attenders. This in the face of a myriad of evidences that demand a verdict as to Divine inspiration, such as amazing scientific discoveries described millennia ago in Biblical passages. These include a testable model of creation that encompasses modern discoveries in the areas of astronomy and physics, chemistry and biology, human origins and understanding the universe. Perhaps even more compelling is Scripture's explanation of eternity's past and humanity's future featuring 2,000 fulfilled prophecy's and the stage literally being set for a period of Great Tribulation as described in the Book of Revelation.


Crucial Concerns

Once admitting our need and culpability, a syllabus of appropriate questions will assist our search for answers. Such a quest has a two-fold purpose. First, Scripture encourages honest inquiry declaring, "You have not because you ask not." Secondarily, everyone asks and answers fundamental questions as to human and Divine nature, most without adequate research. Bringing our issues to the forefront fosters fair and factual examination. Such crucial questions include:

  • What is the direct cause(s) of human suffering?

  • What is the indirect cause(s) of human suffering?

  • Is suffering unavoidable in light of free will?

  • Which if any of our issues with God are justified?

  • Is questioning God an act of doubt or faith?

  • Will unjust suffering last forever?

  • Are there underlying reasons suffering is advantageous that seem to defy human explanation?

  • Why is there inequity?

In addressing the direct and indirect cause of suffering, the plight of humanity must be divided into avoidable verses unavoidable concerns. The former deals with that which mankind imposes on itself. The latter are composed of that which is inherently beyond the control of mortals. To do justice to either requires at least a preliminary understanding of the over arching and eternal spiritual situation in which we find ourselves.

The whodunit storyline of the Book of Job, considered by many scholars to be the first written record of the Old Testament, and as such perhaps the codecs of Scripture,
sets the context of the history of eternity as well as mankind's. Some Scriptural archaeology and Biblical forensics reveals the unfolding of an incredible angelic drama in which humanity finds itself cast in a leading role. Presumably billions of years after the original sin of the Luciferian Rebellion heaven finds itself still mired in a legal dispute within the Supreme Court of creation with God the Father presiding as Judge, Satan the Accuser and Christ the Advocate of Heaven and Earth. The ramifications of which have, are and will continue to shape the course of human history.

To the degree philosophical or even theological considerations fail to appreciate the broader
context of our physical and spiritual place and role in the cosmos, they are destined to fail in providing accurate and substantial answers to the greatest questions in human life. This is primarily for two reasons. First, even from the perspective of our observable universe or first heaven (in comparison to Paul's having been to the "third heaven" which would be the abode of God) the entire Milky Way much less our solar system, or the earth much less any individual on it, hold little more relevance in size and age than that of a grain of sand along a vast sea shore.

Secondly, in comparison to the glorious nature and lifespan of the angelic, much less that of
Omnity, the combined brilliance of mankind may be less than that of a single cell organism here today and gone tomorrow. This being the case, to overlook the eternal context of our situation would be akin to scientific inquiry repeatedly turning a blind eye to studying the principles of physics and biology.

Having established a baseline, Scripture also speaks of a subtext in regards to earthly suffering primarily developed in the New Testament with the surprising and overwhelming introduction of God the Son into the human equation. The appearance, ministry and atonement of Jesus as son of man/son of God is foundational to the topic of suffering on a variety of levels. Consider the often overlooked cost of incarnation. Imagine possessing and then shedding oneself of heavenly omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence only to be inserted into the ovum of an earthly teenage virgin in Nazareth
circa 5 BC. Add to this the pain and suffering of Christ's crucifixion as well as the even greater cost of humanity's atonement, and surely "This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin."

Additionally we have the "promise of the Father" fulfilled on the day of Pentecost with the arrival and infilling of the Holy Spirit. The apportionment of the fruit and
gifts of God the Spirit affords hope and mediation of suffering through such demonstrations of Divine comfort as healing the sick and the working of miracles. The presence and power, provision and protection of the Third Person of the Trinity within and through Christians was designed to mark a deviation in the thoughts and emotions, activities and lifestyles of the faithful, and thereby alter the course of human nature and events.


Time vs. Eternity

To more fully appreciate the whole counsel of God one must become fluid in transitioning between temporal and eternal truths. There may be no greater example than when exploring the topic of suffering. Addressed in the Old Testament by passages and the personal experience of such notable psalmists and prophets as David and Solomon, Jeremiah and Habukkuk, the eternal perspectives nonetheless remained more concealed than revealed. In the New Testament, from Mary's annunciation and the moment of Christ's appearing on the scene wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in an earthly manger, heaven's wisdom has been on display.

Developing an eternal mindset while living in real time may be mankind's most singular challenge. Jesus recognized that for those entrenched, much less embattled by daily concerns simply believing in "him" who He (God) has sent" was nothing short of the very "
work of God." The reason for our difficulties involve a harmonic dissidence within and without when temporal beings attempt to embrace an eternal belief system and accompanying lifestyle.

Consider the apostle Paul. Steeped in and zealous for the Judaism of his day, even when guarding the clothes and witnessing the transfiguration of Stephen's martyrdom, God's glory only served to whet his appetite to persecute Christians by imprisonment and worse. Though an expert in the "law and prophets" his myopic thinking would only be shattered by being struck and knocked from his high horse by divine revelation. Blinded by heavenly light, scales finally fell from his eyes at the hands of a nervous Ananias, the healer himself comforted by Christ's explanation: "behold, he's praying…and I will show him the great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

Clearly no stranger to suffering, Saul the persecutor was transformed into Paul the persecuted:

  • "I've worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death's door time after time. I've been flogged five times with the Jews' thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I've been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I've had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I've been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I've known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather." 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 The Message

Continuing, the apostle of suffering notes another weight Christians are called to bear:

  • "And that's not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches. When someone gets to the end of his rope, I feel the desperation in my bones. When someone is duped into sin, an angry fire burns in my gut." 2 Corinthians 11:28-29 The Message

As the poster child for suffering in the Book of Acts, Paul offers a unique perspective on the subject hard won by personal experience. Beaten by the Jews, God's own people, five times within a lash of his life his 195 scars attest to his care and compassion, endurance and expertise in
sufferology.

