There is an enduring theme, as an
artist would understand it, through the Bible. It is this: God redeems his
people from their sin and suffering. The point is at least an artistic one;
as J. R. R. Tolkien put it: "Now it is a strange thing, but things that
are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not
much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating and even
gruesome, may make a good tale, and a deal of telling anyway."
We come to the end of such a tale, and it is good to reflect upon it.
(Acts 28:16-31 NIV) When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed
to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. {17} Three days later he
called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to
them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or
against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed
over to the Romans. {18} They examined me and wanted to release me, because I
was not guilty of any crime deserving death. {19} But when the Jews objected, I
was compelled to appeal to Caesar--not that I had any charge to bring against
my own people. {20} For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you.
It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain." {21}
They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you,
and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything
bad about you. {22} But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that
people everywhere are talking against this sect." {23} They arranged to
meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where
he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the
kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and
from the Prophets. {24} Some were convinced by what he said, but others would
not believe. {25} They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul
had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your
forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet: {26} "'Go to this
people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you
will be ever seeing but never perceiving." {27} For this people's heart
has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed
their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' {28}
"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the
Gentiles, and they will listen!" {29} {30} For two whole years Paul
stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. {31}
Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Attitude and Altitude
"Your attitude," says a
popular slogan, "determines your altitude." In a sense that is true
for the Christian facing times of trouble. Just what kind of attitude should
we have?
Persecution is inevitable
We seem to think we can avoid it,
but the Bible makes it quite clear that where the light of God shines forth the
vermin will react with persecution. You cannot change that; you can change
your attitude towards it. Perhaps we should revise our attitude in light of
the blessings of persecution:
·
First, persecution usually achieves the opposite of its desired
effect. One result of persecution is that the Gospel spreads - because
Christians, obedient to their Lord, flee persecution.
·
Next, that we might find God's blessing, even in the midst of
persecution. Or if not then, when He returns.
For it is a badge of honor that Satan thinks you worth persecuting, and God
will reward such.
·
Another reason is this: by their fruits you will know them.
Persecution is a wonderful instrument for separating out the true Christians
from the Sunday attenders.
·
Finally, persecution teaches you to give this life away, so that
you might gain in return eternal life.
Examples
You want to see an example of the
right attitude in persecution? Just look at Paul in this passage. Here's a
man who has been railroaded through the justice system of the time - by the
Jews. He's been the victim of beatings, floggings and assassination plots - by
the Jews. There are people who consider him unfit to live - the Jews. And
what does he say about them? "Not that I had any charge to bring against
my own people." Note two things here:
·
He brings no charge - despite all they have done. Why? Because
he hopes for their salvation, and does not wish to drive them further away.
·
He calls them "my own people." No closer can you get
to heartache than this.
The ultimate example, of course,
is Jesus Himself. As Isaiah said it many years before the event,
(Isa 53:7 NIV) He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did
not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep
before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Jars of Clay
We must remember that we hold the
treasure of God in jars of clay.
It is God who gives victory in this, not us. So what then should be our
attitude towards those who persecute us?
·
We must give up all thought of revenge. Vengeance belongs to
God,
and to take vengeance is to take what belongs to God.
·
We must be diligent in his work. Note (verse 23) that Paul
teaches "morning till evening." Being diligent about his work also
has the advantage that it give us less time to brood on revenge!
·
Ultimately, however, we must realize that there will be rejection
by some. Christ told us that He came to bring a sword, not peace.
Rejection
Persecution can be painful to the
body; rejection can be painful to the soul. We must remember that when we
present Christ and are rejected that it is Christ who is being rejected - however
we present Him. This is especially painful to parents who live a Christian
life only to watch their children reject that life. We come back again and
again to "why?"
·
One reason is for our sins. It is instructive to read the story
of Samuel's sons. He appointed them judges; they were unjust - so the people
rejected God's prophet and demanded a king.
·
Sometimes, as Christ told us in the parable of the Sower and the
Seeds, it is the care of this world which drives out that which we have
planted.
·
Ultimately, however, rejection of God is rooted in pride. It is
by pride that Satan fell
Rejection is punished by God
It is one of the constants of the
Old Testament. God warns his people, over and over, of the perils of rejecting
Him and following after other gods and other ways. The blessings of keeping
his ways are made apparent; the curse of departing is likewise plain. Despite
this, the Old Testament is filled with examples of the Jews rejecting God. Not
until they return from captivity do we see that idol worship is abolished.
This is also a picture of what is
to come. The Old Testament also clearly prophesies that the Christ, the
Messiah, would also be rejected.
But it is also clear that the Christ would rise to greatness by God's power.
