There are moments in life when everything seems to work against us as if God have lost control, as the only thing we see is the enemy’s triumph. Moments like this could shake your faith and make you ask the essence of living in righteousness when God cannot protect our interests. Why trying to live a good life when evil people prosper.
A young lady once asked me: “father”, she said, “all my life I have tried to live a decently but until now I have not found a decent man to marry. All the men I meet wants to have sex with me before anything else. And they tell me I will grow old waiting, that everyone is ‘doing it’. It is disheartening. And it’s true”, she added, “many of my friends I know had numerous sexual relationships are now married. I think something is wrong with me. Why does God permit this injustice and allow those serving Him go through much suffering?” If you were in my shoes what would you respond to this grieving lady?
This resembles the situation one friday, two thousand years ago when the Master who worked wonders: healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out devils, etc, could not save himself from the strong grip of evil. His followers were disappointed, disgraced and lost every hope. They even questioned their faith and their trust.
But do you know it is in the design of God that his children be trained by suffering and perfected by suffering? If you’re in doubt read slowly…
Hebrews 4:14-16,5:7-9
Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must never let go of the faith that we have professed. For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us; but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help. During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God, in Jesus we have a perfect model for discipleship. He says to us in John 15:18: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you”. Therefore don’t expect less but carry your cross and follow me. Your present crisis is not the end. Suffering for a Christian is not an end but a way to greater opportunities and blessings. In fact the bible calls suffering Christian discipline or training geared to makes us better persons (Heb 12:7). Hence the bible says in Psalm 30:5: though sorrows lasts for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
2. Evil conquered good today: in the hands of cruel people Jesus was killed but his death was for our prosperity and salvation. In the plan of God, the death of Jesus is the way to our salvation and prosperity, hence it was revealed when Isaiah prophesied:
See, my servant will prosper, he shall be lifted up, exalted, rise to great heights. As the crowds were appalled on seeing him– so disfigured did he look that he seemed no longer human– so will the crowds be astonished at him, and kings stand speechless before him; for they shall see something never told and witness something never heard before: ‘Who could believe what we have heard, and to whom has the power of the Lord been revealed?’- Isa 52:13-15
As this prophecy was fulfilled in the life and mission of Jesus, so I prophecy to you as you read this post: Your present sufferings shall not see your end but you shall reach the end with songs of victory on your lips. Those who have lost hope in you, discouraged or dispraged you, calling you all sorts of names because you live in righteousness will be confounded and disgraced at your rising and prosperity in Jesus name. Amen
TASK: Pray Psalm 30 now. And may the Lord Jesus by his death deliver you from present sorrows and fill you with joy of a Victor in Jesus name. Amen
