I was at a conference this week in Alberta that the Billy Graham Association put on. It was a great time of learning and personal renewal. Coming home - Friday afternoon later on it was starting to get dark. It was snowing, raining, there was an ice storm. The roads were icy but visibility was ok. All of a sudden there was this vehicle approaching us - it had slipped and went sideways in its lane and then at the last second it came into our lane and smashed head on in to the SUV in front of us - 50 feet away..Everything kinda slows down in those moments and it seems like you see everything. Pieces of those vehicles flew in every direction - glass smashed - tires popped and metal sliced like cheese - amazing. And then the realization comes over you - there's people in there. And you want to do something - anything to stop it from hurting them and to help them somehow..So Pam immediately began to pray..
Well, I stopped the van and jumped out and ran back to where they were..and found one vehicle in the center of the highway - another in the ditch. A woman was kneeling down in the center of the road - she was ok, just in shock - crying. Just gave her a hug and told her to go cry in the ditch! She'd be ok..I quickly went to check the other driver. She was hurting more but ok -- trapped in her vehicle - held her hand and wiped her tears and told her I'd help. Everything's gonna be ok. Then I realized where we were - just over the edge of a hill. Traffic coming from one side wouldn't be able to see us and stop.
So I quickly ran ahead - to try and wave them off in time but it was no use - as car after car after car couldn't stop in time - but then hit the ditch before they hit the stopped vehicle. There were 7 cars in the ditch in less than 2 minutes..And then this semi came up over the hill - honking, breaking, jack-knifed...Watching that come at you is a very strange feeling. What a crazy thing to watch unfold..And to be absolutely helpless to stop any of it from happening. Well after about 45 minutes, ambulances arrived and we got back in the van.
We were amazed that no one had been seriously hurt - or killed. Amazed that something much worse didn't happen. Amazed at the frailty of life and the safety we take for granted. Thankful that my wife and kids were safe..And immediately began calling on God for His continued presence with those people - I held that woman's hand as I left and again wiped her tears and told her I would continue to pray. Within seconds I was thinking about this message and the questions and the truth about suffering. Where does it come from? Why is it with us? Where is God in the middle of all the broken parts of life...and what's His role?
Folks, today we'll talk a little more about this..and learn a little more truth from God's Word about pain and sin and truth and victory. Again - I am learning with you. I don't have all the answers, but will share a few I've received.
Let me start with a story about Jesus.
I. Tragedy
Mark 2:1-12 - "Several days later Jesus returned to Capernaum, and the news of his arrival spread quickly through the town. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there wasn't room for one more person, not even outside the door. And he preached the word to them. Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn't get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above his head. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, 'My son, your sins are forgiven.' But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there said to themselves, 'What? This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins!' Jesus knew what they were discussing among themselves, so he said to them, 'Why do you think this is blasphemy? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'? I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins.' Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,
'Stand up, take your mat, and go on home, because you are healed!' The man jumped up, took the mat, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers. Then they all praised God. 'We've never seen anything like this before!' they exclaimed." (Mark 2:1-12)
Let's talk first today about the tragedy of life. When I read this story the first thing to jump out at me was this problem of pain. Here's a guy who has been paralyzed physically - whether some accident happened to him and his legs were crushed or whether he was born unable to walk - the story doesn't say. But either way, this guy had suffered much and endured much pain - and had lived through life feeling inadequate and humiliated - as the culture of the day never accepted someone who was not complete in their eyes..but instead put them down and relegated them to the bottom of any social hierarchy (ladder). This man's life was broken emotionally and physically. He knew it, his friends knew it, Jesus knew it..and everybody in that house knew it too..But it's interesting to me what Jesus says..when the man finally hit the floor in front of him..
(Think about the racket those guys would have been making - I'm certain the meeting changed its tone as all this was going on..)
Anyways, Jesus says this after seeing all that had happened..
"Son - your sins are forgiven." Now, if I'd been sitting in the room, my mouth, I'm sure, would have dropped wide open. I mean, it was obvious that Jesus misread the situation. They didn't go to all that effort to bring that guy to Jesus to have him talk about sin or religious stuff. They wanted Jesus to change his life physically - to remove his pain - to take away his suffering and frustration..and all he did was say "Son - your sins are forgiven.." See, Jesus saw something no one else could grasp. He saw a whole other level of pain and suffering that no one else saw..He saw something else that had paralyzed this man -
it was called sin..and that was a bigger tragedy than his physical pain.
So I'm reading that this week and it got me thinking about what we talked about last week - about how so much of the pain and suffering in the world comes about because of our freedom of choice. Our choices create pain for us and other people - other people's choices create pain for us. Like when a dad decides to walk out on his family - Or a drunk driver causes another to lose his life or his legs..Or a friend chooses to betray another in gossip - Or a murderer chooses to take another's life - Choices made in sin so affect other people's lives..and our own..Just got me thinking about last week..
