"These things I have spoken nto you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
John 16:33 NKJV
I can't remember how many times I've had troubles in my life and my first thought was "why me, Lord?" It's as if we thought that as soon as we became christians that our lifes troubles would be over. As if being followers of Jesus would somehow insulate us from lifes tribulations. Well, the fact of the matter is that even being a man free of all sin, Jesus faces some of the worst tribulations of anyone in history. There's absolutely no evidence that christians are imune to troubles in life. Yet, each time we are faced with those raging waves of turmoil, we again ask "why me?" Perhaps we should be asking "why not me?" Have we become so arrogant in our faith that we simply believe that troubles will not affect us? Do we believe that when those storms of life come upon us, that God is somehow punishing us for something we've done? That was me. Eventually we all come to a point in our faith that we understand that our Lord is a God of love, not of punishment or revenge. It was this love for us that sent Jesus to the cross.
In John 16:33 Jesus assures us that not onnly would we have to endure troubles in life, but that through him we can have peace. The world threw everything it had at our savior, and Jesus overcame it all! Through temptations, rejection by many of his own people to his final death on the cross, no one has ever endured the tribulations that Jesus has only to overcome them. One thing we can be absolutely certain of, God is not punishing us through our trials.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
Now, that doesn't mean that God does not allow troubles to happen in our lives. We all remember that man named Job.
So satan answered the Lord nd said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possesions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!" And the Lord said to satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:9-11 NKJV
Remember Ephesians 6:12? Well, this is a prime example of this verse in action! Here's poor Job, who is described in scripture as "Blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil." In fact, when satan comes snooping around heaven one day, God points out Job as a wonderful example of his creation. Of course, satan would have none of that! Without provocation, satan ASKED Gods permission to attack Job. Think about that for a minute, if satan was at all in control in the big scheme of things, why would he need Gods permission to attack one of his creation? No, it wasn't until God allowed it that satan slithered away on his mission to destroy Job, without provocation of course. Jobs only crime, according to satan, was being a loyal servant of God.
If you're going through a tough time, do you feel as if God doesn't care? Do you feel as if God is punishing you? There are two things we need to remember. It is through Gods infinate love for us that Jesus came to be the bearer of ALL of our sins past, present and future! How can God punish you for something you've already been forgiven for? We do well to recall the lesson of Job, who satan bushwhacked simply because Job was a servant of God! Now, if satan was willing to attack Job without provocation, how much more will he do to any one of us? Not to fear, fellow christian, for it is through Christ Jesus that we have overcome this world!
~Scott~
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