IN TIMES LIKE THESE --- SUFFERING PERSISTS TO THE EXTENT THAT WE NATURALLY ASK WHY
Soon after we were born into this world and began to take notice of all our surroundings we began to ask a toddler’s most irksome question: Why? Over and over again!
No answer sufficed. Why this or why that --- but not to a little one’s satisfaction. Finally, when mama’s patience reached its limit, she would say, “Because I said so.”
Now that we have arrived at that stage of life where we wonder less about things past and present but are more interested in things to come, there’s a nagging itch we still have about a few unanswered question -- why do we feel “up” some days and “down” other days . . . why were we not warned that growing old is not for sissies . . . why do some folks live beyond their allotted three score and ten while others depart this life too soon?
One question, though, has dogged folks since the dawn of the human race: Why does suffering exist . . . why me . . . why him . . . why her . . . why, why, why?
The subject is so expansive that the editor of our study guide figured it would take at least
seven sessions to deal with it adequately, if not conclusively.
My prediction is that when we finish this series, several questions on the subject will be left hanging. The best we can do is deal with it by turning to the Word of God for answers.
None of us should be surprised to learn that suffering is a part of living in a fallen world!
We are aware that the first humans sinned against God and suffered consequences to be borne not only by their descendants but also by God’s natural world. To take away privileges as a disciplinary measure has been a tool used by disciplinarians ever since.
The key phrase in the curse pronounced on mankind is best presented by the King James Version (Genesis 3:16-17) - “in sorrow thou shalt” - which pretty much says all we need to know about why so much on earth goes wrong and why everybody on earth does wrong.
“In sorrow” can mean different things to different people, so perhaps a listing of words familiar to all of us will help paint the dismal picture: agony, anguish, hardship, heartache, heartbreak, misery, mourning, pain, regret, remorse, sadness, suffering, worry, trial, woes, blues, depression, distress, grief, misfortune, tribulation, trials, weeping, troubles.
Do you think that lives marred and scarred by one or any combination of these negative consequence was God’s original intent for His creation? Absolutely not!
Defiance of God’s Directive was the cause of humanity’s fall and subsequent curse, BUT, was offset by Divine Determination to restore Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained as envisioned by the triune God before He, or they, created the earth and all that exists therein.
What a contrast there one day would be between Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained once God’s Plan for Restoration was enacted in real time: Whereas pain, hardship, distress (denoted in Genesis by “sorrow” and “sweat”) became inevitable because of sin, the LORD God provided for redemption from the consequences of sin, thus, giving us hope to carry on . . . of eternal life . . . guaranteed to become a reality!
Who in the entire Bible can we go to - for a reliable answer to the question of suffering? Not an attorney . . . not a politician . . . not a physician . . . None other than a man who suffered for righteousness’ sake – the Apostle Paul – Romans 8:18-25 . . . Consider what the Apostle Paul said in light of what the John previously said (John 3:2):
“Beloved, now are we sons of God, but it does not yet appear what we shall be.”
Folks: That is the theme Paul brings into focus in Romans 8:18-25. He deals with two aspects of the theme: suffering of believers and glorification of believers.
Suffering of believers (physical, emotional, mental) is linked with the glory that is coming. This is not to say: the greater the suffering, the greater the glory! Glory to be is never earned, but is part of our inheritance in Christ. Suffering, if for the sake of righteousness, also can be considered a privilege, as it was with Paul - but not as a promise of greater glory.
C. S. Lewis wrote about the glory to be which has been revealed unto us, summing it up this way: “The door on which we have been knocking all our lives will open at last!”
Might I add my two cents worth? “Oh, that will be glory for me . . . when by His grace I shall look on His face – that will be glory, be glory for me!”
Some folks tend to carefully note their suffering --- as did one fella who wrote a detailed report of his surgical operation and gave a copy to all of his friends. He explained: he had had to listen to all the reports of other people’s operations for years, and now it was his turn!
But Paul has a better idea: “Don’t even mention the details because they are not worthy to be talked about in comparison to the glory that is to follow!”
Folks: We all suffer whether we are believers in Christ or not! None is exempt!
We endure the suffering because “mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord”. Paul talks about two proofs that confirm this hope of glory:
(1) nature itself testifies to this truth, and, (2) our own experience testifies to this truth.
J. B. Phillips’ translation of “eager expectation” (8:19) pictures a person standing on tip-toe waiting for someone to appear or something to happen: “The creation is standing on tiptoe, eagerly awaiting the revelation of the sons of God.” Why is this so?
Paul wants us to see that creation itself is linked to the human race! Creation fell with the fall of man! With the fall of man came a bent toward fear, hostility, hatred, devastation, destruction – and that propensity spread to the animal kingdom where “survival of the fittest” became a way of life. What it amounts to is “futility” (8:20) or, more accurately, “frustration”!
Frustration - evident in the natural world as well as human nature! Frustration must be dealt with and relieved of the pressure it puts on our psychological and physical being lest there be total collapse into an abyss of emptiness. (Frustration-Aggression hypothesis).
Thus, our “earnest expectation” is to see the glory of the LORD manifested when Christ comes to take us Home to experience the fullness of the glory of the LORD in Heaven for eternity! Frustrations are overcome by positive expectations!
We therefore live in anticipation of the full manifestation of the glory of the LORD! The suffering we endure in the present pales in comparison!
This hope of glory is shared by all of creation! All that God originally intended in nature will likewise come into visible manifestation when “that Day” comes.
Someone has pointed out that the sounds of nature are heard in the minor key - as if all nature sings a song of bondage. Even so, why not choose to hear the sounds of nature as signs of hope! Turn mournful groans into visions of glory! You see, despite all the “frustrations” that occur in nature, there is so much evidence of God’s majesty to give us hope! “The birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise!”
We were saved in hope, Paul says, and by that hope we live! The restoration of fallen creation will become a reality as will the redemption of humanity!
We can wait patiently because we already, he suggested, have the first-fruits of the Spirit by which we are blessed with inner joy even in the midst of heartache . . . inner peace even when turmoil is all around and seems to be all we hear about . . . a sense of contentment while many folks “wring their hands” and succumb to mass hysteria by naysayers and doomsdayers.
In Christ, we shall experience the full redemption of our bodies from all this frustration! HOPE is not a wish! It IS an expectation of reality to be fulfilled when Christ shall come with shout of acclamation!
Until then, my heart will go on singing . . . with joy I’ll carry on . . . mine eyes will see the glory of the coming of the Lord.
Until then, while waiting patiently yet actively, my life will be consumed not by hysterical talk about doom and gloom but by positive thoughts of our blessings - Salvation, peace, love, joy, happiness, comfort, contentment, good fortune, gladness, certainty, cheer, serenity, hope.
But! What about pain and suffering? “One call, that’s all”! Dial your Father which art in heaven. Ask Him to bear your burdens with you, but, be sure to hear His answer - when He tells you that pain is inevitable but suffering is optional. it all depends on who and what you focus on. Acknowledge the negatives but accentuate the positives in life!
Medication helps alleviate physical pain but a daily dose of positive thinking counteracts self-imposed mental suffering aggravated by beating yourself up with negative assessments. With God as your witness, say to yourself:
“I am somebody. God is my loving Father, Jesus is my wonderful Savior, the Holy Spirit is my constant companion. THAT makes me a Very Important Person! My God and I together will overcome negatives with positives!” Amen!