While the apostle Paul may have been an extreme case, his and other New testament letters to the church reveal the emergence of a radical worldview that embraces rather than avoids suffering:

  • "That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens." Romans 8:18-21 The Message

  • "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13
  • "So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin." 1 Peter 4:1

  • "Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they're on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that's a different matter. But if it's because you're a Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! 1 Peter 4:-12-16 The Message.
Scripture explains non self inflicted suffering has a three fold purpose. First, to purify, increasing our holiness and sanctification. Second, to provide eternal rewards for those willing to endure hardship in promoting the Kingdom of God. Third, to extend God's grace to those who "oppose themselves" as well as others.


New Natures

One of the more subtle roles of suffering is to put faith to the test:

  • "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." James 1:2-4 The Message

Revealing areas needing refining and improvement allows those initiated into the process of discipleship to develop greater obedience to God, thereby producing greater fruit of the Spirit:

  • "My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom. But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." Galatians 5:13-23 The Message

Developing the fruit and
gifts of the Spirit are indispensable in God's plan to alleviate earthly suffering in the lives of believers, simultaneously drawing attention to the hope and eternal power of the gospel. For those learning to walk in the Spirit rather than the flesh, experiencing aspects of the nature of God not only mitigates life's more painful aspects but acts as a kind of downpayment towards the glory of Christ's coming Kingdom:

  • "It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life." Ephesians 1:13-14 The Message

  • "My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!" Galatians 3:14-21 The Message

Notice the expansive language in what may be
Paul's greatest prayer. Other versions go so far as to declare that we might be "filled with all the fullness of God" on earth while looking forward to the glories of Heaven! Paul draws on his personal experience and revelation to introduce and reinforce an eternal paradigm meant to overwhelm suffering in the hearts and minds of Christians. While numerous passages reflect this mindset, perhaps none more so than his instructions to Christian slaves and masters:

  • "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites." Ephesians 6:5-9

  • "Stay where you were when God called your name. Were you a slave? Slavery is no roadblock to obeying and believing. I don't mean you're stuck and can't leave. If you have a chance at freedom, go ahead and take it. I'm simply trying to point out that under your new Master you're going to experience a marvelous freedom you would never have dreamed of. On the other hand, if you were free when Christ called you, you'll experience a delightful "enslavement to God" you would never have dreamed of. All of you, slave and free both, were once held hostage in a sinful society. Then a huge sum was paid out for your ransom. So please don't, out of old habit, slip back into being or doing what everyone else tells you. Friends, stay where you were called to be. God is there. Hold the high ground with him at your side.1 Corinthians 7:20-24 The Message
Rather than denouncing and forbidding slavery within the Church, the New Testament calls Christians to contentment with their lot in life. Even when facing the mental and emotional, not to mention physical and social anguish accompanying slavery, rather than deliverance from believers and their immediate family being owned by another person the Holy Spirit offers to lift the souls of all Christ's disciples above the worries and pains of this life.

Such a harsh example reveals the primary principal behind Divine comfort. Deliverance from distressful circumstances may or may not come in this lifetime, Yet in response to "momentary and light afflictions" Scripture declares "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it." Additionally, over comers are promised a
glorious eternity, the likes of which "eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it ever entered into the minds of men."


Plans within Plans

Providing such "exceedingly great and precious promises" is compelling evidence of God's lovingkindness. All the more so when factoring in the incredible
cost of Christ's atonement. Yet the arguments of atheists and agnostics are not so easily appeased. Thoughtful consideration raises a crucial objection regarding the existence and transcendence, goodness and fairness of God. If Omnity possesses omniscience and omnipotence, omnipresence and immutability then why allow suffering at all, much less create a scenario were it appears more the rule than exception?

Generations without number have and continue struggling and stumbling over this salient point.
Theologians have written volumes of apologetics in this regard, coming to rest on a default explanation of free will as a necessary scapegoat. Without the ability to choose evil over good, angels and men would be automatons with little or no value.

While obviously true to some extent, this explanation alone violates two important lines of reasoning. First, the concept of "free will" is a misnomer when applied to humans or even angels. By definition all created beings have limits, and when compared to Omnity, they are substantial to say the least. A more accurate term might be "extremely limited free will." Secondarily, in light of the unfathomable inequity between Creator and creation, "extremely limited free will" can hardly be a rock too heavy for God to lift.

Satisfactorily answering this age old question of pain and loss is of paramount importance for a variety of reasons. Evidence abounds that given the appalling statistics regarding prayer and Bible study, evangelism and discipleship,
modern Christians have all but devolved into practical agnostics. Such being the case, it must be surmised that either Churchianity objects to Scripture, including it's handling of the issue of suffering, or finds it wanting. This dissatisfaction and it's results resonates throughout mankind, consciously or unconsciously, inside and outside the Church.

The realization that momentary and limited free will alone fails to explain all the reasons behind God's allowance of suffering reveals God's plan deserves further inquiry. Summarizing, the Bible explains:

1. God created an unfathomably glorious heaven and subsequently filled it with an incredible super race of beings known as angels.

2. Motivated by entitlement, Lucifer, the most magnificent of this advanced race rebelled, enticing as many as one third of the angels to join his insurrection.

3. God, by miraculous intelligent design, created the observable universe with such fantastic fine-tuning as to allow for and direct the formation of Earth and life.

4. Man, created in God's image, was placed in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

5. Lucifer, now Satan, through the successful temptation of Eve, instigated the fall of mankind.

6. At "the right time" Jesus appeared to "destroy the works of the Evil one" including the "power of hell and death."

7. Through His atonement and resurrection, ascension and intercession Christ became the "first born of many brethren" serving as mankind's Lord and Savior, high priest and heavenly advocate.

8. God the Spirit filled Christians at Pentecost, making the fruit and gifts of the Spirit available to humanity to mitigate earthly suffering and as a pledge to fulfill "all the promises of God."

9. Through successful deception, the faith and "love of many will grow cold" facilitating the escalation of sin to the point of great tribulation.

10. During the rise of the antiChrist, Christians overcome by the "blood of the lamb, word of their testimony and not loving their lives unto death."

11. Christ returns to rapture the faithful prior to vanquishing earthly evil with the "brightness of his appearing."

12. The millennia reign of Christ brings peace and healing to earth.

13. Satan, enticing mankind into a final rebellion agains God, is defeated and judged, imprisoned forever with all the unfaithful.

14. A "new heaven and earth" replace ours and the righteous "shine like the sun" bathed in the joy of God's glory for eternal ages to come.

