Suffering

by L.H. Taylor, Romford, U.K. | Category: Christian Problems In Today's World | Jul 1982

To many Christians the experience of suffering remains one of the greatest mysteries. Why does a God of love, mercy and compassion allow His children to suffer? In response to the challenge presented, the further question may be asked, Why did God allow His Son to suffer? The answer is clear: "Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). "Because Christ also suffered for you ... who His own self bare our sins in His body upon the tree" (1 Peter 2:21, 24). "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). He who was sinless, spotless and undefiled was made sin for us.

It would appear that, deriving from the root cause, sin, there are at least four means through which we suffer. The Word of God teaches that God in certain cases sends or allows suffering: "regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord" (Heb. 12:5). He withdrew His protection from Job in order that the experience might be to his benefit and an example to follow. Thirdly, persecution and interference from fellow men and women because of our faith will cause suffering. Peter's first letter is addressed to Christians of the Dispersion because of their suffering persecution. And, lastly, suffering can be self-inflicted in a number of ways through neglect, giving way to

disappointment, or misuse of privileges.

Suffering affects us physically through pain and illness. It causes mental anguish, anxiety and depression. It may break our communion with God and our enjoyment of spiritual life. Christ's work at Calvary involved the deepest of such suffering, with great pathos. Psalm 22 describes it graphically: "I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of My bowels" (verse 14). "Be not far from Me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have compassed Me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset Me round. They gape. upon Me with their mouth, as a ravening and a roaring lion" (verses 11-13). "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (verse 1). The pain, the anguish and the forsaking were all endured by Him. In our suffering we can know "the fellowship of His suffering" (Phil. 3:10).

What then is the purpose of suffering in our lives? It is the continuing process of our sanctification. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification" (1 Thess. 4:3); "that we may be partakers of His holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). Peter refers to it as a refining fire. It is aptly illustrated in the twelfth chapter of the second epistle to the Corinthians, where Paul speaks of his thorn in the flesh. The purpose of it all, he says, was to keep him in the right spiritual condition lest he became over-exalted. Although he prayed three times for God to remove it, it was not removed, and he learned the lesson that God wished to promote sanctification in his life. This principle runs throughout the Scriptures. The nation of Israel in the past dispensation knew and experienced this suffering because they were His people. "Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, 0 children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities" (Amos 3:1, 2).

The question "why" finds its answer in the love of God. The purpose is to promote our spiritual growth, training and development with the objective of our living a holy life before God in love. God sanctifies us through the truth by these things happening to us, and His word explains to us what He is doing.

Can it be that our spiritual lives are not complete without suffering? Certainly we shall not otherwise be able fully to sympathize and share with others who are passing through this experience. This is borne out by words referring to the great High Priest above. "For in that He Himself suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). Furthermore, there are those remarkable words spoken concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, "Though He was a Son, yet learned obedience by the

things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). Rather than continually asking the reason why, we should enter into the spirit of James when he said, "Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; knowing that the proof of your faith worketh patience" (James 1:2, 3). Patience is the fruit of training through the chastisement of the Lord. A similar spirit was expressed by the psalmist, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes" (Psalm 119:71). The manifold grace of God revealed through Our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient to meet every need. Some of the greatest witnesses to the sanctifying power of suffering have come from those who have been bedridden for years. To get a wrong view of suffering will be one of the greatest tragedies of our Christian experience and will force us to lose sight of God's great aim and purpose in our lives. Many of our problems arise because of a wrong conception and fear of death. "To die is gain" (Phil. 1:21).

It is not being asserted that everything the Christian suffers is sent from God, nor that all sickness is a punishment from Him. Many children of God living in oppressed countries suffer simply because they wish to declare their faith in the Son of God. How grateful should, those be who enjoy freedom and liberty to serve God, constantly remembering in their prayers those not so privileged.

We can impair our spiritual health by not exercising our responsibilities in response to the claims of God upon us. Physical well-being may also be affected for, to those in churches of God Paul, in his letter to Corinth, gives a very solemn warning. "But let each man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgement unto himself, if he discern not the body. For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep" (1 Cor. 11:28). Such sins as spiritual pride, self-satisfaction and worldliness may call for divine chastisement in order to produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness, "that He which began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).

Is there an end in sight to suffering for the believer? The answer is an unequivocal Yes. Suffering in the Word of God is always a precursor of glory. "But insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of His glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:13). Not only so, but one day soon God "shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more" (Rev. 21:4). This gives great inspiration and hope. Paul says, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward" (Romans 8:18). No more pain, no more anguish, no more breaking of communion, but to be with Him for ever. Take courage, dear suffering child of God, the end is in sight. It will be all worthwhile. Not only will an exceeding weight of glory accrue, but you can be of so much spiritual help to others now in your pilgrim pathway. "Lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees; and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed" (Hebrews 12:12, 13).

And God has fixed the happy day

When the last tear shall dim our eyes;

When He will wipe all tears away,

And fill our hearts with glad surprise,

To hear His voice, to see His face,

And know the riches of His grace.

"Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:16, 17).

Dear brother Taylor was called into the presence of his Master a few weeks ago, after several years of patient suffering.

L.H. Taylor, Romford, U.K. | Jul 1982
Christian Problems In Today's World