Learn To Suffer In Glory

Weird topic, yes? And to type it during CNY... but anyway, just a reflection of life, triggered by some observations. Reflecting on the dilemma of whether God, who is good, is also the source of bad things, or at least, allows bad things to happen.

I think I'm arriving to the conclusion that yes, God does give and take away. He does harm us if He so chooses. He does allow bad things to happen - just read Job. Oh yes, He has plans to prosper and not harm us... but that would be for a group of people He chose graciously. Others, He chose for poorness and where death happens daily. Just like what the Catholic priest observed about his Domician parish.

To conclude that only good things come from God and that God cannot ever do things that hurt us is childish theology - the kind that God rebuked Job's three friends for. After all, reading the prophets, I see clearly that God WILL destroy and ruin and ravage and wipe clean everything. Obviously that is rather bad.

Like how He used the Babylonians to wreck the city of Jerusalem, and send its people into exile. Yes, He did that before, and He can do it again - yes, He WILL do such a thing again.

But He does promise to turn the tables around, and to redeem.

Like how the exiles were the ones who were truly safe in God's hands. That He would bring them back after 70 years. How He used Daniel, Mordecai, Esther, and other exiles to tell the pagan nations about the one true God.

So for me... yes, I think it's reasonable to ask God why He let it happen. Why He lets some of us suffer. In fact, as CS Lewis observed, we should be asking Him why good people do NOT suffer.

This is our inheritance: to suffer together with Christ.

But here we differ from the non-Christians. We suffer with redemption's glory in mind.

Therefore, as His chosen people, this is how we should learn to suffer:

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1, 2 NIV)

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13 NIV).

Man. Am I morose or what? But yes, I think he who is prepared for the hardships of war is best equipped to take advantage of peace.

So God will not spare His own children from judgment. But at least they live.

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,
"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (1 Peter 4:14-18 NIV)

Amen. So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. That is our lot, our privilege and our inheritance in Christ.

Wait till we see the final victory. But in the meantime... stay faithful unto death, trust their Maker, and continue doing good.