Within the space of twenty-four hours last week two friends of mine received devastating news. Hearing of their loss saddened me deeply. Both are Christians. There are uncertainties in how their problems will be fixed. However, I am only really worried about one of them.
One of them is a devout Christian who has walked a lifetime with the Lord. His faith is deep and solid, and it is obvious to the people who know him. He is the kind of Christian man that other Christian men look up to. He has served God well, and his children have been raised in a manner that brings God glory. His strength of character, as well as his faith, will not allow him to be shaken. James 1:6 notes, "But ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." I don't worry about that with this man.
In my previous articles, The Suffering Mandate and The Suffering Schedule, I discussed the inevitablity of suffering, how we should know that it always comes, how it it is usually a surprise, and how we should be mentally and spiritually prepared for it. The mature Christian may have an immediate sense of shock at an untoward event, literally being stunned or surprised, but that should give way to the acknowledgement that these trials are part of God's plan for us. In my book, Surviving the Suffering, I go to great lengths to help people discern what the specific cause of their suffering might be, in order to deal with it in the most appropriate manner. We must first get used to the idea that the Christian life will intermittently be filled with these ordeals.
The second man is much younger, an after living a very troubled life turned that life over to God by receiving Christ as his saviour. Our evangelistic approach is to reach such lost people with the Gospel or good news. We often neglect what I would call the badspel, or bad news, and it has been noted by others that new Christians often go through a "honeymoon" period, where the inital experience after salvation brings forth exuberance in the new life. Some of this, I think, comes from the relief that forgiveness brings, and some of this may come from the release of self-destructive habits and thinking. The old man is put off, and the new man celebrates his newfound status before the Lord and not being trapped in sin. We rejoice along with the new believer, and encourage them in their efforts to learn and deepen their relationship with God.
However, in our effort not to rain on anyone's parade, we sometimes do a poor job of preparing the new Christian for the trials ahead. This young man, after such an arduous life, was so happy in his fresh beginning that those of us who knew him found it exceedingly difficult to trample on that happiness in order to prepare him for his certain ordeals. No one wants to say, "Wipe that smile off your face. Your train will be wrecked soon enough." And so when my young friend's train does get wrecked, he must not only deal with the immediate personal consequences but will have to work through the spiritual ones as well. The unseasoned Christian will find that as Jesus said in Mark 9:49, "For everyone will be seasoned with fire...." So I worry that this man will be shaken.
The Word of God gives so many assurances throughout the entire Bible. In the Old Testament, we learn in Isaiah 41:10, " Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous hand." Even the new Christian probably has some familiarity with Psalm 23. Jesus tells us clearly, "lo, I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). Although the new Christian has the Scripture unlocked for him, and he can now begin to understand God's Word, he will be required to live through those trials in order that those messages may be made real.
I read many books on flying before experiencing the reality of flying an airplane, and many years of studying the heart before I was allowed to hold one in my hands. This time of preparation was essential to be ready for the challenges to come. There is no better way for God to prepare us for life's hard knocks than to read and study His Word, but the reality of suffering has to be experienced to refine and strengthen our faith. Two men, one seasoned and one a raw recruit, but the same promise is made to both: "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him" (I Timothy 2:12).
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