What Is Wrong?

Introduction

The subject of suffering is one that produces all kinds of thoughts and ideas. Some are worth considering; others are dumb. Remember the story of Job. Job’s friends thought Job’s problems all came from some hidden sin in his life. We read Job and think that his friends could not have misunderstood God’s working in this world any more than they did. But then there are times that we aren’t so far removed from Job’s friends. For example, several years ago Doug Brown, Jr.’s wife was very ill from complication of MS. He told me that people had actually come to him and suggested that he needed to pray harder and that he needed to increase his faith. Job’s friends are still at work.

But Job’s friends are still at work in light of 9/11. I have heard more than once that God was getting our attention in the World Trade Center bombing. That it was God’s call to bring us back to him. How do you explain that to the children who will never have the benefit of their mom or dad killed on that day? Some go on to say that like God used Israel’s enemies to bring them back to him, so God may have used our enemies to bring us back to him. First, I would be careful to compare ourselves to Israel. America is not God’s new Israel, the church is and God’s kingdom is not of this world. Second, we had no prophetic message telling us that such would happen as Israel did. Even the disciples who walked with Jesus had the wrong idea about suffering. In John 9 they asked Jesus concerning the blind man, who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind. Neither, Jesus said. And that was and is God’s pronouncement on the subject of suffering.

Really all this discussion about suffering comes from wanting to know “why” things happen as they do? Why do we suffer? What is the purpose of my suffering? What am I to learn from that suffering? Why does God allow me to suffer in this way? What can I do to relieve my suffering? What must I do to get God to treat me with favor again? Lots of questions and few answers. There are some who will suggest that there is something wrong with you if you are suffering. Hidden sin; past sin; unknown sin—something is wrong and God is punishing you to bring you back to your senses. Let’s look at this idea of the cause of suffering and see if we can give some general thoughts about it.

Thoughts on Suffering

First, in Luke 13:1–5, Jesus is asked about the Galileans who died at the hand of Pontius Pilate. These martyrs were probably killed while offering their sacrifices to God. They were honoring God and were dishonored in a religious ceremony. This was an outrage. So Jesus is asked about that incident. What do you think about all of this? Were these people bad people? Jesus’ answer is clarifying even as it doesn’t answer all of our questions. Jesus says these folks weren’t worse than others. And to prove his point he gives his own example of random suffering and meaningless death. And like people then we want to know ‘why.’

But Jesus doesn’t answer the question or at least in any way that we would want him to. He doesn’t blame God for the tragedies or the devil or the people. In fact, he completely rules out the possibility that these were bad people. What are we to draw from this? If Jesus, the Son of God doesn’t propose a philosophical or theological commentary on the tragedies of life then maybe we ought to be careful about our own commentaries.

What it appears that Jesus is saying is that the tragedies of life get our attention. These tragedies result in our asking the really tough questions about life including what is our relationship with God like. These questions remind us of the precious gift that life is. And these questions remind us that when it is all said and done the only thing that really matters is whether or not we have a relationship with God. Jesus doesn’t offer an answer, but he does offer himself. Is that enough for you?

Second, the world is not perfect. There is both wondrous beauty and horrific tragedy in our world. Sometimes the tragedy comes because someone makes an error in judgment or commits a sin against another person. Sometimes the tragedy happens by chance like floods, earthquakes, and engines falling off planes. Look at Romans 8:22–23. This world is not our home. We groan at the sight and sounds of destruction. We groan at the suffering and discomfort. This world is not heaven. This world is under a curse—the curse of sin. We act like it isn’t cursed. We have unrealistic expectations about this world. When the tragic happens we are shocked. Not that suffering should be common, but we forget that the Bible keeps reminding us about the frailty of life and that we are living in a world that is under a curse of sin and death.

Third, God is still at work when we suffer. Romans 8:28 says that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. This doesn’t mean that only good comes but that no matter what happens God is not at a loss to do something which will ultimately bring good to those who belong to him. In a cursed and hopeless world, this is the thread of hope which allows us to trust and know that the future uncertain as it is to us is not to God. He is still at work. The promise is that when evil rears its ugly head, God will bring good. The promise is not that the good comes in the way we want it to; nor that the good pleases us, but God is at work for our benefit.

Fourth, God’s love never fails. Nothing absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s love. Nothing will separate us. When you are angry with God, when you don’t feel like praying, when you don’t feel like being spiritual, God is going to keep loving you. Paul knew what it was like to be close to death. He knew how dangerous it was to follow Jesus. But with words of great confidence he says that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Finally, accept the truth that God will strengthen us through suffering not keep us from it. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:12–13 that we are not to be surprised at the painful trial that we suffer. We are not to regard suffering as something strange. Instead we are to keep our eyes on God so that when Jesus is revealed we will have a time of great rejoicing. Paul says something similar in 1 Corinthians 7:29–31 when he says that we are to be aware that this world in its present form is passing away. We want to be happy. We believe that God is on our side and that he will do everything he can to bless us and protect us from pain and suffering. That isn’t God’s job. His promise is to sustain us through pain and suffering. Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 2:19–21 that Christ left us an example of suffering—an example that we should follow. Suffering because of our goodness is to be expected.

If Jesus appeared to you right now, if he stood right in front of you and placed his hand upon you and said, “Everything is going to be all right,” would you believe him? Would you feel comfort and peace? Would you place your trust in him and his words? Well, Jesus did that. In the Bible. Can you hear his voice? “I know you can’t see it now, but all of this is going to work together for good.” Hold your Bible in your hands. Jesus said it, right there in that big book. “Everything is going to be OK.” Trust him. Prayer.

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