Intro: Just three weeks ago we began the suffering portion of this study called incarnate. Today as we draw to a close on our teaching of suffering it is in the face of large scale disaster in Japan that will cause an extended period of suffering for many. If you remember we talked about the non-theistic worldview did not have satisfactory or comforting answer for suffering and evil. Also remember that we talked about the honesty of the Bible on suffering, evil, and pain. The Bible barely opens and the bully of suffering, pain, and death is invited into our world by none other than man. Because of rebellion of God’s will and rejection of His good, man entered into a world of suffering, pain and death.
Remember as well that suffering and extreme pain are use to indicate to us something is broken, something is wrong. The relationship between creator and creation was and in many is still broken. Sin is the wedge that separated God and man. Suffering is the painful result of this separation. We also learned the difference between moral evil and natural evil. Moral evil involves man rebellion against God’s will. This rebellion opened the door for natural evil. Natural disasters like the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Because of Adam’s dominion of the earth, his stewardship, when Adam rebelled all that was under his authority fell with him. Everything was broken. Now many people in Japan are suffering today not because of direct sin but because of the reality of natural evil. Some will suffer in the weeks and months to come because of moral evil. When people horde food, or elevate prices to make enormous profits off of others suffering. But the earthquake and tsunami were results of natural evil operating in this broken sinful world.
We are looking at suffering in relationship to incarnate. If God’s life is going to be incarnated in us then we need to surrender our will and plans to God’s Holy Spirit so His life will be ours. Listen to the powerful words of Oswald Chambers.
“The purpose of Pentecost was not to teach the disciples something, but to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh. “. . you shall be witnesses to Me.” (Acts 1.8). So we are not saved to be simply instruments of God but sons and daughters who carry the likeness of Jesus!
So also suffering has a purpose. Let’s examine together sufferings purpose.
I. Suffering reveals the good we ignore
Many whether atheist, agnostic or just plain angry people bring up the question if God is so good and all powerful why did the earthquake in Japan happen? First it happened because of natural evil. The world is not as God meant for it to be. He meant for it to be totally good. However because of man’s rebellion we have disease and disaster.
Job 36.15 “But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.”
If there is not God then there is no evil. Evil is just nature at work. Non-personal un-rational nature taking its course the strong survive and the weak do not. Again in this worldview there is no comfort for the sick or the dying. There is no comfort for those whose family was washed away in the tsunami or crushed beneath the debree of the earthquake.
The question of evil is almost always raised. Why is the question of good almost never raised?
Augustine summarized it very well, “If there is no God, why is there so much good? If there is a God, why is there so much evil?”
If the norm and natural of experience is evil then why aren’t all babies stillborn? Why doesn’t disease always end in death? Why does anyone survive a car, train, or shipwreck? Why is a sunrise good? Why are beautiful sunsets good? How can we feel gratitude when we narrowly miss death, when the doctor comes in and says your clear?
Doesn’t evil, suffering and disaster grab our attention because it is not the standard and norm of everyday life? When a disaster like Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti, New Zealand or Japan happens a majority of the world remains unharmed.
CS Lewis said it like this in The Problem of Pain, “If the universe is so bad, or even half so bad, how on earth did human beings ever come to attribute it to the activity of a wise and good Creator? Men are fools, perhaps; but hardly so foolish as that.”
There are certain times and instances where suffering is the norm. But there seems a remarkable ability to see the good that is in this world.
Every day we experience God’s common grace. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5.45 He causes His son to rise on the evil and the good, he causes the rain to fall on the righteous and unrighteous.”
The very fact you are hearing the sound of my voice or can see me is a gift of God’s common grace. Parents that don’t abuse their children, husbands that lovingly care for their sick wives, missionaries that give their lives to tell of God’s grace, relief that will go to Japan.
In post-Enlightenment era Voltaire asked, “How can God be so cruel?” In the pre- Enlightenment era Martin Luther asked, “How can God be so merciful?” Simple answer God is good. Perspective is everything. What in your life is good? James says every good and perfect gift comes from God.
Satan wants to use extreme pain and suffering in an attempt to distort God’s character. In Luke 22.31 “Satan demanded that you (Peter) be sifted.” Have you ever thought how many times God refused the demands of Satan to bring greater suffering, evil, and hardship into your life?
We find the ultimate gift of God in His grace purchased by the death of Himself on the cross.
II. Suffering invites an examination we deny needing
Young man I talked to at Wal-Mart not long ago. Why should I ask forgiveness for sin I don’t believe I’ve committed?
Are we placing responsibility for evil and suffering on the wrong shoulders?
Genesis 6.5 “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.”
Romans 3.20 “For no flesh will be justified by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”
Jeremiah 13.23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.”
Evil is again moral evil. Rebelling against God’s will and rejecting His good. We have a great tendency to be selfish and self interested. We sin or rebel against God because by nature we are in rebellion against God. We have no ability to change our own hearts. We can alter behaviors, and attitudes somewhat. But when it comes down to it we are rebellious.
If we honestly examine our hearts we will find that we are in need of salvation. When we offer our lives to God by faith in Jesus Christ something called regeneration happens. Jesus said you must be born again in John 3. In other words we need a new heart so we need a new birth.
It is sometimes disaster that leads us to the examination that God’s character and word reveal we need.
Romans 3.23 “all have sinned an fallen short of the glory of God.” God’s mark is perfection. When you stand before Him on judgment day 99% is still an F! That is why God allows disasters, disease, disappointment, etc .. in our life to yell in our pain this isn’t what I planned for you!
C. S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Although God does not cause the evil, nonetheless, He is working in the evil to bring about a greater good.
Romans 6:23 “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is life eternal through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John MacArthur said the question is not what kind of God allows suffering and pain? The question is what Kind of holy and righteous God allows anyone to live? None of us is promised tomorrow. God allowed pain and suffering to be used for His plan to bring people from every tribe nation and tongue to worship Him as the redeemed around His throne forever.
The question is what kind of response do I have to this God revealed in Jesus Christ?
Have you ever honestly examined your heart next to the claims and the work of Jesus on the cross and in the resurrection?
III. Suffering can trigger transformation
Remember: God can handle your questions but can you handle His answers?
Can you handle that God wants you to lose something so that you can gain a closer relationship with Him? Joni Earkson-Tada, Giana Jensen, and so many others it could takes weeks, months years to mention those who are forever transformed into people that love God and sing His praises despite their pain.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn said, “It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through human hearts. So, bless you, prison, for having been in my life.”
I have some questions I want you to ask today if you are an unbeliever. If you haven’t trusted Jesus Christ and His atoning, suffering death on the cross.
1) If there is no God why don’t we the holocaust every day?
2) If there is no God how do you explain the good you see on a day to day basis?
3) If there is no God why live because there is no hope after this life
If you are a believer I have some questions for you.
1) What are you trying to teach me through this disaster, disease, death etc?
2) What are you trying to build in me?
3) What are you trying to remove from me?
4) What are you trying to prepare me for?
5) What are you doing to share the goodness of God as Christ incarnates His life in you?
Conclusion: What is the answer to suffering and the problem of evil? In every other religion in the world you find gods who are detached from the agonies and suffering of this world. In Jesus Christ God Himself went to the cross to suffer and die for you sin. God is not far removed or detached from your suffering and pain. In fact he suffered separation for your good. Jesus laid aside his immunity to pain, he entered this world of suffering, tears and death.
Don’t let anyone else tell you who Jesus is based on their circumstances instead look to the cross.
