In the fifth paragraph of your post above you mentioned Job's suffering, and H.W. Beecher's statement that, “suffering is part of the divine idea." He was correct, but for most people this is hard to reconcile with the fact that 'God is love.'
I've spent many hours meditating and studying why God seems to value sacrificial suffering in his saints, as in the Book of Job.
My conclusion is that our faith is tested when we're pressed by trials, and our faithfulness during these trials is a testimony against God's adversaries in the heavenly realm. These adversaries fell from purity into rebellion before Adam's creation, and the faithfulness of saints under trial testifies against them in the court of heaven. This court conflict is what the Book of Job is all about.
Revelation 6:11 teaches us, that when a specific number of martyrs is attained, the heavenly court will be able to render their decision in favor of God and his saints.
Daniel 7 refers to this court judgment, saying, "But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Dan 7:27
Can we be angry at our wonderful Holy FATHER YHWH and be so proud that we won't admit it? I know i have been in that terrible condition and must always ask our precious Ruach H'Kodesh to search my heart. Pray for me please.
This struck a very personal and old chord. I went through a long stretch in which, like Jeremiah, I cursed the day of my birth. I wouldn't have come out of that if not for an experience of God's compassion in that desperation. His grace is all that has kept me from fully returning to that pit. I don't know if I would say that I forgave him, but I surrendered. Thank you for the thoughtful and thorough perspective.
In this article a question is asked--"Are we safe in the universe or not?"
When I read it, I heard a discussion in my heart, saying, "No, we're not safe in the universe. All kinds of pain may be in our future."
But then I realized that, no matter how I get tested, or what kind of suffering I'll experience in this relatively short life, I can be safe and secure in my relationship to God, because I am 'in Jesus,' and that's what really matters for eternity.
In the fifth paragraph of your post above you mentioned Job's suffering, and H.W. Beecher's statement that, “suffering is part of the divine idea." He was correct, but for most people this is hard to reconcile with the fact that 'God is love.'
I've spent many hours meditating and studying why God seems to value sacrificial suffering in his saints, as in the Book of Job.
My conclusion is that our faith is tested when we're pressed by trials, and our faithfulness during these trials is a testimony against God's adversaries in the heavenly realm. These adversaries fell from purity into rebellion before Adam's creation, and the faithfulness of saints under trial testifies against them in the court of heaven. This court conflict is what the Book of Job is all about.
Revelation 6:11 teaches us, that when a specific number of martyrs is attained, the heavenly court will be able to render their decision in favor of God and his saints.
Daniel 7 refers to this court judgment, saying, "But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Dan 7:27
Can we be angry at our wonderful Holy FATHER YHWH and be so proud that we won't admit it? I know i have been in that terrible condition and must always ask our precious Ruach H'Kodesh to search my heart. Pray for me please.
This struck a very personal and old chord. I went through a long stretch in which, like Jeremiah, I cursed the day of my birth. I wouldn't have come out of that if not for an experience of God's compassion in that desperation. His grace is all that has kept me from fully returning to that pit. I don't know if I would say that I forgave him, but I surrendered. Thank you for the thoughtful and thorough perspective.
In this article a question is asked--"Are we safe in the universe or not?"
When I read it, I heard a discussion in my heart, saying, "No, we're not safe in the universe. All kinds of pain may be in our future."
But then I realized that, no matter how I get tested, or what kind of suffering I'll experience in this relatively short life, I can be safe and secure in my relationship to God, because I am 'in Jesus,' and that's what really matters for eternity.
I’m taking rest in God’s sovereignty this evening. Best to you!
Thank you brother. I needed this!!!
Thank you John.