What Kind Of World (part 2)

Yesterday, I asked the question: “If there is a God, why is there so much pain and suffering in our world?” Today we continue exploring that topic.

Christ died becoming the first fruits of righteousness.

The fruit of our suffering is seen through our sanctification; being made perfect as He is perfect. It’s result is the knowing and trusting that the position God has put us in, is according to His divine will. His purpose in all He does is His own glory which leads ultimately to our good.

Enduring any grief is hard, as the flesh is weak. Enduring extreme pain and suffering without relief is most hard even for the truest of believers. Our world and our popular gospel all too often tell us extreme suffering and grief without any relief is wrong. Being blessed of God is perceived all too often only when the relief comes. When relief doesn’t come, this gospel fails.

There is no promise given that a servant of God, now called friend, will be spared any evil treatment by those who are evil. If our faith and hope depends on receiving the lesser blessings of God here on earth; we have a worthless faith and useless hope. It lacks any love to endure until the end.

There are six major biblical reasons given for why there is pain and suffering. Here they are in a short version:

1. For our repentance — Luke 13:4-5
2. For our dependence — 2 Cor. 1:8-9
3. For our sanctification — Heb. 12:6-11
4. For our reward — 2 Cor. 4:17 –The greater the suffering/sacrifice, the greater will be our reward.
5. For our remembrance — Phil 3:10
6. For the glory of God — 2 Cor. 4:15

–Through His grace given us, that grace spreads to others for His glory.

No matter how light or heavy our pain and suffering may be, our knowledge of God and our understanding of who God is will lead us to trust Him and believe—All our pain and suffering is used for His glory and our good.

The love of God binds faith and hope together like three cords. Like the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, they can never be broken or separated. They give us all we need to endure quietly with a sure faith given us to believe, having all hope in the coming promise of God.

— Jeremiah 29:11

God’s purpose for you is “to give you a future and a hope.” Nowhere in God’s Word does it say His purpose for you is to relieve you of all the pain and suffering now that you will see in this life.

Who can know the mind of God?

He heals some and doesn’t heal others. He blesses some with riches while others live in poverty all their lives. He does what pleases Him. He does so according to His perfect plan and divine will.

He is sovereign over all!

What kind of world do you want to live in?

More importantly, what kind of eternity do you want your eternity to be?

You can read Part 1 here.