A cursory review of the outline of God's plan indicates the foresight and faithfulness of an under appreciated and oft betrayed Creator. Nevertheless, as has been noted, "the devil is in the details." While some of the elements of
eternity's history are disclosed by Scripture, particulars regarding the how and why of Lucifer's Rebellion remain shrouded in mystery. What is visible from an earthly viewpoint is the havoc it has, is and will wreak among mankind in time and eternity.

Equally clear is the impact the angelic and then subsequent revolt of humanity has had on
Omnity. Most evident in Christ's incarnation and atonement, the Bible paints a picture of the entire Godhead's long suffering, "not wiling that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." Amazingly, the Book of Revelation explains that the forbearance of God allows the Devil even now, eons after instigating the disruption of the perfection of heaven, to stand "day and night" accusing mankind and the Church within the Supreme Court of Heaven. Such Divine restraint testifies to the manifold wisdom of the plans and purposes of God. As Paul exclaims:

  • "And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!" Ephesians 3:8-10 The Message

The development of two complementary skills are essential for us to play our part in the unfolding drama in which humanity is cast. Wisdom dictates we diligently investigate the full context of Scripture, understanding the roles assigned us by the Author and Director. Next we do well to grow in grace, remembering we are in a cosmic war zone. There will be the continual bombardment of temptation and deception with onslaughts of resistance and defeat. To survive, much less thrive, we must develop and refine overcoming strategies, identifying and adapting to actual and potential challenges and concerns. Again Paul explains:

  • "I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law (plan) with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin." Romans 7:21-25

Over the past two millennia billions of believers have discovered the dilemma of which Paul writes. Far fewer have followed his strategic example, fighting the "good fight of faith" until we too are able to declare "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."



It's the Spirit Stupid

Interestingly, the ultimate Author of Scripture is Himself Scripture's answer to human suffering. Regarding the Bible's Divine inspiration we are told:

  • "We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. " 2 Peter 1:19-21

Through the presence and leadership of the Spirit, God extends a similar offer to Christians who's lifestyles honor Scripture. Through diligent Bible study and prayer believers are inspired to meditate and act on God's word. In doing so grace is imparted in victory and humility in defeat. Both outcomes produce the kind of softened hearts and brokenness essential to hearing from and walking with the Holy Spirit. This is the victory over the dilemma Paul experienced, expressed in his continued explanation:

  • "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that. The law always ended up being used as a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn't deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us." Romans 8:1-4 The Message

For Christians honest enough to admit our individual and collective need of God, such passages sound too good to be true. The problem arises from a nearly universal disappointment when it comes to experiencing Scripture's promised power to rise above the pains and sufferings so prevalent among fallen mortals. Circumstances and relationships producing emotional and social, financial and physical grief challenge our faith. At such times many, if not most, find themselves feeling anything and everything but heavenly peace and joy.

Observing the "Problem of Pain" celebrated Christian author C.S. Lewis explored similar issues, as seen in two of his more famous quotes on the subject:

  • "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

  • "God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain."
It's certainly true that human nature tends to seek God more diligently in times of need. It's also accurate that Scripture's promises to Christ's disciples have more to do with equipping us to overcome rather than evading pain. But what of those ostensively seeking and serving God? What kind of father, Heavenly or otherwise, shouts and even disciplines children who love and revere him? Apparently God the Father:

"In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God." Hebrews 12:4-11 The Message

A usual, The Message version handles this passage nicely. Seeking to interpreting the original language thought for thought rather than word for word, it renders these verses both in an encouraging and "user friendly" manner. The King James handles the passage a bit more directly:

  • "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons." Hebrews 12:3-7 New King James
Passages as these, of which there are many, are generally avoided yet provide insight into God's plan to overcome human suffering while developing His nature within us. The Bible contains over 1,200 promises, yet it's pages also reveal nearly 1,500 corresponding conditions and more than 6,000 commands. Those who would understand Scripture must come to terms with the fact that Like a piano, the Bible is filled with black and white keys. The answers to life's questions require learning to play and hear both simultaneously.

Difficult verses are as anathema to most Christians as is thinking seriously and deeply about troubling aspects of life and faith. Many believe such an exercise unnecessary or worse. Yet our behavior and lifestyle reveal we're nearly as plagued by confusion and disappointment as our unbelieving counterparts.
Does it honor or dishonor God to give our doubts and those of detractors a fair hearing? Is it doubt or faith to believe the word and direction of God's Spirit are inviolate, able not only withstand scrutiny but shine heavenly light into the darkest recesses of the human soul? Jesus Himself seems to end the deadlock:

  • "I still have many things to tell you, but you can't handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won't draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you. Everything the Father has is also mine. That is why I've said, 'He takes from me and delivers to you.'" John 16:12-15 The Message

We are told the Spirit of Truth will guide us into
all truth. Regarding the greatest commandment Jesus directs "Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list." Nevertheless countless multitudes are content to learn and embrace little more than the most superficial aspects of Christian faith. Such presumption, while more subtle than that of antagonists, daily engenders billions of acts of apathy and rebellion within the modern Church. Such a scenario attests to the overwhelming need of people of genuine faith to persist in approaching God "in fear and trembling" if necessary, until either our circumstance or understanding change substantially.

Studious Christians realize the need to learn and excel in the all but lost art of intercession. Investing hours and days, months and years in strategic and daily prayer are prerequisites to knowing God's will, much less realizing it in our lives. Praying for the power of God for ourselves and others is the first step to bringing about the revival so needed today. Expertise in all seven modes of prayer is required for those hoping to understand and prevail with God and the devil, men and circumstances. Learning to intercede and fast, wait on and be still before Omnity are crucial steps in developing the Kingdom of God within, as like psalmists and prophets of old, we wrestle with the Lord in hopes of seeing His revealed will "be done on earth as it is in heaven."


Quantum Questions

For a myriad of reasons already mentioned, the challenge of fully and faithfully exploring and responding to reasonable objections regarding the
goodness and fairness of God falls to a unique subset of believers. Quantum or Prophetic Christians are the believers best prepared to help those willing to overcome doubt and fear. Individuals or Christian communities interested in research and training in accurately explaining the more challenging aspect of Christian faith may be interested in perusing additional articles on this site as well as a growing number of books in our Quantum Christian Series.

There are a variety of reasons the vast majority of the laity and clergy show little interest in answering or even admitting the problematic nature of suffering. Duties and distractions of daily life. Mental or emotional immaturity or instability. Apathy and ignorance of Scripture. Inability to distinguish presumption from
faith… In reality, the appropriate handling of quantum questions is no easy task. Appropriately learning to do so requires moving beyond elementary principals and generalization.

