Authored by Mary Lucas

Read & Reflect:
There have been so many changes this year amidst this health crisis.  A lot of these include disappointments…..trips cancelled, job losses, not being able to be with family and friends, churches closed, weddings and funerals postponed, etc. Sometimes, especially now, life does not seem fair.  It seems that God allows suffering and reward to occur on a seemingly inconsistent basis, whether you are a believer or not.  It is in moments like these that we may feel God is uncaring, unloving, unjust, or absent all together. 
 
I am trying to remember that all things happen within the grand story of God’s eternal purpose.  Jesus did tell his followers in John 16:33 “In this world, you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  I know I must continually look at the present in the light of eternity.  Otherwise, I end up feeling robbed or cheated as if I am not getting something that life owes me.  I must remember that this world isn’t the place of God’s final reward; it is the place where God is preparing me for it!
 
Mathew 5:45 says that our Father “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  Does it seem fair that the righteous and the wicked are both recipients of God’s goodness?  There must be a reason or a purpose for this.  John 1:12 says “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” I know that for the believer, our Father loves to bless his children as an expression of his love, just like any good parent would want to give good gifts to his children.  What is the purpose of God’s goodness for the unbeliever then?  Romans 2:4 says: “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” God lovingly showers the unbeliever with good gifts in the hope that they will turn to him as the giver.
 
But what about evil? This is the challenging one! Does it serve a purpose now for both the believer and unbeliever? I know that God is perfectly good and so He must have a perfectly good reason for not preventing all evil.  It seems to be that God’s wrath revealed now is both a perfect combination of judgement and grace.  Judgement in that we are bearing the consequences of sin for our rejection of God. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people…” (Romans 1:18)) And yet, in his mercy and grace, God does not yet fully treat sinners as their sins deserve.  We should be thankful for this! C.S. Lewis said, “Suffering is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” So maybe the evil serves to awaken us to our need for deliverance while leaving time and room for repentance. This is certainly something to pray about through this crisis – that people would turn to God and repent of their evil ways.
The great Augustine said that it is not the kind of suffering but the kind of person who suffers that is so important.  As children of God, He is lovingly working for our ultimate good.  Romans 8:28 says “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose”. But I know that I must not let the world define what is “good”. In this life, there is only one “ultimate good” God is leading us toward. Suffering produces something in us in a way that nothing else can.  In Hebrews 5:8-9 it says this about Jesus:  “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him”. The truth is that in the school of obedience, suffering teaches us more in a way that nothing else can. Perfect obedience to the will of God is our greatest good, because only in perfect obedience do we become the kind of person God made us to be.
 
Pray:
Lord, help us to remember that you are sovereign, that you are full of love and mercy, that you desire for all to come to You while there is still time, and that You are working out everything for our good and Your glory. Amen.

God Will Have Mercy On Whom He Pleases

You May Also Like