The Good Of The Father (In Our Dark Places)

 For I am reckoning that the sufferings of the current era do not deserve the glory to be revealed for us.

Paul to the Romans 8: 18, Concordant New Testament 

I remember the days while in the mainstream church in the times when life wasn't turning out the way I was expecting it to.  It never failed that when I would entrust my troubles with a few "Christian" friends, they would immediately inquire as to what I had done to upset the Lord.  What sin had I left unconfessed?  Was I lacking in my prayer life?  There were any number of things which they could point to that would somehow explain how a God who seemingly loved me would suddenly turn His back on me.  This was the prevailing wisdom of the church.  That God would not suffer with us for very long before His righteous discipline would be brought against us.  For we were but sinners, and God needed to mold us into the image of His Son.  I didn't realize it then, but I was already in the image of Christ Jesus.  I had already been created in the likeness of the Father {Genesis 1:27}.  However, it was in the dark places of my life that I rarely if ever noticed the presence of the Lord.  This, of course, was due to following the teachings of those in the church.  My own eyes had not yet been opened to the truth of the Father in my life.  Sadly, this seems to be the case for many believers even today.  I have a friend who adheres to the traditions of the Eastern Orthodox religion, and I have witnessed how he beats himself up over one sin or another from time to time.  How he worries if the Lord truly loves Him despite his sin condition.  Much like I had been, he does not see the Lord in his own dark places.  But do we need to trust in the prophesies of man?  Do we need to place our trust in those who speak from the pulpits?  The apostle John called upon us to "Test the spirits" to see if they are of God {First Epistle of John 4:1}.  We also know that it is Christ Jesus Who never deviates {To the Hebrews 13:8}.  We know that God Himself never deviates {Malachi 3:6}.  Even so, Jesus has proclaimed that He and the Father are one {Johns Account 10:30}.  So, when that pastor stands in the pulpit on Sunday and proclaims that your life condition is affected by your own sin, you have a choice.  You can believe him, or you can trust in the Lord with Whom you live in union {Johns Account 14:20}.  

Now the God of all grace, Who calls you into His eonian glory in Christ, while briefly suffering, He will be adjusting, establishing, firming, founding you. 

Peter to the Dispersion (1) 5: 10, Concordant New Testament

Years ago, I found it difficult to rationalize how a loving God could love me in spite of my sin condition.  The fact that Christ had taken that sin unto Himself on the cross did little to change my mind {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  I was following the teaching of the representative of the Lord, or so I thought.  This is the danger many mainstream church pastors today find themselves in, whether they know it or not.  When we're called to test the spirits, that means that we should test the teachings of these pastors to see if they are indeed from God.  How is it that a pastor can declare that our sin condition is cause for the Lord to discipline us?  Has not Christ taken our sin unto Himself already?  Has not the Lord proclaimed that He will never leave us nor forsake us {To the Hebrews 13:5}?  How, then, can it be said that the Father is not with us even in our darkest times?  When I began to test the spirits in my own life, I began to see the truth of the Father.  That I did not need to be conformed to His image, I AM already in his likeness.  That I could do much more than simply "Be like" Jesus.  For I live in union with He and the Father.  I live through Him!  This revelation is not something which comes to everyone at the same time, but by the desire of the Father.  And, it IS His desire that all would know Him {Johns Account 3:16-17}.  The truth of the Father is that we remain in Him no matter what condition our life takes.  In our dark places, we can trust that we are in His presence.  

~Scott~