Intelligent Christians recognize there are many layers and levels to traverse on the road to exploring the full potential of our "most holy faith." Success in this regard requires the willingness to develop a firm yet fair, factual yet friendly demeanor and discipleship technique. An unusual degree of honesty mingled with deep-seated conviction is essential for those who would take up the mantel and privilege of joining they church's ranks of "kingdom of priests." We who would
approach Omnity, looking to seek and serve a merciful and holy God on behalf of bereft mankind, should do so remembering the intelligent Designer of our observable universe's fifty billion trillion suns is at once a faithful Creator and a consuming fire.

F. Scott Fitzgerald noted,
"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still function." Such a skillful mindset is no where more essential that when resolving controversies and conflicts between our spiritual expectations and experience. When filling in the blank and answering the question, "How could a loving God…" one must reach for fallen humanity with one hand and with the other grasp and sometimes even grapple with God and His plan as revealed in Scripture.

When handled appropriately, admitting the legitimacy of our genuine individual and collective
issues with God can be an act of faith and worship. How better to examine and expel doubt and distrust in ourselves and others, life's circumstances or it's very Author than to come humbly yet "boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Searching out obscured truth requires dedicated daily Bible study and prayer (
see example). The New Testament speaks of Christians exhibiting the diligence of soldiers, farmers or at least athletes until "we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ." Such a quantum quest begins and hinges upon the ability to think transrationally across a spectrum of topics. From human thought and emotion to Christian doctrine and theology, through discipline and practice like athletes we grow in understanding and character:

  • "You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 The Message

For most citizens of the
modern world the first and primary hurdle to overcome in outracing pain and suffering is that of entitlement. In a vast number of cases, those of us given greater blessings than any past generation might even have imagined, are among the least thankful much less faithful. The minds and hearts of prophetic Christians must be trained to continually distinguish the difference between a sense of suffering over reasonable and legitimate needs verse extravagant or illicit worldly desires:

  • "Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust." Proverbs 4:23-27 The Message

  • "The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be." Jeremiah 17:9-10 The Messag

  • "A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." Luke 6:45

  • "And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life. A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?" James 3:2-12


Eternal vigilance is the price for exercising a variety of freedoms, with spirituality chief among them. Day by day, if not hour by hour, examination of our interior life is a priority inasmuch as the heart is the wellspring of words and actions. The need for self mastery is crucial. Simply put, habits and lifestyles are capable of building or destroying the good in ourselves and others in both time and eternity.

Such discipline does not preclude exploring our own less desirable thoughts and feelings. Familiarity with both the brighter and darker aspects of human nature in regards to ourselves, others is a prerequisite of truly coming to terms with who we are and might become. Words can't express how failing to judge ourselves "with righteous judgment" has multiplied mankind's suffering. Temptation's greatest weapon, namely the distortion and dissemination of partial truths and lies, must be revealed and understood to be circumvented and undone. This constant thread throughout Scripture, it's perhaps nowhere more eloquently explained as in the Biblical account of the first murder:

  • "Adam slept with Eve his wife. She conceived and had Cain. She said, "I've gotten a man, with God's help!" Then she had another baby, Abel. Abel was a herdsman and Cain a farmer. Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn't get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk. God spoke to Cain: "Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won't you be accepted? And if you don't do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it's out to get you, you've got to master it." Cain had words with his brother. They were out in the field; Cain came at Abel his brother and killed him." Genesis 4:1-8 The Message

How Then Shall We Live?

The Bible is the most quantum of all books. This is particularly true in regards to it's insights and directions to those who suffer. Pulling the curtain back on eternity, Scripture reveals God as a good and just
Creator, patient in His handling of an unprecedented and ancient angelic rebellion soon to be eternally judged. According to the Godhead's eternal counsel "the Word became flesh" as a result of the appearance and fall of mankind, that through Christ's costly incarnation and atonement He might "destroy the works of the devil."

By the manner and purpose of Christ's appearing God's goodness was vindicated "having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." After which, possessing the "keys of hell and death" Jesus secured eternal life for all mankind, He alone being "able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

  • "In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true: Death swallowed by triumphant Life! Who got the last word, oh, Death? Oh, Death, who's afraid of you now? It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!" 1 Corinthians 15:53-57 The Message

  • "He climbed the high mountain, He captured the enemy and seized the booty, He handed it all out in gifts to the people. Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. " Ephesians 4:8-10 The Message

As previously stated, these extravagant "gifts" include the presence and power of God to alleviate human suffering via the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit. It's easy to imagine how Divine intervention through miraculous faith or healing the sick could have a sizable impact on the human condition. Unfortunately the plan breaks down when Christians, finding themselves powerless for a number of reasons, fail to apprehend the fullness of the Gospel. Over time, mass experience of only a "form of godliness without the power thereof" lowers expectations and lifestyles.

As with all conflict resolution, such an impasse engenders one of three responses. Christians either quit, pretend or rise to meet the challenge. Each options presents variables taking various forms:

1. Quit: Renouncing or de-investing in Christianity and/or the mission of the Church publicly or privately.

2. Pretend: Adopting a lifestyle of apathy and/or ignorance in regards to anything but superficial aspects of personal devotion and corporate discipleship.

3. Accepting the Challenge: Embracing and exploring the complexities associated with mortal and eternal existence. Honesty in assessing Scripture's answers to life's greatest questions. Developing a deep conviction and commitment to the Bible's assurance that "God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him."

It is written "many are called but few are chosen" because few choose to answer the call. Authentic Christians recognize their sacred duty to seek and serve God for the sake of their own souls and those of others. With hell to lose in heaven to gain the stakes could hardly be higher. But what of those whom after genuine effort to please God find themselves disillusioned or worse? What's to be done when expectations fall short.

First there is the explanation and encouragement of Scripture complete with Old and New Testament examples of those who, counting the
cost, committed to persevere in the face of resistance. From Job and the prophets to Jesus and the apostles, the Bible offers understanding and inspiration to suffering believers throughout the ages.

Next there is the recourse of serious and continuous prayer. The epistle of James directs "is anyone happy, let him sing; is anyone troubled, let him pray." Subsequently he states "humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up."

