Why?

The question comes up often, why would God allow His children to go through tribulation? This theme is treated throughout the Scripture and well patterned in the Old Testament. The lives of the martyrs throughout the centuries reflect it as well.

It goes something like this. “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. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it..” Hebrews 12:3-11.

It’s surprising how this understanding has gotten lost. Yet not really, considering how a “soft” gospel, which seems to have arrived about the same time as the Hal Lindsay, CI Scoffield, and JN Darby heresy came into full view, essentially taking over much opinion by the 1970s.

I can recall being taught the understanding of the purpose of tribulation, small or large, growing up in a parochial school where there were good foundations. It always made sense. God’s ways are not our ways. If there is going to be any “great tribulation” that is on the way, or may be already unfolding, this is how God refines and forms and transforms us into heirs and joint heirs in Christ Jesus. This is how the Church from of old understood things.

We have to remember, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28,29.

It’s not a “pop Christianity” notion that, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.” Psalm 111:10

God is God. Not your buddy or your boyfriend or your best life now coach. He readies us for eternity. His love is expressed in both justice and mercy. He creates and re-creates us anew. A former pastor used to put it this way, “He afflicts the comfortable, and comforts the afflicted.”

Worth pondering.

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Christ Our Exemplar

We can see Jesus’ example when the heat was on, in ways you and I cannot imagine.

Jesus’ Arrest:   ‘Then said Jesus unto Peter, “Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”‘ John 18:36.

Jesus On Trial:    ‘Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now, My kingdom is not of this realm.”‘ John 18:11.

Jesus’ Execution / Crucifixion:    ‘And Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they cast lots, dividing His garments.’ Luke 23:34.

There’s something deeper here than meets the natural eye. How did Christ walk? How was He led? How did He know His Father’s will for Him, which was the way of the Cross? He was led of the HOLY Spirit. (See Matthew 4) He spent many hours in prayer (communion with the Father).

Although the Son of God, 2nd person of the Holy Trinity, ‘Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.’ Philippians 2:6-8.

‘During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.’ Hebrews 5:7-9

‘Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.’ 1 John 2:6.

‘Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.’ Romans 13:14.

‘Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.’ Galatians 5:24, 25.

‘The greatest among you shall be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.’ Matthew 23:11-13.

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2,3.

This is all a reminder of some lyrics from an old song: “Dance in the darkness, slow be the pace; surrender to the rhythm of redeeming grace…” by Carey Landry

Crushing Experiences

The following understanding seems lost in the 21st century church of “name it and claim it” and other psycho-Babylon “best life now” ideas. If we are going to move through times of tribulation, such gems of ancient truth need to be remembered and embraced.

Italicized below is from T. Austin-Sparks: The On-High Calling – Chapter 6

http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/000984.html

(All works from this site may be shared freely.)

“We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. (2 Corinthians 1:8 ESV)

The Lord Jesus said ‘I am the true Vine,’ and it was prophesied of Him that He would tread the winepress alone. The Cross was His winepress. How He was pressed in the Cross! He was crushed and broken, but out of that breaking has come the Life which you and I have, and which so many in all the nations have received. That is true, in a measure, of His Church. It was out of the breaking and crushing of the Church that the Life came to the world. And that is true of every member, every branch of the vine. If we are to fulfill this true, living ministry, it will only be through suffering, through the winepress, through pressure and through breaking. Paul said: “We were pressed out of measure, above strength” (2 Corinthians 1:8 – A.V.) – but what Life has come out of that man’s pressure! It is like that. We are not talking about preaching and Bible teaching, but about this great ministry of Christ giving His Life through us. It may be passed on to others through preaching, or through teaching, or through living, but if it is His Life it will come out of experiences of suffering. A preacher or a teacher who has never suffered will never minister Life.

Well, this may not seem a very pleasant outlook, but it is true. The best doctors and nurses are those who know something about suffering themselves. Some are just professional, treating you as a case – you are just case number blank. But, ah! there are others who treat you as a person, a human being, who care for you. If you ask why, you may find that they have a background of suffering themselves. They know just a little of what you are going through. We have read in the Letter to the Hebrews: “We have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are… He is able to succor them that are tempted” (Hebrews 4:15, 2:18). He has been the way of the winepress and we have received the benefit.”

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I would only offer this from my own perspectives, as to what this is producing in us, and the long term big picture view behind it, which gives meaning to all suffering.

“And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him. I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.” Romans 8:17-19.

And – “And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” Hebrews 6:5-7.

No new wine is made without grapes being crushed, “fruit” rightly cultivated and pruned which grows from the Vine.

His Ways, Not Our Ideas

Do you have anyone in your acquaintance who’s continually asking for prayer to get out of a situation, but it never quite goes away? And they complain all the time… These words below by T.A. Sparks hold valuable clues as to why that may be the case. Current pop “churchianity culture” ways of thinking do not take into account the fact that God’s ways are not our ways. Many think that belonging to Christ is about a bless me club where everything always feels good. Reading your Bible in its entirety, instead of what cherry picking false teachers want you to focus on, is a good way to get your mind right. We have forgotten that self gratification needs to get crucified, not exalted. That can be accomplished by surrender to the Presence of the present, not trying to escape His ways of bringing forth the likeness of Christ in us.

“… live your life and do your work in all the trial and difficulty and suffering of it, and do not strain to get out of it. Do not lose the present value of it by always living mentally or hopefully in a time when you will be out of it, but go back there and recognize that if you are the Lord’s, if you love God and are called according to purpose (as you are if you are in Christ), God is seeking to do something with you and in you by means of the conditions of your present situation. You will only defeat God’s end if you try to get out, and will fail to recognize and accept what He is seeking to do.”