Why Adversity?
I Peter 4:12-16 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or [as] a thief, or [as] an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."
Why do God's people have adversity? As David asked, "Why do the wicked seem to prosper at the expense of God's people?" Why do terrible tragedies occur in the midst of times of great success and prosperity? Why do a multiplicity of calamities, as in the case of Job, seem to come one upon the heels of another? Why does the topography of trouble seem to continually undulate, taking us on a spiritual roller coaster ride? Why in our time of greatest distress, do our most heartfelt petitions and pleas seem to fall upon a deaf ear and fail to penetrate a heaven made of brass?
Adversity can be the deadliest source of discouragement or the greatest impetus for spiritual growth in the life of a believer. The difference depends upon and is determined by our understanding, attitude and response to the pressure involved. But just why might God allow adversity into the life of a child of God whom He loves?
Adversity may be God's way of getting our attention. It is His purpose for our focus to be upon Him and His Son. We are commanded to love Him first. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Col. 3:2) We are called to seek His kingdom first. " But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; .." (Matt. 6:33) If we instead focus our life on the world and its standards and priorities, we may invite and accentuate adversity. When we become absorbed in our own personal plans, projects, programs, ambitions, goals and friendships, God may patiently try to get our attention. When we leave God out of our life and our priorities and decisions, inevitably problems and pressures arise too large and complicated for us to solve. When adversity continues and our human strength is drained, Christ's wonderful invitation to the weary and heavy laden becomes increasingly attractive.
God's ultimate purpose in getting our attention is to conform us to the image and life-style of Christ. When we become too busy with our own selfish will, God may intervene to show us His way of peace and joy and His schedule and priorities for our lives. Based upon the purpose of getting our attention and focusing our life upon Jesus Christ and the will of God, adversity can be good for us. "[It is] good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." (Psalm 119:71)
Adversity may be God's way of reassuring us of His love. Real love must be tough. To love means to care enough to rebuke and correct. Satan may try to convince us God has forsaken us when we are corrected. Chastening is proof of His love and that He is preparing us for greater things. Physical and emotional pain serve a real purpose. God shows His love by sometimes painfully reinforcing the dangers in our life. When we finally recognize God's loving hand of correction and turn to Him, our experience will have been beneficial and spiritually maturing. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteous- ness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Heb. 12:11)
Those of us who were blessed to have parents who cared enough to chasten us, may well remember that when our fathers applied the strap our best response was to display a repentant attitude and snuggle up close to him. That way the licks were normally lighter and shorter in duration. God's purpose in chastening is to draw us back closer to Him and reassure us of His infinite love for us.
Adversity may be God calling us to self-examination. One purpose of chastening is to achieve introspection, repentance and restoration. "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." (I Cor. 11:31) This process begins with self-examination. The instrument for effective self-examination is the Sword of the Spirit wielded by the Spirit Himself. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24) When our sin becomes known to us, conviction, confession conversion (a turning away) should follow. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy". (Prov. 28:13) But if in adversity we become embittered and engrossed in examining and blaming others, God cannot use this process to bless us. We learn early in life to switch blame and lay down a smoke screen of criticism to cover up our own faults and deficiencies. Jesus gave us the parable of the beam and mote in the eye to caution us against this common error.
Adversity may be God's way of conquering our pride. God's grace is free, but there is one thing essential to receive it - humility. The conflict and contention that is at the heart of much adversity normally reveals pride on someone's part. If we see conflict in human relationships a proud person must be involved. We have God's word for it, "Only by pride cometh contention..." Rather than walking in pride before Him, God wills the opposite for His people. "He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:18) If this is true, just how may we comply with God's explicit command to humble ourselves under His mighty hand that He might lift us up and exalt us in His time?
On the surface it would seem impossible to do so. The whole proposition might be even viewed as a human paradox or understood as a contradiction in concepts. The fragility of humility is obviously one of its defining characteristics. It has been said that the quality of humility is as fleeting as the beauty of the forget- me-not; a flower that closes its blossom in response to the slightest touch, hiding all its beauty from sight. Humility can be described as being as delicate and elusive as the brilliance of a floating bubble that bursts in a child's eager grasp.