Convinced of the power of prayer, James addresses it's two great hindrances:

  • "What starts wars and fights among you? Is it not because you want many things and are fighting to have them? You want something you do not have, so you kill. You want something but cannot get it, so you fight for it. You do not get things because you do not ask for them. Or if you do ask, you do not receive because your reasons for asking are wrong. You want these things only to please yourselves." James 4:1-4
Bold to pinpoint prayerlessness and selfishness among believers, James is equal adamant regarding the miraculous impact of effective prayer:

  • "Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops." James 5:13-18

  • "Are any of you suffering…" "Are any of you sick…" James seems convinced miracles were essential to the health and wellbeing of individual Christians and the community of believers. If true, might the lack of an authentic outpouring of the Holy Spirit be a tell tale sign of a substandard experience of God? Just imagine the First Century Book of "Acts" without the miraculous. How different a read it would be as just the Book of "Words."

One Day at a Time

Scripture clearly states that the presence and power of the Holy Spirit is God's principal recourse in the mitigation of human suffering. Equally clear is our abysmal record of appropriating such phenomenal
gifts. As in so many aspects of life, it falls to each of us to decide how deeply we are willing to invest our time and energy to see the power of God that Jesus identified as the "children's bread" back on the table.

Doing so requires quantum honesty. Refusing to throw the baby out with the bathwater, we must
daily admit the truth of God's Word in regards to the miraculous and our apparent unworthiness to frequently experience, much less wield it. We must seek a New Pentecost predicated on pre-revival repentance.

Oddly, to conquer suffering Christians are told to embrace it. We must be prepared to be disappointed and disparaged, even by
family and friends. "Quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger" we must practice the forgiveness we seek for ourselves and others. As if to rally the troops, the Apostle Paul puts it this way:

  • "Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion. It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy. But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way." Hebrews 10:32-39 The Message
Of course what sounds good on paper can seem quite different in the light of day. Suffering's all but impossible not to take personally. Depending on the source and severity, physical or emotional difficulties can quickly escalate to the point of seeming insurmountable. As if anticipating the rigors of discipleship, Jesus gave the following instruction:

  • "Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have! You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and Money both. If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body… What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving . People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. " Matthew 6:19-34 The Message
In the face of serial disappointment and suffering, Christ's command to overcome worry by simply taking things a day at a time seems shortsighted at best. Focusing on the hereafter rather than the here and now may appear as just pie in the sky, as foolish a remedy as an opiate, if not a placebo. Yet, the evidence is overwhelming that Biblical faith is more than rational, it's our only hope in unraveling the great mysteries of life and death. And when it comes to pain and anguish, Jesus is the consummate teacher:

  • "He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried, our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him, on him. He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn't say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off— and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he'd never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true." Isaiah 53:3-9 The Message

  • "Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it's logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death. It's obvious, of course, that he didn't go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That's why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people's sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed." Hebrews 2:14-18 The Message

The example and advice of such a credentialed Instructor is hard to ignore. Nevertheless, particularly at times when God seems
silent if not distant, responding in faith may prove even harder. Here is where the strategy of living one day at a time is most helpful. When hiking becomes difficult, rather than turning around or resting indefinitely, backpackers employ a series of tricks to keep themselves headed upward. If the trail permits they begin switchbacks, zigzagging uphill rather than tackling the assent head on. Should this fail, they shorten their stride. If steep terrain continues, they set their gaze on nearby way points as momentary rest stops… Those who would "ascend the mountain of the Lord" hoping to "stand in his holy place" yet find the ascent too difficult do well to employ such spiritual techniques.

One arena such strategy needs to be developed is in the proving ground of
prayer. As essential to faith as breath is to the body, most Christians spend little time "breathing" on a daily basis. As the famous author of The Pilgram's Progress John Bunyan noted:

  • "Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer."

  • "When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart."

  • "If you have sinned, do not lie down without repentance; for the want of repentance after one has sinned makes the heart harder and harder."

  • "He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find him the rest of the day."

  • "You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed."

A commitment to serious daily personal prayer, as well as participating in a corporate meeting on at least a weekly basis, is foundational for the success of any spiritual enterprise. Yet few things are more rare. Sadly, the "Catch-22" is the fact that unanswered prayer is the chief reason for prayerlessness and vice versa. Such being the case, restoring the power and encouragement of answered prayer should be the primary concern of those wishing to see the plans of God forwarded.

For those embracing spiritual discipline, the real challenge is what to do when answers to prayer and/or the blessings we hope and work for are
less than forthcoming. As in the backpacking analogy, those choosing to move forward may need to limit their gaze to the challenges presented by the day at hand. After weeks and months, years and even decades of frustration and disappointment over a handful of important issues we may feel it impossible to endure yet another day of anxiety and despair. Yet, wilderness wanderers listening closely will hear the Spirit point out that a track record of hundreds or even thousands of days up to now suggests otherwise. Such Coaching reveals that more often than not the problem is fear, sorrow or anger over yesterday, tomorrow and beyond. So armed, it falls to us to accept or deny the wisdom of Christ's insight "do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Jesus taught Christians should "always pray and never give up"
While hoping for instantaneous and decisive victory is an act of faith, so is wise and faithful preparation for extended conflict. During such times success is measured by how well we perform our duty. Did today's prayers adequately reflect my level of concern? Were they as fervent, effectual and righteous as James directs? Did they "avail much" or appear to go unanswered? If the latter, what more might be required to experience breakthrough? Forgiveness? Fasting? Greater faith or obedience? If the Divine exchange rate is my all for God's, how much am I prepared to give and continue giving?

For example, those unaccustomed to spending evenings or even entire nights in prayer as Christ did may be spurred on by His question "Could you not tarry with me one hour?
Fasting 40 days outside your comfort zone? What about 1 day 40 times? Still too much? There's always praying through a single meal 120 times… Admittedly lowering the bar reduces the results, even so, something is better than nothing and may be a precursor to far more. As has been wisely noted, "You don't have to be perfect to start, but you must start to be perfect."


Don't Make It Worse

In 1990, the beautifully written song "
From A Distance" topped the adult contemporary music charts. Bette Middler sang of how from a distance earth seems beautiful and harmonious:

  • "From a distance we all have enough and no one is in need. And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease, No hungry mouths to feed…"

  • "From a distance you look like my friend even though we are at war. From a distance I just cannot comprehend what all this fighting is for…"

  • "And God is watching us, God is watching us, God is watching us from a distance. God is watching us, God is watching us, God is watching us from a distance…"

True from a satellite view, the same sentiment applies to many aspects of life. Walk into a restaurant or church, attend a graduation or wedding and be greeted by the smiling faces of seemingly happy people. Yet turn up the magnification and endless statistics of neglect and abuse, divorce and addiction, violence and even murder attest otherwise.

