God's Grace and Our Suffering

Pain plants the flag of truth within a rebel fortress. C.S. Lewis

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake. Philippians 1:29

We live in a society that is radically committed to ending suffering. Our culture is convinced that suffering is bad and must be eliminated. Even medicine has gone from making people well to making people happy (whatever that is).

The Bible has a completely different view of suffering. For the believer suffering is actually a grace. Like Lewis says, pain plants the flag of truth in the rebel fortress. When we suffer we realize so much that we can’t see in the painless times.

We realize our need for God and others (the church). My ten month old is learning how to climb down stairs. When he gets stuck he reaches for daddy’s hand. When he falls and bonks his head he reaches for mommy’s embrace. We are no different. When we fall we are more (often painfully)aware of our need for our Heavenly Father.

Likewise, since we are created in the image of a triune God, we have a deep-seeded, intentionally given need for community. Suffering shows us our inadequacy to handle life on our own.

Lastly, suffering obliterates our idols. Nothing shows us the insufficiency of our empty idols like suffering. No amount of attractiveness, intelligence, athleticism, obedience, or any other false sense of security and worth can deliver us when we are truly suffering. Again, reflecting on Lewis’ words, the flag of truth is planted in our rebel souls. We are exposed as needy idolaters, made poor in spirit, and prepared for the grace of God to be poured into our desperate hearts.

If you are suffering today (which is another way of saying – if you are alive today) know that your Heavenly Father is allowing it for your good. Run to him. Repent for your idols. Talk to your friends. Don’t suffer alone.

2 Corinthians 1:5

For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Hymn of the Day – I Asked the Lord by John Newton

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face
Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair

I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He'd answer my request
And by His love's constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest
Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part
Yea more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Cast out my feelings, laid me low

Lord why is this, I trembling cried
Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?
"Tis in this way" The Lord replied
"I answer prayer for grace and faith"
“These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou mayest seek thy all in me,
That thou mayest seek thy all in me.”

Saved from Whom?

I was tremendously blessed to attend the annual Desiring God conference in Minneapolis this weekend. I can't remember a sweeter experience in learning of God's glory. The title of for the conference was, 'The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World.' Basically, speakers talked about the indescribable glory of Christ for three days. It was truly amazing.

The thing that has stayed with me the most since the conference was something that Mark Driscoll said in his talk about the atonement. He reminded the audience that we have been saved by God, from God!

If I ask you what you have been saved from what will you answer? My first response would have been sin, probably followed by hell, myself, or maybe Satan. And while all of those answers are part of the answer, they are not the answer in full. We are saved from an angry God.

God is angry at his creation and he has every right to be. In fact, he wouldn't be holy if he wasn't angry.

Ephesians 5:6 "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient."

Psalm 2:12 "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way; for his wrath is quickly kindled."

Matthew 17:5 "He (Peter) was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."

2 Corinthians 5:21 "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Matthew 27:46 "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, ...'My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?'"

On the cross the entire wrath of God was placed on his Beloved Son. For the first time in eternity the Son did not experience the face of the Father. Jesus - forsaken so we could be accepted - absorbing anger so we don't have to - becoming sin so we could be righteous.

God is angry. God is holy.

God is love.

Romans 5:8 "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

"There is nothing amazing about grace if there is nothing fearful about holiness." Dale Ralph Davis

The Son bore the anger so you and I don't have to. The Father has brought his children safely home! Believe the gospel. It is the power of God.