Just recently I went to Sea World with my grandchildren. We sat in the front row of a three dimensional theatre wearing special glasses. It was amusing to watch the young children around me reaching out to touch the beautiful, lifelike images projected upon the screen. They seemed to float in the air just in front of us. But they weren't really there.
Humility can be just that elusive and unreachable. Perhaps when we get too full of ourselves and our own purposes, plans and projects, God allows adversity to come to cut us down to a size He can use in His service. Submission is the key. It is impossible to place a yoke or harness upon a beast of burden unless it will stand and quietly submit. The way up on the Lord's economy is down. In order to climb a mountain we must begin in a valley.
Adversity may be God's way of reminding us of our human weaknesses and frailties. God sometimes tests us and prepares us for challenges in the future. When stretched, a rubber band breaks at its weakest point. A chain is no stronger than its weakest link. Only by placing pressure upon materials, can we detect certain flaws. When I worked a number of years in a research laboratory we used a number of stress tests for this purpose. When God works powerfully through our obvious weaknesses, both we and others are freed to give Him all the praise and glory!
Adversity may be God's way of motivating us to cry out for His help. The intensity of a child's cry will determine the urgency of a parent's response. When God's children cry out in true repentance and faith, God will always lovingly respond. "[The righteous] cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles." (Psalm 34:17) Adversity will motivate us to cry in the right way - As Peter did. Our first cry as lost sinners should be the future pattern for our lives. We should cry from a pure heart and praise even in time of distress. "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thess. 5:18) We should cry with a voice of faith and trust; daily recognizing our need of Him. When we do we restore a right relationship with Him and glorify Him; both in this world and the world to come.
Adversity may be God's way of calling us to a renewed committal. We are involved in a spiritual warfare. Confusion, conflict, division and suspicion in our lives and relationships may be Satan's attack upon us and upon the fellowship of our church. Obviously, this would be one of his prime weapons in his strategy to destroy or neutralize our testimony and witness. Confusion and division in the midst of the battle can be devastating and destructive. This is part of our spiritual warfare. Soldiers near the frontline see the flash of the guns, feel the explosion of the shells, hear the sound of the shrapnel and the whine of the bullets and know that a war is really raging. So adversity may be God way of calling us to do spiritual battle and get involved in spiritual hand to hand combat in the trenches of the battlefield of this world.
Adversity may be God's way of purifying our faith. Jesus purified Peter's faith by implementing the natural law of gravity. Adversity can expose the futility of placing our faith or trust in anyone or anything other than God. A real paradoxical dichotomy sometimes exists between adversity and faith. Adversity is necessary for faith to fully work and be strengthened to its greatest degree. Faith is absolutely necessary when we face real adversity. For metal to be purified the dross must be first removed. So adversity works to purify our faith and lives. "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:.." (I Peter 1:7)
Adversity may be God's way of increasing our hatred for evil. God loves sinners but hates sin, especially in the life of His child. He wills His people to agree with Him on this. God wishes us to recognize sin, acknowledge its effect, and forsake it, and hate it with an equal passion. Real hatred of sin will always result in remedial and restorative action. Reformed alcoholics who have been saved have a holy hatred for the sin of alcohol. Ex-smokers normally hate the very smell of smoke. God always wishes to bless His people. Jesus came that we might have a more abundant life. The blessings of God wishes to pour out upon us can be blocked by sin we do not hate enough to confess and forsake. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear." (Isa. 59:2) Instead of blessings we encounter troubles and trials which may short circuit our relationship with God. We must hate the sin that separates us from close fellowship with God enough to turn from it to God, before real joy, peace and intimate fellowship can be restored.
Adversity may be God testing our work and motivating us to set more Godly priorities in our life. The test tube of trouble and crucible of crisis will not only test the validity of the foundation of our work, but may test the quantity and quality as well. The best anecdote for a love for the world is to be lovingly busy in the Lord's work for the right reason. The testing of motive is primary. Only the love of Christ can truly constrain us to do good works that are acceptable to Him. Adversity may bring us face to face with choices for the good or evil side. Our Saviour said no man can serve two masters. Adversity can bring the ultimate blessing of a rededication and recommittal of ones heart to be out and out for Jesus Christ.
