We tend to condemn God for bad events, which occur
in our life; yet, we take the credit when life is successful. God does not
cause suffering, people do. They inflict their selfishness and greed on the
entire human race. God reveals to us His purpose for our life through His Word,
His Spirit and His people. We can live our life as agents for the change and
the love we want to receive, as we follow the leading of God’s Spirit each
moment of the day.
Joseph in the Old Testament chose to do things
God’s way, even in captivity. Therefore, God counteracted the evil intentions
of the selfish people in his life, by giving Joseph a place of influence and
power. Even though his family and friends let him down time and time again, God
always worked everything out for Joseph’s good. Joseph forgave his brother’s
evil treatment of him and repeatedly saved his entire family from starvation
and extinction (Genesis 37-50).
If we look at the big picture, we always see that
what we experience in our lifetime, no matter how horrendous it may be, only lasts for a moment when compared with eternity.
Paul calls it all “momentary, light affliction” (2 Corinthians 4:17). God turns things around for us and causes our suffering to provide abundant blessings for us, which are too innumerable to
count, and which abundantly exceed anything we could ever fathom. The good
fruit produced by our suffering is so vast and plentiful that it lasts for all
eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Think of the story of Job. The poor man lost
family, wealth and health in the span of one day. He ended up in the ash heap
scraping the boils covering his body with a broken piece of pottery. Three
friends came to try to help him figure out why he was suffering so much
affliction, but actually ended up making false accusations against him and
vexing Job’s patience. Yet, in a short period of time, God gave Job much more
than he ever lost (Job 42:12).
Every individual who makes up our collective
society, falls short of God’s glory, which is our aim in life (Romans 3:23). God’s only requirement for our
salvation is repentance. Sin is about cause and effect. If God did not judge
perversion and unholiness with His wrath, His justice would not be balanced.
Once we repent, then God starts to work out His sanctification process in our
soul in order to bring us to a walk of holiness (1 Peter 1:2). Those who continue to walk in the flesh, rather than
in the Spirit, deny the sovereignty of God and deludedly believe they can live
a dual life of sin and spirituality (Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:1-4).
We
can only enter the Kingdom of God here on earth. This is our only chance to
totally denounce sin and completely embrace the cross of Christ (Isaiah
55:6; John 4:23, 9:4). We cannot save our own life; and if we try, we will lose it (Matthew
10:39, 16:25).
It is only as we emulate the holiness, embrace the justice and respect the
wrath of God that we realize our sinful state. It is then that we repent and
cry out for grace and mercy from the only One who can save us. We love God
because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). In His love and mercy He works out everything, even
the negative things, for our good (Romans 8:28).
Prayer:
Lord
Jesus, when a person comes to know You
intimately, we are enlightened to see our sin and its consequences. We are
raised from spiritual death to life (Romans 6:4). As we spend time reading Your Word, we grow in
Biblical knowledge and become better acquainted with You. Our eyes are open to
the myriad of blessings You bestow on us all throughout the day. Help us to
revere Your nature and to willingly walk away from sin, because sin only serves
to break Your heart.
Thought for the Day:
Humanity is not
intrinsically good. It takes the Spirit of God to transform our sinful nature
one day at a time.