In many ways the porcupine analogy is an accurate assessment of the state of mankind. Yet not all quills are not inherently human. The truth is an astounding amount of our pain is avoidable. As a species and as individuals, trillions of incidents of self inflicted and/or exacerbated suffering could be avoided by adopting one simple adage.
Don't Make It Worse.

At other times our woes are inflicted by the actions and/or inactions of others. In such cases perhaps the greatest challenge to those who suffer is how to respond. Most react instinctively, inwardly or outwardly engaging in some instant or unfolding form of fight or flight. This is particularly understandable in cases were, through no fault of their own, the victimized find themselves repeatedly forced into untenable situations. Circumstances have a way of conspiring to hem us into occasions and even extended periods of mistreatment. Such instances bring those repeatedly wronged to the point of choice. Do we continue to silently endure abuse for the sake of peace or take a firm yet friendly stand? The choice is rarely as obvious as it seems. Generally those inflicting pain on others are not easily dissuaded. For various psychological and spiritual reasons "speaking the truth in love" is often met with resistance or worse. Such rebuffs tend to add insult to injury, increasing levels of frustration all around. For this and other reasons Jesus counseled:

  •  “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you." Matthew 7:6
Or the more modern incarnation:

  • "When you fight with a pig you both get dirty - but the pig likes it."

Of course some attackers are more vicious in their attacks than others. In any case the principal's clear. If there are indications (grunting and snorting, pawing the ground and bearing teeth) perhaps pearls of wisdom are, at least for the time being, best kept to oneself. Should the situation be oft repeated, remaining in the relationship requires careful planning.

Such reasoning seems obvious yet experience argues otherwise. The relationships between billions of family members and friends, coworkers and acquaintances start out well only to end up under duress. In such cases only the tiniest fraction of humanity invest the time and energy to clearheadedly evaluate all options and ramifications.

Should resolution fail, "peacemakers" must develop a relationship and
forgiveness strategy. Here again, though the roles of antagonist and protagonist may be reversed, "Don't Make It Worse" remains sage advice. From a spiritual viewpoint only a minority of Christians learn to recognize and embrace living faith while avoiding immorality and sin, including the original sin of entitlement. Those who do and refuse to fall prey to the deceptive trap of overtly or inadvertently harming themselves or others qualify as threats and therefore primary targets. Recognizing an ounce of prevention's worth a pound of cure, it stands to reason the Enemy would mark such individuals or groups for increased resistance if not some form of persecution.

Diabolical attacks come in a variety of forms. Some subtle, some less so. When under the gun for the sake of goodness and truth once again Peter offers sound council:

  • "For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?” So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you." 1 Peter 4:17-19

Discipleship can be a grueling process, requiring enough mental resolve and spiritual acuity to accurately discern the subtleties between demonic
spiritual attack and God's refining process. Those who do may still face a daily inventory of grief over painful relationships and/or circumstance. When sadness and sorrow are prolonged or intensify, even living "one day at time" can seem overwhelming. Such cases may require hourly prayers for peace and strength. Frequent pauses and calming breaths, calling to mind key Scripture and meaningful insights prove helpful in bolstering faith's ability to deflect and extinguish the "fiery darts of the enemy."

When forced off road from the route we've chosen, muck and mire, obstacles and terrain make progress slow going. Often Omnity's GPS seems to take as far a field, sometimes plotting a course with completely new wayponts if not destinations. The famous Holocaust survivor and author of
"The Hiding Place" Corrie Ten Boom observed: "Hope everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts with God price your fingers open."

While a clear tenant of Scripture, God's refining can be hard to understand and harder to accept. Like a quantum puzzle, individual truths must be reconciled and fitted together to form a comprehensive whole. These principals include:

  • God does not tempt mankind: "Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. " James 1:13 The Message

  • God does not harm those pleasing Him: Book of Job

  • All righteous gifts are from God: Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

  • God orchestrates or allows the circumstances in the lives of believers:  "John (the Baptist) replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven." John 3:27 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28

According to these and a myriad of other Scriptures, while God currently allows unjust suffering, He is not the author of it. This is not to say that the Creator has abdicated the responsibility of justice. Far from it, the rebellion of men and angels is currently being litigated in Heaven's Supreme Court. As for humanity, various forms of individual and corporate judgments are and will continue to be meted out in both time and eternity.

Understandably, perhaps mankind's most common mistake regarding God is to assume that Divine patience is synonymous with indifference or acceptance:

  • "Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change." 2 Peter 3:8-9 The Message

Peter continues:

  • "Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness." 2 Peter 3:11-13 The Message

The love and mercy of God provide quantum counterpoints to His dispensation of justice and judgement. Through Christ's costly atonement Omnity offers the faithful promise of salvation predicated upon our appropriate response. God extends the extravagant free gift of conditional salvation by grace to Christians without partiality, as demonstrated by Jesus judging His Church in the Book of Revelation.

Scripture sets before mankind the choice of two diametrically opposed eternal outcomes. The glorious and beatific splendors of
heaven or the equally horrendous and horrific hellish existence in a lake of fire. With such temporal and eternal extremes ever before us, Peter and Paul provide salient advice on how best to "fight the good fight of faith" with an eye towards not making things worse:

  • "So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. He Gets the Last Word. Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does." 1 Peter 5:6-8 The Message

  • "We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Father Who shows us loving-kindness and our God Who gives us comfort. He gives us comfort in all our troubles. Then we can comfort other people who have the same troubles. We give the same kind of comfort God gives us. As we have suffered much for Christ and have shared in His pain, we also share His great comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5


Give Thanks?

Perhaps the only challenge greater than enduring suffering is giving thanks in the midst of it.
Though seemingly counterintuitive, the Bible's continual encouragement to do so makes perfect sense. This is primarily for two reasons. First, when viewed as a historical document, Scripture clearly states that the rebellion of both men and angels, along with the subsequent pain and loss engendered by heaven and earth, are all products of the sin of entitlement. Put simply, thankfulness is diametrically opposed to such attitudes and actions.

