Jan 25, 2017
INTRODUCTION: It has been said that the minister who preaches to suffering people will never lack a congregation - for each person is either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or about to enter a storm. This is a true as the sun.
We suffer because of the fall -
We have seen, thus far, in our chronological journey through
scripture that God created the Heavens and the Earth in splendid
perfection, a virtual paradise. However, we have also seen that a
rebellion born in Heaven spread like a virus to Earth. Satan
through deception struck an alliance with our ancestors thus
corrupted the human race. The curse fell upon mankind, upon the
demonic race, upon the very earth itself - which the New Testament
tells us “groans as in childbirth up until the present time”. If
the pangs of childbirth began with the curse, and continued into
Paul’s day - how much greater might we expect them to be in our own
two millennia years removed?
We suffer because of our faith-
There is no guarantee more certain than this - you will suffer. Not
only under the weight of sin’s curse - your sufferings in this life
will be amplified by your following of Christ. 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will
be persecuted,
We suffer because of our sin -
If this were not enough - you will personally bring some suffering
upon yourself by your own poor choices. We lack perfect wisdom and
we lack perfect faith so it is inevitable that we will at times
engage in activities that will cause us to suffer. At other times
we will fail to engage in activities that will relieve our
suffering.
In 1 Corinthians we see that some are sick and others have died because of sin in their lives. But we must not assume that all suffering is because of sin - this was the mistake of Job’s friends.
We suffer because of God’s Providence -
Beyond all of this - we serve a God who employees suffering as his
choice tool of sanctification. By his very hand of Providence storm
clouds will at times be moved over our homes. Like the very rain
that fall from the sky these clouds will move over the just and the
unjust.
Job’s friends will fail to recognize God’s Providence as it relates to suffering. The disciples made the same mistake when they found a boy blind from birth. “Who sinned this man or his parents”, they asked. “Neither” answered Jesus, “but he was afflicted so that the power of God may be demonstrated”.
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Since suffering is so predictable (inevitable) - we would do well to prepare for it. God in His great wisdom knew that the suffering of man would cause him to raise many questions. So he gave us Job.