Question - "Where is God's grace in the cancer patient or in the death of a young child?"
FACING PAIN IN LIFE
On face value, this question doesn't readily see the connection between a God whose character includes the desire to give benefit to the underserving and the suffering of people in His world. It's a question that is very frequently asked, usually like this -- "How can a good God not prevent such hardship and tragedy among human beings?"
"Hardship and tragedy" become personal when you have a friend who is struggling with cancer, or are trying to help a family process the immeasurable loss of a beloved child. Of course we ask, "God, where is your grace in these situations when it is most desperately needed? Where is the benefit God is said to so eagerly want to bestow?"
GRACE - MORE PURPOSEFUL THAN SIMPLY PREVENTING PAIN
The broader Biblical truth about how God deals with us is this -- His working in our lives, His bestowal of his "grace," is more purposeful than just keeping us from hurt and tragedy.
To be sure, there are some within the Christian family who teach that it is never God's will that we are sick or struggle or even lose our battle with the fragility of life. "You're a child of the King! He wants you to succeed and prosper. Claim your victory by faith, and it will be given to you!" Christian pastors and teachers who simply bottom line our struggles with a name-it-and-claim-it promise (so-called) from God neither know well the Scriptures nor the God they are claiming to represent.
A more careful and comprehensive reading of God's Word consistently demonstrates that God frequently allows His own to experience physical pain and struggle, even hardship and loss. There are at least two reasons.
First, God uses the discipline of struggle and hardship to shape us (and our character) into that which is like The Lord Jesus Christ. We "share in His holiness" (cf. Hebrews 12) through God's loving and purposeful disciple. "Whom The Lord loves, He disciplines." The cancer patient who leans more deeply into his/her relationship with God, who by God's grace utilizes the rigors of treatment as a means to show others his trust in God and hope in eternal life, becomes more like Jesus and a unique witness in a world that worships health and good times.
Second, God uses the discipline of hardship and even loss to poignantly remind us that this world is not our home, that we are simply sojourning here for a short time, that to "depart and be with Christ" is, in fact, very much better (cf. Paul's word to this effect in Philippians 1). In short, to "set your hope completely on the grace that comes to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1).
I have ministered at a number of funerals of children. I have experienced the lesson and grace God brings home to the hurting hearts of parents - that we not wrap our hearts too much around life in this world or the idea that "this is all there is." Parents in tune with their loving Lord and God learn to release their child to God's care. It still hurts, terribly, but we do not "grieve as those who have no hope" (1 Thess 4:13-18).
ROMANS 8 HAS THE ANSWER
"For I know God is able to work all things together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
When the tragic and difficult are sitting acutely before our eyes, painfully in our experience, it is difficult to see God's purposeful grace at work. But it is there, because He is there. Beyond what we can see, behind what we experience, is a good God orchestrating even the most tragic events in our lives, with His grace, as we love Him, following His call to become more like Jesus.
"Hardship and tragedy" become personal when you have a friend who is struggling with cancer, or are trying to help a family process the immeasurable loss of a beloved child. Of course we ask, "God, where is your grace in these situations when it is most desperately needed? Where is the benefit God is said to so eagerly want to bestow?"
GRACE - MORE PURPOSEFUL THAN SIMPLY PREVENTING PAIN
The broader Biblical truth about how God deals with us is this -- His working in our lives, His bestowal of his "grace," is more purposeful than just keeping us from hurt and tragedy.
To be sure, there are some within the Christian family who teach that it is never God's will that we are sick or struggle or even lose our battle with the fragility of life. "You're a child of the King! He wants you to succeed and prosper. Claim your victory by faith, and it will be given to you!" Christian pastors and teachers who simply bottom line our struggles with a name-it-and-claim-it promise (so-called) from God neither know well the Scriptures nor the God they are claiming to represent.
A more careful and comprehensive reading of God's Word consistently demonstrates that God frequently allows His own to experience physical pain and struggle, even hardship and loss. There are at least two reasons.
First, God uses the discipline of struggle and hardship to shape us (and our character) into that which is like The Lord Jesus Christ. We "share in His holiness" (cf. Hebrews 12) through God's loving and purposeful disciple. "Whom The Lord loves, He disciplines." The cancer patient who leans more deeply into his/her relationship with God, who by God's grace utilizes the rigors of treatment as a means to show others his trust in God and hope in eternal life, becomes more like Jesus and a unique witness in a world that worships health and good times.
Second, God uses the discipline of hardship and even loss to poignantly remind us that this world is not our home, that we are simply sojourning here for a short time, that to "depart and be with Christ" is, in fact, very much better (cf. Paul's word to this effect in Philippians 1). In short, to "set your hope completely on the grace that comes to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1).
I have ministered at a number of funerals of children. I have experienced the lesson and grace God brings home to the hurting hearts of parents - that we not wrap our hearts too much around life in this world or the idea that "this is all there is." Parents in tune with their loving Lord and God learn to release their child to God's care. It still hurts, terribly, but we do not "grieve as those who have no hope" (1 Thess 4:13-18).
ROMANS 8 HAS THE ANSWER
"For I know God is able to work all things together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
When the tragic and difficult are sitting acutely before our eyes, painfully in our experience, it is difficult to see God's purposeful grace at work. But it is there, because He is there. Beyond what we can see, behind what we experience, is a good God orchestrating even the most tragic events in our lives, with His grace, as we love Him, following His call to become more like Jesus.
I was a cancer patient twice. First time, Christ brought me to Him; second time, He showed me a different way to face cancer. Being sick is not easy, but honestly speaking, I would not trade my experience. The hardship shaped me the way God wants me to be.
ReplyDeleteWell said Dave, I understand this message very well and come to realize we have a short time here in this life and look forward to what is to come.
ReplyDelete