Being thankful is also the proper response to the past, present and future blessings of God.
Mankind is not just spiritually fallen but upside down. From this vantage point time looms larger than eternity. Privileges are easily mistaken as inalienable rights. Selfishness appears reasonable. Foolishness masquerades as wisdom. Sin seems self explanatory. These mistakes and more can only be put right when gratitude takes center stage. Giving "thanks in all circumstances" produces heavenly synchronicity, a spiritual synergy that in itself has the power to transform.

Here, as with so many of life's challenges, even when we agree with the principal, the application can be problematic. To expect those wounded by others, perhaps deeply and repeatedly so, to not only
forgive and turn the other cheek, but all the while give thanks seems patently ridiculous.

Nonetheless, this is exactly the message, not to mention the example, left us by the authors of Scripture. Those who would follow in their footsteps on the path of righteousness (living right side up) must at least embrace and aspire to God's directives. Fortunately, what may be "hard by the yard is a cinch by the inch." While growth by leaps and bounds may seem beyond us, we can all practice taking a step or two in the right direction.

We literally experience life "between our ears." So it should come as no surprise that the journey to thankfulness begins by developing the mind. Meditation on Scripture provides not only a key text, but acts as a Rosetta Stone, aiding fluency in understanding and speaking the language of the Spirit. Proverbs explains "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Here we see not only the emphasis the Bible puts on our thought life but one of many passages where the terms "heart" and "mind" are interlinked if not interchangeable. So much so, in the apostle Paul's description of the
armor of God, the order reveals the same important truth.

The concept that "heaven or hell lie in thinking well" is nearly as true in time as eternity. Temptation and deception take root and grow in the heart and mind. Words and actions flow from our inner life. Taken together it's easy to see how crucial it is, particularly for those who suffer, to develop an attitude of gratitude. Such discipline has less to do with closing our eyes to unpleasant realities than with opening them wide enough to encompass both time and eternity. Scripture promises that for those pleasing God, earthly troubles are the closest to hell we shall ever come. And sadly vice versa. As if this were not enough, even this mortal life is filled with enough blessings to provide "a continual feast" to those mindful enough to notice.

Wether in response to the
wonders of this world, disappointments or worse, the wise find occasions to remind themselves to stop and smell the roses. I myself have a series of smart phone weekly reminders such as "live each breath" and "peace, pleasure and prayer" to encourage stepping outside the hustle and stress of modern life. Additionally, I use a crafted and memorized daily prayer to intercede on behalf of those physically and spiritually, economically and emotionally less fortunate. Frequently rehearsing the needs of the impoverished and deceived has the secondary effect of engendering appreciation for God's grace in our own lives.

The significance of daily workouts in the gymnasium of gratitude should not be underestimated. Even when derailed hopes and dreams leaves us in a ditch, we find traction for the journey by shifting into low gear and giving thanks for the blessings we've had and continue to experienced. Health for those who have it. An endless variety of food and drink. Closets full of comfortable and colorful clothing. Safety and healthcare, employment and education, convenience and comfort…

Developing such a mindset is the first of many steps towards Scriptures directive of
paying the price to choose to believe in the goodness and promises of God. Even in the face of resistance and persecution:

  • “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you… Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. Don’t be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me… When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors… A student doesn’t get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn’t make more money than his boss. Be content—pleased, even—when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get… Don’t be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don’t hesitate to go public now... Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands." Matthew 10:16-28 The Message


They Know Not What They Do

Sadly, mortal life is full of suffering. More tragic still, is experiencing unnecessary pain at the hands of others. Those who would endure must arm themselves to suffer. One of the chief pieces of
Divine armor is the "shield of faith" described in the Book of Ephesians this way:

  • "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:10-17
It takes little effort to imagine how First Century soldiers might fair without battle armor. Warriors half dressed or unskilled in the donning and usage of the tools of their trade were casualties waiting to happen. So too, learning to identify and use spiritual resource is essential for the health and survival of modern day believers.

Regarding the shield of faith, there are several interesting points to be made. For our purpose, two in particular will suffice:

1. Faith is listed not first but fourth. This is because "living faith" requires the mind (belt of truth), heart (breastplate of righteousness) and will (shoes of the gospel of peace) working together in concert. The order also suggest the need for the preceding pieces to be authentic and worn correctly.

2. The Shield of Faith's primary usage is to extinguish the "fiery arrows of the devil." Without hardy and expert use, attackers near and far might easily lay waste to foolish soldiers with a single flaming strike.

Faith is designed to quench the searing pain of suffering in a two fold way. Such a shield protects the heart from inevitable darts of
temptation and deception. In cases were loss is unavoidable, faith extinguishes the demonic flame of assaults against Christians that the faithful might respond in love and forgiveness, even to their assailants.

As the Cross was the podium from which Christ enacted His greatest sermon, so too how Christians react to pain and disappointment is on display before men and angels. An Integral part of the purposes of God, our behavior either honors or dishonors Jesus and His
church. Like Job, few comprehend the privileged position suffering affords believers to justify God. Perhaps even more fortunate is our blessed right to be the conduit of Christ's authority and lovingkindness when forgiving others their debts and "trespasses against us."

Of course, depending on the affront, doing so may be far easier said than done. Here the rubber of genuine faith meets the road of life, often filled with potholes and worse. We do well to remember, as the apostle Paul forcibly reminded Christians in Corinth, it's imperative that we understand our exalted place in the plans of God:

  • "And how dare you take each other to court! When you think you have been wronged, does it make any sense to go before a court that knows nothing of God’s ways instead of a family of Christians? The day is coming when the world is going to stand before a jury made up of followers of Jesus. If someday you are going to rule on the world’s fate, wouldn’t it be a good idea to practice on some of these smaller cases? Why, we’re even going to judge angels! So why not these everyday affairs? As these disagreements and wrongs surface, why would you ever entrust them to the judgment of people you don’t trust in any other way?  I say this as bluntly as I can to wake you up to the stupidity of what you’re doing. Is it possible that there isn’t one levelheaded person among you who can make fair decisions when disagreements and disputes come up? I don’t believe it. And here you are taking each other to court before people who don’t even believe in God! How can they render justice if they don’t believe in the God of justice? These court cases are an ugly blot on your community. Wouldn’t it be far better to just take it, to let yourselves be wronged and forget it? All you’re doing is providing fuel for more wrong, more injustice, bringing more hurt to the people of your own spiritual family." 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 The Message

