I am currently driving a 1987 Ford F150 that I bought cheap from my Dad for hurricane clean-up. It has one of those blinker lights on the front bumper, but mounted pointed up, right in the center. I asked him what it is for and he said, "When anyone asks about that trouble light, I say it means, ‘Look up,’ and he points up to heaven with a smile.

Have you ever been in trouble? Whether it is financial, relational, physical, mental, spiritual or just "down on your luck?" I have been in those, even recently. The problems seem to come in waves. We’re still recovering financially from Katrina and have had no help from FEMA and very little from our insurance company. Then I broke a rib a week after the hurricane when I got knocked off a 15 foot ladder while cutting a tree from a neighbor’s roof. My son Kyle said I flipped and landed on my head and shoulder.

I kept working, but very gingerly from the pain, then in February had a crash on a 4 wheeler, breaking 6 ribs on my right side and dislocating my shoulder. More pain and recovery. I lost most of my grass-cutting jobs because of that injury. I have discovered what many of you know already. Long term pain will drag you down – physically, mentally and emotionally, if you let it.

Two weeks ago I loaned my truck to my former exchange student from Germany who was moving furniture from Baton Rouge after his graduation. He towed my broken truck back with a rental car. The clutch was fried and the starter wouldn’t work. One vehicle down. Then my wife’s Honda Prelude had to be sidelined last week while waiting on a part. Last Sunday I got a call that my daughter had wrecked her 94 Camero. She was shaken, but unhurt. The car was almost totaled. Then my 99 F650 BMW street bike caught on fire in the middle of a busy highway. I was fortunate I got the fire put out before the leaking gas exploded. So here I sit, writing instead of working.

Maybe this is why I’ve been beaten and grounded – to tell you some good news. God Cares! God Sees! God Knows! God will let more on us than we can handle alone sometimes, so we will depend on Him. Nothing can overwhelm me AND God!

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I will overcome the world." (John 16:33)

I may be down, but I am not out. My spirit is being renewed day by day as my broken bones heal. God is teaching me new things that I could not (or would not) understand before the afflictions. Not all pain and suffering comes from our mistakes. Look at Moses. He was being prepared by God for greater things as he walked the back side of the desert for 40 years! Then he LOOKED UP and saw a burning bush and was ready to listen to his new mission. He didn’t know then that his suffering and struggles were preparation for his purpose. He was to lead a whole nation of homeless former slaves to their new land. I don’t think you want to put your application in for that job.

Stephen was a great man of God, full of faith, bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of the first century Israel. But opposition arose and he was stoned to death for not backing away from the truth. As he died he LOOKED UP and saw Jesus waiting. His life and death helped God’s plan move over obstacles. For example, the Christian killer named Saul who was responsible for Stephen’s execution was deeply affected by Steven’s faith, even in the face of suffering and death. Later Saul LOOKED UP and met the resurrected Jesus Christ and got a new perspective on life. He began to follow God’s purpose for his life and brought the Good News of the Gospel across the Mediterranean, even to the very center of world power – Rome.

Saul’s name was changed to Paul and the apostle who wrote over half of the New Testament was not spared from suffering. He not only was given a "thorn in the side to keep him from being too proud," but eagerly met suffering head on. "We are hard-pressed on every side, but no crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:9)

There are hundreds of examples in the Bible of people of faith who had to suffer and struggle through life. Even God’s own son, Jesus Christ was given the worst suffering as part of His purpose. Read a prophecy that was given hundreds of years before the actual event of the crucifixion in Isaiah 53:

"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we were healed.

We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all… He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter… After the suffering of His soul He will see the light of life and be satisfied… For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."

Jesus was opposed, drug into court, humiliated, beaten, tortured and crucified. But it was temporary – to bring a greater good. A good that you can enjoy – forever. He suffered, and then He got His glory.

If we accept Jesus by faith and ask His forgiveness for our sins, we’ll be forgiven, based on God’s promises and Jesus’ sacrifice for us. When you become a follower, you are not delivered from all of life’s problems, but from self-inflicted wounds by making better decisions. We are given power over evil and death. We have God on our side, watching over us, regulating what comes into our lives, for His purpose. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

No, my little car breakdowns, broken bones, parenting teenagers and anything else that tries to draw me into despair are nothing compared to what others are facing even now. But my struggles have a purpose that I cannot fully see right now. I know, because I believe God’s promises.

Maybe you are struggling with some problems that no one can relate to right now. Know that God knows. If you have entrusted your life to Jesus Christ, He hasn’t allowed anything that is uncommon to men and will not allow more than you and Him can handle – together. God is faithful. He keeps His promises. He Knows!

So Look Up!

