Greetings to children of God, how are we doing and hope we're enjoining God's love as usual. I bring you greetings from the throne of grace and from the special love of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
I will love to share a little word of exhortation to the entire members of @steemchurch, but before we proceed, let's say a word of prayer.
Our heavenly Father, the one and only true God we bless your only name, we say may you be praised forever and ever in our lives, In Jesus name Amen. As we proceed to learn from you, secure our hearts from wrong teachings of the gospel and let us continually learn from your throne of grace, in Jesus name we have prayed, Amen.
I'm going to talk on the reasons of Christians suffering here on earth. I guess most of us are tried of what's happening around us as christains and why we are going through some certain things in life. Cheer, as i will elaborate on that in today's message...
Why Do The Righteous Suffer?
This question has been asked from generation to generation and the answer has been that suffering comes as a result of sin while prosperity comes as a reward of righteousness. This cannot be absolutely correct as suffering has always been a part of human existence.
Job 1:1-19
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan came also among them.
7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord , and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the Lord , and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord .
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them , and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
In the case of Job as could be seen in the above bible passage, Job was an upright man yet he went through series of trials and sufferings to such an extent that his wife abandoned him while his close friends accused him of sinning against God and admonished him to beg God for forgiveness. These were friends who dined with him when the going was good and should have been able to vouch for his uprightness. Job lost everything he considered of great value to him but he did not lose Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith. Job's suffering Was permitted by God in order to prove to satan that the the righteous do not serve Him because of what they can get.
Everything good is contained in our package of salvation (Mt.6:33). lf Job’s faithfulness to God was hinged on God's blessings upon his life, surely he would have denied God when all was lost. Satan will always accuse God before us and accuse us before our God. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but we have a God who is ever sensitive to all that we are passing through. He says He will neither leave us nor forsake us but will deliver us from them all.
How Long Are We To Wait In Suffering?
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
Hab.1:2-4
In the above bible passage, Prophet Habakkuk cried to God for vengeance. In his time he observed that evil was striving over good. The righteous were oppressed and denied the right to fair judgement and nothing seem to happen. The prophet was of the opinion that God should do something to forestall the increasing wickedness of his days.
Looking at our society today many Christians are in this same dilemma. They wonder why God should allow the wicked to oppress the righteous with reckless abandon. Crime is in the increase and violence is the order of the day. Some people have, in their frustration conceived the erroneous belief that the laws of the land are for the poor. Christians are engaging in ceaseless prayer sessions and they are asking themselves when will the solution to all these wickedness be and why is God not reacting to our cry? Some believers now live in compromise and toe the path of the unbelievers. Beloved, no matter the situation, do not be influenced by the world to commit sin. God will one day fully deliver those who seek him and will bring judgement against his enemies. In order to prevent discouragement and despair at the apparent success of evil in our society, let us firmly believe and confess that the Lord will one day vindicate the righteous who persevere against all who would destroy our faith.
Thanks for reading and your time taken. God will enrich you all with Grace and Love, Amen.