And then as I read it again..I got thinking about how we tend to focus on our physical pain in life much more than on our spiritual pain. I mean, give me a headache or a fever and my body becomes the center of my world. Or when financial crisis comes in our lives, we feel frustrated and depressed and in pain..and our thoughts revolve around this terrible season we've found ourselves in..
We humans tend to get trapped in the physical when it comes to suffering and brokenness..What pain do I have? What hurt has life caused me? What is stopping me from doing what I want to do in life? We get stuck on one level..But Jesus saw a whole other segment of life that creates brokenness -- and He addressed that first.
Looking at this guy on the floor, he said - let's deal with your soul.
Let's work on your spiritual life first - then we'll fix what else is broken..
But first let's fix your soul..
This hit me so strongly this week..Writing this message I was so struck with my own brokenness of soul - my sin..Do you know how many times I was unkind to my wife this week? How many times I hollered at my kids because their level of activity or noise didn't fit my perfect world? Do you know how many times..and the list goes on and on and on for me. And I'm sure it does for you ..
The Bible says this in Isaiah 53:6.."We all like sheep have gone astray." The Apostle Paul puts it very clearly - he said."For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard." (Romans 3:23)
Folks - there's lots of stuff in our lives that paralyzes us - spiritually - that causes deep pain in our souls. Have you thought recently about what paralyzes you?
Maybe it's your past and the choices you've made.
Maybe it's fear of the future because of the past.
Maybe it's about someone else's abusive choices that hurt you and hold you back. Or maybe it isn't. Maybe it's an addiction that you can't seem to shake and it's paralyzing you. Or maybe it's a series of rotten relationships that have led to a string of choices that have left you feeling horrible about yourself..You know, there's lots of ways to be paralyzed in life.
And Jesus said..first - before we just work on getting our physical and emotional worlds in order - take a long hard look at the real brokenness in our lives..and that brokenness is not about disease or pain - or hardships or hurt that has come our way. This brokenness is internal and it's self inflicted - and it's called sin..and it paralyzes our soul..and it needs to be forgiven. (More on that next week)
II. Darkness
There is something that happens within us when pain comes our way - whether it's pain inflicted on us by this broken world or the sins of someone else - or whether it's pain we've brought on ourselves..Either way - what happens is this utter feeling of aloneness - of darkness that comes upon us..And those who have walked through a cancer scare or a divorce or a financial meltdown or an addiction that is overtaking you - you'll know what I'm talking about..St. John of the Cross called it "the dark night of the soul." Tomorrow - Remembrance Day - I think no one understands aloneness and fear and suffering like a veteran -- remember them tomorrow.
They fought for our freedom.
David explained his darkness like this in the Bible in Psalm 142: "I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord's mercy.I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.Hear my cry O Lord, for I am very low.Bring me out of this prison so I can thank you."
Job said it like this: "I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me.When I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness. The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me."
(Job 30:20, 26&27)
And Jesus cried out in prayer the night he was arrested - "Father.Please take this cup of suffering away from me." (Mark 14:36) and then from the cross he screamed, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34).
Nietchse said this."It is not so much the suffering as the senselessness of it that is unendurable."
And those of you who have walked through the darker corridors of life have felt that same helplessness and silence.
DRAMA
Folks, whether we deserve the pain we're in from our own choices that we've made - or whether the suffering we feel is the result of a broken world around us..We all cry out with the same voice -
God where are you and why is this happening to me? Well, I've got a thought or two on where God is when we're suffering - and what He might be feeling as he watches us hurt..Listen to this story about Jesus..
Mark 7:32-35 - "Some people brought to Jesus a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hands on the man. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh , said to him, 'Be opened!' At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly."
This is one of my favorite images of Jesus' life. I can see him with his hands on the man's shoulders - looking in his eyes with great love and compassion..best line to see Jesus' heart. "He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said 'Be opened.'"
It was like he was saying - God you know this was never the design. You have seen his suffering. You have felt his pain. Mend his heart and his past as you fix his ears and his tongue.
Where is God when you suffer? Right beside you - in every hug you receive. In every word of encouragement from within the community. Folks, he's crying every tear right along with you. You're prayers do not fall on deaf ears. He loves you deeply and desires to see you whole and healed once again. Never doubt His power and presence in the face of suffering.
III. Triumph
So let's ponder a little bit - what we have said over these last 2 weeks. We have a God who created a perfect world for us to enjoy and He created us to live together in unity and community with one another and with Him..But He also created us with freedom of choice - a free will - to choose to walk within His plan and boundaries - or to walk our own way...and choose selfishness. And history tells us we have chosen with our freedom - time and again - to walk away from God..
