“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis 5:20
August 17, 2023
Contemporary Christianity seems to be conspiring against a biblical theology of pain and suffering. The health and wealth gospel, the signs and wonders movement, faith as a force create confusion about the role of suffering in the Christian experience. “Tragically, we live in a day that measures faith by the absence of suffering and looks to divine miracles as a proof of genuine faith” (John White).
There are four truth statements that should guide us through the valley of the shadow of death. The first is that God is not the cause of evil and the suffering it brings, but rules over it in order to bring glory to Himself. God does not tempt us and does not rejoice in our sufferings (Jas. 1:13). He exercises sovereign control over all evil to bring about His final purposes. This He does by permitting evil, preventing some evil, and directing it for His ultimate glory. The infinitely holy and just God entered this fallen world to deal with evil redemptively (“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things.” Rom. 8:32). Thereby God enables believers to overcome the evil of suffering through forgiveness, power for change, and heaven itself (He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more….” Rev. 21:4).
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“O for a faith that will not shrink Tho pressed by many a foe, That will not tremble on the brink of any earthly woe;” Margaret Clarkson