So, the past year has opened my eyes to the reality of this world beyond what I had understood before in one main area - suffering. Pretty much everyone in the world goes through some level of pain and suffering on an ongoing basis. If it's not some kind of sickness or illness that they are dealing with, it is a broken relationship or a lost job or addiction or loneliness or ... You get the idea. We are all going through something. It varies to the level of difficulty, but we can all relate to the challenge that it brings.
Recently, I have been grieved and saddened by some families that have had to deal with loss at a level that I can't imagine. One family has experienced the loss of a young toddler age son who was strangled to death by the string on some blinds in their home. Another family has lost a 49-year old father fell out of a tree stand while hunting. His 14 year old son will be facing life without his dad.
Our initial human reaction in the midst of these circumstances is to question God and to ask why He would allow that to happen. It seems so unfair and so random. Questions like: "Why do bad things happen to good people?" and "Why didn't God save him?" and "Where is God in this?" roll around in our minds when this happens to us. And make no mistake, tragedy hits us all in some way in life. We all are faced with it.
Let's take a step back for a minute. What is the answer? I would propose that the answer is that we are asking the wrong question - or at least directing the question to the wrong place. Here is what I mean. If we go back to creation, it is clear that God was pleased with His creation and there was no such thing as death, pain and suffering. That is, until Adam and Eve decided to disobey God. That is the beginning of pain and suffering in this world. That is the beginning of death.
We all know the story of the actual act of sin by Adam and Eve pretty well. Do we remember what the consequences were exactly? Check this out as a refresher... from Genesis 3:16-19 in regards. From God in regards to the consequences Adam and Eve must bear as a result of their desobedience.
16 To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”
This is the beginning of pain, suffering and death in this world. It is a direct result of the original sin by Adam and Eve. The woman now has pain in labor when having children and will desire to be in control of our household and over man, but man will rule over her. Man will toil in his work and have thorns and thistles to deal with and will sweat...ultimately man will die and return to the dust of the ground.
If this was the end of the story, our lives would be hopeless and lack anything good. But that is simply not true. We know this is not true based on experience. We do experience joy along with the pain and suffering. We are fulfilled in our work and feel a sense of satisfaction when we accomplish things. However, it is tainted because of the pain and suffering around us. And, that is not the end of the story.
Revelation 22:1-5
Eden Restored
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Now that is hope! There is a day when Christ will return and Eden will be restored for those who have faith in Him. And, even better yet for us who are still living in this broken world... from the mouth of our Saviour...
John 16:33
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
and...
Revelation 22:6-7
6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
Take heart! He is coming soon!
1 comment:
I had a link to this site & read your assessment of Genesis. Remember to work on a new gym floor before the return of Christ. I want you to use it on earth as much as possible.
Post a Comment