Despite this clear vision of what was to happen, God did not vary from his
fixed purpose. You will note that in his ministry Christ never left the
area of Israel as defined by Moses. Indeed, we have a fine example of his
single-mindedness on the subject:
(Mat 15:22-28 NIV) A Canaanite woman from that vicinity
came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My
daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." {23} Jesus did not
answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away,
for she keeps crying out after us." {24} He answered, "I was sent
only to the lost sheep of Israel." {25} The woman came and knelt before
him. "Lord, help me!" she said. {26} He replied, "It is not
right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." {27}
"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that
fall from their masters' table." {28} Then Jesus answered, "Woman,
you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was
healed from that very hour.
It may seem foolish that Jesus
would do this; did he not know the Jews would reject Him? Should he not have
taken this rejection as a sign to carry the message elsewhere? To understand
why not, we need to understand another of God's themes: the remnant.
The remnant
Another of God's themes is this:
after a time of punishment for rejection, or a time of persecution (often the
same) God will keep for himself a remnant of his people who are faithful. This
is what Paul sees happening to the Jews:
(Rom 11:1-15 NIV) I ask then: Did God reject his people?
By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe
of Benjamin. {2} God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you
know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah--how he appealed to
God against Israel: {3} "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn
down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"?
{4} And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven
thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." {5} So too, at the present
time there is a remnant chosen by grace. {6} And if by grace, then it is no
longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. {7} What then?
What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The
others were hardened, {8} as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of
stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear,
to this very day." {9} And David says: "May their table become a
snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. {10} May their
eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."
{11} Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!
Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to
make Israel envious. {12} But if their transgression means riches for the
world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches
will their fullness bring! {13} I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am
the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry {14} in the hope that I
may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. {15} For if
their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance
be but life from the dead?
(A similar thought may be found
prophesied in Isaiah 6). We see this idea throughout the Old Testament.
·
Joseph tells his brothers that they are to be saved "as a
remnant" out of the famine of the time.
This is typical of God.
·
We need to understand that this is not "natural
selection." This is the work of God. For as the prophet wrote,
(2 Ki 19:30-31 NIV) Once more a remnant of the house of
Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. {31} For out of Jerusalem will
come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD
Almighty will accomplish this.
It is the work of "the zeal
of the Lord of Hosts."
·
It is also an act of grace, the unmerited favor of God. Ezra,
returning with the exiles, clearly saw this:
(Ezra 9:10-13 NIV) "But now, O our God, what can we
say after this? For we have disregarded the commands {11} you gave through your
servants the prophets when you said: 'The land you are entering to possess is a
land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices
they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. {12}
Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their
daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any
time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it
to your children as an everlasting inheritance.' {13} "What has happened
to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you
have punished us less than our sins have deserved and have given us a remnant
like this.
Triumph Through Tragedy
How then, does this come about?
We must remember that God's instruction is that we are not to overcome evil
with evil, but overcome evil with good.
·
We are the imitators of Christ. "What Would Jesus Do?"
is a popular slogan and motto for our youth. This is a great principle of the
faith.
·
If then God gives us a command, then is it not likely that the
command is to do something in imitation of Him?
·
And does not our Father send his rain on the just and the unjust?
God not the author of evil
Do not be misled. God did not
create evil so that he might bring good out of it. He did not create evil at
all. Evil exists because righteousness exists, like darkness exists only
because light exists. Righteousness may exist without evil; evil cannot exist
without righteousness. God is the author of righteousness. And as such he is
the creator of happy endings.
·
The Jews were enslaved in Egypt; Pharaoh's heart was hard. But
God turned this into good, and created the nation of Israel from it.
·
David committed adultery and murder to get Bathsheba - but from
this union came Solomon.
·
The supreme example, of course, is our Lord's death on the Cross
- from which we have salvation.
God is not finished yet
Many would ask now, "so how
come we're still suffering?" Because God is not finished yet. We need to
see his mercy and goodness as they really are.
First, we need to see his
providence in the world in which we live. As Jesus taught us,
(Mat 6:26-34 NIV) Look at the birds of the air; they do
not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds
them. Are you not much more valuable than they? {27} Who of you by worrying can
add a single hour to his life ? {28} "And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. {29} Yet I
tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of
these. {30} If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here
today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O
you of little faith? {31} So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or
'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' {32} For the pagans run after
all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. {33} But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well. {34} Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Is it not the case that much of
what we consider our troubles come through our worries? Should we not have
confidence in the one who created all things?
Next, God has a change planned
for this world:
(Rev 21:1-7 NIV) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no
longer any sea. {2} I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. {3}
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God
is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God
himself will be with them and be their God. {4} He will wipe every tear from
their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the
old order of things has passed away." {5} He who was seated on the throne
said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this
down, for these words are trustworthy and true." {6} He said to me:
"It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To
him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the
water of life. {7} He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his
God and he will be my son.
So then, this being the way
things will be then, what should we do in the meanwhile? Peter gives us the
simple answer:
(2 Pet 3:13-14 NIV) But in keeping with his promise we are
looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
{14} So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every
effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
Is this life, or is this
preparation for true life? Decide well; eternity hangs in the balance.