April 2011
April 2011
The problem of pain (one of the evidences of the existence of evil in this world) confronts all of us not only intellectually and philosophically, but also experientially. Each of us, at one time or another, will face (or, perhaps, are currently facing) questions related to the ‘why?’ behind our hurt, trauma and suffering. These nagging thoughts, ultimately, force us to examine what we really believe about God: ‘Is He really a good God, as He says He is? If so, why am I experiencing this painful trial?’
For the Christian, the Word of God provides divine – we might say, ‘heavenly’ – insight into this difficult issue oflife in this sin-cursed world. Answers such as – we suffer because we are reaping the consequences of wrong (even sinful) decisions we make, we suffer so that God can purify us, and we suffer (and God blesses us with His supernatural comfort) so that God can use us to comfort others who suffer – supply us with the perspective we need to face the intellectual, emotional and even physical aspects of our pain.
However, for the Christian, all pain, sorrow, suffering and loss must be measured by and viewed through the lens of the cross. At the cross, our absolutely good God allowed the horrific pain of crucifixion and the unimaginable and distressing agony of the weight of our sin, guilt, condemnation and punishment to fall on His dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ. At the cross – this terrible ‘evil’ – God brought the greatest good ever known out of Jesus’ sacrificial, substitionary, atoning death. As someone has put it, ‘His Pain was Our Gain!’
Is God – our absolutely good God – able to bring good out of evil? At the cross we have our answer – a resounding, ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ Praise God!
Because of Calvary – because of Jesus, David