"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." (1 Peter 2:24-25)

Isaiah 41:10-13; 2 Corinthians 1:7; 4:11-18; 2 Timothy 2:12; 1 Peter 5:10; Hebrews 5:8

Roy Jenkins

June 21, 2006

KINGDOM SUFFERING

Romans 5:3-5

Please awaken me, Lord, in my times of suffering.  Awaken me to the reality of ‘all is well.’

by Mark Graham

CHOOSE YOUR SUFFERING

We do not have a choice about whether or not we will suffer in this life. Each of us must go through our share of suffering. We can, however, choose whether our suffering is productive or not. We can suffer the consequences of our sin; or we can suffer the difficulties of righteousness. We can suffer disciplined living; or we can suffer the consequences of laziness. We can suffer by depriving ourselves of spending the money that we deposit in a savings account; or we can suffer paying interest on the credit card account. We can suffer in our addictions; or we can suffer the difficulties of recovery. We can suffer with obesity and shortness of breath; or we can suffer exercise and diet control. We can suffer the "deprivations" of monogamy and faithfulness to our mate; or we can suffer guilt, conflict, sexually transmitted diseases and divorce. We can suffer the restraint of self-control; or we can suffer alienation from our loved ones. We can suffer facing the difficult truth about ourselves; or we can suffer the ongoing, deleterious effects of blindness. We can suffer the difficulties of forgiving those who have harmed us; or we can carry the weight of resentment and bitterness around like a ball and chain. We can suffer the pain of responsibility; or the pain of feeling like a victim. We can suffer the difficulties of living a devoted life in Christ; or we can suffer spiritual defeat in the ongoing attacks of Satan. The Bible teaches that if we walk in righteousness, resisting the temptations of Satan and drawing perpetually near to God, then our sufferings will lead to peace and joy. Jesus teaches us that, if we are walking in His Way, we can "be of good cheer" in the midst of our sufferings, because we know that our sufferings are limited, and that they have eternal significance, and that we will soon emerge from our sufferings into the light of eternal gratitude. We know that:

Explaining our Difficulties

          When you watch pro motocross racers on a track they look so smooth. They make it look like anyone can do what they are doing. It almost looks as though they are on a smoother track. But if you walk the track you will see the same holes, ruts, rocks, roots, kickers (dangerous bumps at the tops of jump faces) and braking bumps that amateur riders ride on. In fact, most pro riders feel, “the rougher, the better.” It’s not that these top level, experienced riders get easier tracks, it’s that they have developed the skills to handle the difficulties before them.

       Some people mistakenly believe that the longer you walk with God by faith, the easier life gets. No, the mature believers, like the pro racers, have developed a level of skill and trust that allows them to take on the race with the smoothness and success of an experienced competitor.

       If you have entered into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you are aware that God doesn’t keep all difficulties away from you. The difference is, He goes through them with you (Deuteronomy 31:6; Matthew 11:28-30). He also monitors what comes your way so as not to overload you (1 Corinthians 10:13). A third benefit of being a Christian is God works all things in your life for good (Romans 8:28). But the pain of the struggles and trials are still part of life in this world.

       Listen to a part of another devotion book by Oswald Chambers entitled, My Utmost for His Highest.

There is a Cure

       What is wrong with our world? In every society, on every continent, people from every religion since the beginning of time do it. They treat each other badly: lying, stealing, cheating, abusing, murdering, lusting, rebelling, breaking laws, injuring, perjuring, insulting, obsessing, destroying, etc., etc., etc.

       Money doesn’t solve the problem. It just gives more options for wrongdoing. Education doesn’t solve the problem, it just makes the person more equipped. Religion doesn’t help much, it just helps people cover their desires for some things and justify their actions on others. Philosophy and Psychiatry have their place but hasn’t stopped this plague of wrongdoing. (America is one of the richest, best educated, best counseled, productive societies that ever lived, yet we have more crime than ever.)

       The problem exists in the human heart. The Bible calls it sin. It is the desire to get what I want, when I want it, no matter what someone else says or does. You can see it in children at the grocery store as early as age two. A child is being dragged by the embarrassed Mom down the aisle because he/she can’t have the candy/drink/toy or whatever.

       If you don’t think you have this problem called sin, you are already full of pride and in rebellion against your creator. We could probably find some of your schoolmates, teachers, co-workers or family members who could make some accusation of wrongdoing against you, right? Don’t worry, though. We are ALL sinners. I am, you are, the preachers, Sunday School teachers, priests, nuns, etc.

       The Bible says there is none righteous, no NOT ONE. (Romans 3:10; 23) Our attempts to cover them from God will not work (Isaiah 29:15; Psalm 44:21) and will bring poor health (Psalm 32:3-4). In the words of Dr. Charles Stanley, “We can’t get better, we only get craftier, slicker, better able to hide it; learn from those times we got caught. We might find new ways to express our sinful nature,” but it’s still a sinful nature that causes us and the people around us problems.

       That’s enough bad news. Now here comes the good news: God made a way out. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross 2,000 years ago as payment for our sins. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

       The one who admits he is in need of forgiveness, asks God to forgive him (Acts 3:19), receives this free gift of salvation (Ephesians 1:8-9; John 1:12). He will get a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26-27) and new kind of life in relationship with God forever (John 3:15-16; Romans 5:21; Titus 3:6-7; 1 John 1:2; 5:11; Jude 21)                   

       Isn’t that Great News? Ask for yours today!