And those choices over countless generations have created a world filled with sin and suffering and shame and pain..And in the midst of our choices and our suffering we cry out to God again..to somehow change our physical circumstances. But folks, you know what?
God is not nearly as concerned with our physical circumstances as He is with our souls - He is more concerned about a relationship with us than anything else - good or bad - that the world brings..He's more concerned about walking with us..because He knows that that's what is gonna last forever - our souls. He knows our pain will some day end.
That in the big picture - this physical life is so short in comparison to our spiritual life - our soul - which will last forever. He's much more concerned about our souls..and building that as He walks with us..
Why? Because He knows the secret to victory and triumph in life..
Here's the secret to life..when we walk with God, He transforms our lives -- from the inside out - not the outside in..
The whole plan of God - since the very first time Adam and Eve sinned and chose to walk away from God -
His ongoing desire has been to restore us human beings to a relationship with Him. To restore us - you and I - to the place where our souls meet and unite with His. His whole plan is to call us back to a relationship with Him..where we walk side by side..And slowly He transforms us out of darkness and into the light. He changes us in this life as we walk with Him..so that in the next life - we're ready to live with Him.
The Apostle Paul describes this mystery like this..
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing
power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
(II Corinthians 4:7-9)
Paul says that when we walk with Jesus Christ, when He is active and alive and real in our lives, there is a great power that comes with that reality..But it is by a paradox that he describes the power..
He says it's like putting a "great treasure" in a clay pot. Now, the pot is expendable - breakable - kinda cheap - compared to what's inside. But still that breakable clay pot contains the treasure.
See, what we must realize is this - that Jesus Christ is very alive and desperately wants to live strongly in our lives by faith every day. He is this incredible treasure that we (the clay pots) hold within us..
Now, follow the analogy through. How do we best see and get at the treasure? It is in the breaking of the pot that the richness of the treasure can truly be seen..(and so it is with God's power in us). When we suffer, that pain tends to weaken us - whether it's mentally, emotionally, financially, or physically..and if we suffer enough we become familiar with the word broken.
We become broken..by the shear harshness of life. Now here is the paradox Paul describes..and we've gotta wait for it, because God has the amazing ability to use our weakness - our brokenness - to shine His strength into our lives..
Somehow the more broken we are, the more powerful His Spirit works in our lives..because of suffering..and in our brokenness we find the treasure - When we are weakest, He is strongest within us.
People do you hear the paradox? All you have to do is be around Alana and Jim Henry to see this paradox in all its beauty and truth..
Alana in the midst of her pain..shines Jesus so strongly. So many people have seen God's power through her during these days of suffering - and Jim as he serves tirelessly -- shows us all what God's love really looks like in action..
So what can we learn? Why does she have pain? I don't know. Why isn't she all better right away? Why does she continue to suffer? I don't know..But this I do know..Physically, Alana may be weary and weak. But spiritually - she is powerful and faith-filled because she now knows where her strength comes from. And it has nothing to do with health or money or even happiness. Her strength is in a daily walking power-filled relationship with Jesus Christ -
And that power is creating a treasure out of a broken clay pot..
Here's a line from the e-mail that Lee Barbour sent to me last week. "The greatest creative power demonstrates the ability to redeem that which is most beyond repair." Where is God when we are suffering? He is doing His job..walking with us so as to redeem us and change us even in our brokenness by His power even when we are beyond repair.
Listen to these two Psalms - which in most Bibles fall on the same page..
"The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed." (Psalm 143:3-4)
"Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge." (Psalm 144:1-2)
People, the questions is not - why suffering? The question is - what will my focus be when I suffer? Will it be the enemy in life - whether that is relational struggles, financial crises, time pressure, physical ailments or emotional battles.Will it be those enemies that I focus on..and will I dwell in darkness - my spirit faint - my heart dismayed? Or will God be my focus? My Rock who trains me for battle against these enemies. A loving God who is my Father - my Stronghold - my Shield - my Refuge - my Deliverer..
Do I huddle in darkness alone? Or do I advance across the battlefield of life, trusting in God's power and protection - even in suffering..And this may be the line of the week - again from the good Dr. Barbour - "Better to die with sword in hand than be slowly crushed by my own dismay."
People, in your suffering, turn quickly to God. Know that He is very near to those who suffer. Trust His heart - feel His power. Soak up His grace. "God weeps with us so that we may one day laugh with Him." - Jurgen Moltmann
And no matter what you face, know that the One who suffered greatly (Jesus)..know that the One who bled and died a horrible and painful death on the cross..Know that the One who endured much so that we might know forgiveness and life eternal..Know that in your pain, Jesus is with you..in the midst of your suffering and brokenness - He is creating a beautiful treasure. |
