During this joyous time of the year, when we crave peace, prosperity and goodwill, we are really sensitive to anything that steals our peace. Things that disrupt, and diminish the quality of our lives, or the lives of our loved ones, have a very profound effect upon us.
In general, and in particular, during this time of year, it’s as if, we paint an idealistic picture of life, and anything that distorts this image causes confusion, depression, and anger to rise up in us.
In an attempt to remediate this confusion, depression, and anger, we look for reasons, answers, and solutions that will restore our peace.
We search for information that will give meaning to our sufferings, so that we can be at peace with what is happening, in our lives.
Information, by its very nature, is contextual, which is why it can not be understood properly, unless it is considered “in context.”
This is exactly the problem.
The material universe establishes the context in which the natural mind functions, and derives meaning from objects and events.
Yahweh (God) created the universe, but He is outside of it.
Consequently, we can not know Yahweh, and His plans and purposes by assigning meaning to objects and events, which are viewed through the lens of our experiences in the material realm.
No, when it comes to the ultimate meaning, we do not have the “global context”, which is needed to assign meaning to objects, and events, because we live outside of that global context, and if we assign meaning to objects and events based on our limited material context, we will be confused, bewildered, angry and discouraged.
This problem has perplexed men for 6,ooo years, and some have lost their faith over it (or shall I say, this problem tried their faith, and their faith was found to be superficial, and not of the saving kind).
C.S. Lewis called this perplexing problem, “the problem of evil”. How could our loving, all powerful God permit suffering and evil, on the earth? Charles Darwin could not understand suffering and evil, so he renounced his faith in the Creator Jesus Christ, and His Father.
Darwin could not understand how an all powerful, all loving God could stand by and permit such suffering and evil, in the world.
The reality is that Charles never had saving faith, and this trial proved it, because he walked away from Christ. (1John 2:19)
We must realize that the trying of our faith is far more more precious than silver or gold, because it shows forth our saving faith.
Yahweh tried Job’s faith, and, during his trial, he experienced suffering on a grand scale, but, still, his confession was that he knew that his Redeemer lived, and would save him. Job’s saving faith shinned through the darkness of his trial, for all to see.
Job was honest about his feelings, and many misconceptions about Yahweh, and his circumstances spewed forth from his mouth, but He did not hold it against him, because he never wavered in his faith.
Again, we do not have the “global context” that is needed to make sense out of these things. Job learned this painful lesson, along with his well-meaning friends, and each of us must learn it also.
We have an advantage over Job, and his friends, we have the Bible, which establishes a context that will allow us to be at peace with our very limited knowledge, and accept whatever comes our way.
The Scriptures reveal a God, who is aware of a sparrow’s death, and certainly knows everything that is happening in our lives.
The Scriptures reveal a God, who has a purpose behind everything, and everybody He creates.
The Scriptures reveal a God, who takes suffering and evil, and makes something good come from it.
The Scriptures reveal a God, who loves us enough to become one of us, and die the most painful spiritual and physical deaths possible, in order to reconcile us to Him.
The Scriptures reveal a God, who is perfectly righteous in His ways.
Using the context that Scripture establishes, we can assign meaning to the objects and events of our life, and be at peace with them.
Here is what I mean.
We can not possibly understand how the suffering and evil that we experience is changing us, and equipping us for eternity, but we know the One, who is permitting this suffering and evil to afflict us, AND WE TRUST IN HIM 100%. AND WE TRUST THAT WHAT HE IS PERMITTING IS THE VERY BEST FOR US, IN THE LONG RUN.
That doesn’t mean that it is easy, or fun, and we have to enjoy it.
When I was bringing my kids up, I had to spank them. I had to let them suffer the consequences of their behavior. I had to let them do things that I knew were wrong. I had to make them work.
In short, I had to let them experience suffering and evil. Did I take pleasure in doing this? No, I did it so that their experiences would form them into men and women, who would be equipped to function in this world, and prosper. Sometimes love isn’t pleasurable.
In the same way, the Lord takes no pleasure in permitting us to suffer and face evil. No, I am sure it greaves Him, but the Lord lets us experience suffering and face evil, here and now, because it will form us and equip us to function in our eternal existence with Him.
So, here is the bottom line: We may not always know the why, but we certainly always know the Who, of our circumstances.
If you are mourning over a loss, during this season, I mourn with you over your loss, but I also rejoice with you in the trying of your faith, because, through these trials, you are receiving the assurance of your salvation, which is far more precious than silver or gold!
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