See Image

Previously

The previous article on “Why Christians suffer,” describes God’s sovereignty in choosing our tides. He holds the absolute power to determine what confers on Him greater glory when we are in need. Furthermore, that which glorifies Him might be a future glory and not that of today; it behooves the Christian to seek grace to wait till the fullness of time. Thus, the meeting of our needs “may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Peter 1:7." There, we discovered how Christ may glorify himself in both our manifestation of faith, possession in riches and some sustenance of our need. In what follows, we shall consider how other things may cause the righteous to suffer. May this bless our souls in Jesus name.

Our hearts and our needs

The human heart is deep. My heart is deep, so is yours unfathomably deep! Its depth cannot be easily reached by man - the owner - himself at a go. Therefore, like a piece of onion with many outer shells, the last inner layer can only be reached after peeling off the exterior. So likewise, God brings many needs across our way to introduce more profound needs in us to us. In our want of spiritual progress or maturity, God may present a material need. Like Saul, who sought his father’s missing ass while he was the sought king of Israel (1 Samuel 9:3,15,16,19,20). We only know how better we have become spiritually after patience has had its way in a trial we have successfully come out of.

God also reserves the right to increase the urgency of a need based on the response of the needy. For example, the woman with the issue of blood needed companionship, ownership and love. Still, God sustained the flow of her issue of blood until she was pride-bereft and humility-stricken to go after that “common” Jesus of Nazareth for her healing (Luke 8:43–48). Hannah was to birth a prophet to lead God’s people, but the need was introduced to her through bareness - her need for a baby to alleviate her shame (1 Samuel 1:1-18).

Nonetheless, God could provide for their needs immediately. But, He will gain more excellent glory, and they will be more immensely blessed, as we have their names in blessed and enviable memories today, than meeting their needs on the surfaces. The woman with the issue of blood went from the height of normality to the depth of scarcity, and mere subsistence to absolute necessity of survival before Jesus surfaced. Even when the Solution to her desolation emerged, I dare say she went after the bearer - Jesus - for a base sake - healing, whereas she needed to proclaim a faith that could not only effect a change in her predicament but also restore her personality. When she touched Jesus, she got healed. But added to that, when she had confessed Jesus publicly, she departed the scene renamed by Jesus a “Daughter of Zion (Luke 8:43–48).” What a carved-niche! What a grace! It is not out of place to imagine this inspired Mary Magdalene greatly that she coveted such ownership too. Hence, she would not only want to touch just the hem of Jesus' garment but find her permanent position at His feet.

We may then face delay or denial on material needs that unbelievers get without lifting fingers. “Death may take loved ones and leave our homes so lonely and drear, for which we may wonder why do unbelievers prosper, living so wicked year after year. Sometimes you may wonder why you must suffer, going in the rain and in the cold and snow, while there are many giving no heed to what you can do.¹" Yet, all the storms of this life may billow over you; shall you not see that God is increasing your strength?

Shouldn’t you be thankful for being able to comfort and solace those who face similar challenging life circumstances? What should ministration mean to you more than this? Which would you prefer? To have used up all that would have made you eternally relevant when you see Jesus? or to have a large stockpile of rewards reserved for your glorification in heaven which have been amassed by earthly lack? Many there are that will thank God for the days of poverty when they see Jesus! But, on the other hand, numberless people will wish they never tasted affluence or wealth a day in their life when they see Jesus!

Conclusion

So brother, if your suffering is a cup, lift up your eyes to Jesus, the bitterness of His own cup will drown the sourness of yours. And little by little, your faith shall be emboldened till your race is run. Does it look as if you are axed from brighter days? Look unto Jesus, no way so dark, no days so lonely had any like Him on the face of the earth. Set your eyes on Jesus. His glory will grace you, and His sufferings will encourage you!

Christ converted adversity, hunger, lack, disdain, pain, grave to the greatest eternal advantages ever. He never murmured nor complained. Because His faith reclined in this one fact that all things - the good, the bad and the ugly confronting and departing slowly or speedily - shall work for His good. Meditate on the sorrows of your Master and His grief with dry the tears for your bruises - His pain from driven-in nails will oust your cry due to pin pinches. The fire kindled by the unbridled tongues at the foot of the cross will efface your thought of having to be through hell in a lifetime.

Remember how for you was why He was hung on the cross as any common criminal, your self-pity for fleeting shame will disappear and give way for His praises. Shall we not pass through persecution so that our glories in heaven would have been justified to have been accumulated through sufferings? We must also call to mind when in an underwent, that persecution was part of Jesus' reward for those who give up their most precious for the sake of Christ and His gospel (Matthew 19:29). Shall we avoid it then and by so doing call what God has called clean, unclean?

References