While the above Scriptures address acceptable and unacceptable behavior among Christians, others clarify our expected response to mistreatment at the hands of those outside the faith:

  • “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’[r] and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:38-48
Such passages reveal a kind of Christianity far more demanding than that espoused, much less practiced by Modern Churchianity. Yet such was ever the case, as seen in this quote from Søren Kierkegaard, the famous 19th Century Danish philosopher, theologian, poet and social critic:

  • “The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world? Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Oh, priceless scholarship, what would we do without you? Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament.”― Søren Kierkegaard, Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard

In his unique and compelling way, Søren Kierkegaard points out that Christians not only have the privilege of living like Jesus but the responsibility to do so. Fulfilling so great a calling may be an arduous quest, yet every journey begins and continues step by step. Acting like Jesus is predated on thinking like Him. Embracing and exploring Christ's eternal world view until it becomes our own is essential for those hoping to follow His example:

  • "Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11 The Message
Christ's willingness to embrace such deep and undeserved sorrow purchase the forgiveness and salvation desperately needed by the whole of mankind. During Gethsemane's betrayal Jesus sweat "great drops of blood" seeing "all his friends sleeping and enemies vigilant." Beaten severely during His interrogation, Isaiah tells us "his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness." Crucified between thieves, He gives not only His life but extends forgiveness to the blood soaked hands of His torturous executioners adding "they know not what they do."

Yet for all intents and purposes, it may be argued they knew
very well what they were doing. For centuries they had in their possession the Old Testament prophecies concerning their coming Messiah's role as the Suffering Servant. For years they had witnessed the grace and glory of the Son of God's power to heal and deliver. Nonetheless they had convened and conducted an illegal and unjust trial. They even had the judgment of Rome's Prefect Pontus Pilate declaring "I find no fault in him." Yet as Victim and Victor, it was given Christ to pass judgment. Overlooking the obvious, he saw beyond the puppets to the Puppet Master. Understanding the cunning of the Devil, he sided with deluded and downtrodden humanity, even as we trampled Him to death. Here in lies the ultimate privilege and power of suffering well.

As the Son of God and the Son of Man, Jesus serves a twofold example. Submitting to the pain and humiliation of the Cross, the most stringent form of physical and spiritual MRI conceivable, all mankind has reason to say along with Pilate, "I find no fault in him." In this way Christ exonerates God, displaying Omnity's goodness and
mercy, while providing humanity the ultimate template for enduring suffering:

  • "Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God." Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message


A Promise To The Faithful

The vast majority of believers fortunate to live in First World Nations would take offense at some if not all the above. Presuming to worship Jesus "meek and mild" most doctrines today fail to appreciate what John the Beloved found out at Patmos. Christ the Conquering King is anything but:

  • " I, John, with you all the way in the trial and the Kingdom and the passion of patience in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God’s Word, the witness of Jesus. It was Sunday and I was in the Spirit, praying. I heard a loud voice behind me, trumpet-clear and piercing: “Write what you see into a book. Send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.” I turned and saw the voice. I saw a gold menorah with seven branches, And in the center, the Son of Man, in a robe and gold breastplate, hair a blizzard of white, Eyes pouring fire-blaze, both feet furnace-fired bronze, His voice a cataract, right hand holding the Seven Stars, His mouth a sharp-biting sword, his face a perigee sun. I saw this and fainted dead at his feet." Revelation 1:9-17 The Message

  • "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer." 2 Corinthians 5:15-17 New International Version
No longer the Suffering Servant, ascended and glorified, Christ's relationship and requirements of His people are clearly evident in John's later record of Jesus judging His seven churches. Yet wishing to exonerate our worldliness and lack of dedication, we cling to the old persona and cheap grace. Often to the point of heresy. Not just in the case of the Emerging Church and it's liberal counterparts, but much if not most modern Christianity as a whole. With temptation and immorality as rampant as me-ism and the original sin of entitlement, exchanging presumption for faith now borders on profanity. An often deadly mistake.

To this end, consider one of the most universally beloved and reassuring passages in all of Scripture:

  • “What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t he also surely give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has forgiven us and given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ? No! For he is the one who died for us and came back to life again for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us there in heaven. Who then can ever keep Christ’s love from us? Romans 8:31-34 Living Bible
Such promises seem to provide a strong argument for the eternal security of believers. So much so, these verses are funeral favorites, repeatedly used to preach loved ones into Heaven. Often regardless of lifetimes of apathy or worse. While we would all wish this to be true, is this the Bible’s intent? Like God Himself, such promising prose is indeed worthy of all praise. Yet seen in the context of the entire chapter, epistle and complete writings of Paul, not to mention the whole of the New Testament, the following questions must be asked and answered by the honest and diligent student of Scripture:

1. Whom does Paul, who for preaching and living an uncompromisingly confrontational gospel bore over 195 scars from being whipped 5 times within a lash of his life and beaten with rods, not to mention being stoned, mean by the word “us”?

2. Why are “sin” and “we” ourselves omitted from the exhaustive list of forces that can’t separate us from God?

3. Why, in the same chapter, does Paul previously warn that God’s acceptance and favor, rather than being unconditional, is predicated on our response:

  • There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:1-6 New King James Version - Emphasis QC’s
These questions are largely answered by the context of the subsequent passage following the original great and precious promises:

  • “When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because he doesn’t love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us? No, for the Scriptures tell us that for his sake we must be ready to face death at every moment of the day—we are like sheep awaiting slaughter; but despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us. For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.” Romans 8:35-39 Living Bible
Here the original “us” and “we” are revealed. They were 1st century believers, so completely invested in Christ as to be routinely persecuted and martyred for their costly faith. Juxtapose this against modern Christianity’s tragic record of prayerlessness and Biblical illiteracy, worldliness and sin, and the passage fails to bode well for those trusting in counterfeit grace.

As do a myriad of Scriptures, concerning all of which we are told:

  • The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word.” 2 Peter 1:20-21 The Message
True of both prophecy and the Bible as a whole, such considerations join with a plethora of problems created by the nature of our tenuous existence to provide strong motivation for investing serious quality time and energy seeking and serving God. For those of us living in the best and worst of times, this is more a necessity today than ever before: “Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:22 The Message

Christians, regardless of differing traditions and beliefs, should certainly agree in the wisdom of
daily praying that God would more fully open our eyes and ears, hearts and minds. That in perceiving and entering His Kingdom, we might all be transfigured by Heaven’s glorious light of Life!



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