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Morning Thoughts |
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Romans 5:3, "And not only so,
but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;" This morning, sometimes different things happen for different reasons. For example, I cannot look at someone's circumstance and know precisely what the root cause of it is and why. Why do earthquakes, winds, and great fires come? Sometimes these natural perils are the direct working of the hand of God, for He moved the Red Sea back with an east wind, commanded fire to come down from heaven to consume the offering of Elijah on Mount Carmel, and opened the earth to swallow Korah and the others that rose up against Moses. (Exodus 14, I Kings 18, Numbers 16) However, sometimes the Lord is not in these same events. (I Kings 19) So likewise when we experience problems in life, persecutions from without, troubles from within, and any other vexing malady that may come our way, the "one size fits all" answer does not apply. Job's three miserable comforters assumed the "one size fits all" theory in Job's case. Their size that fit all was that Job did something wrong, and God was punishing him for that. Is that possible; does the Bible speak of such? Certainly, as King David is a classic example of God's judgment upon a man, his family, and his possessions for that man's disobedience. But, the "every circumstance has the same cause" answer does not hold up. Quite often, people who subscribe to the "one size fits all" theory of persecutions and tribulations in this world like our study verse above. They pull it out to show that whatever comes upon us is for a good reason, should be delighted in, and is ultimately for our good. While tribulations and persecutions that come upon us for our own disobedience should teach us lessons (such as not to do that thing again), it is a far cry from this verse's actual intent to say that it means we should be delighting in the actual persecutions that come our way. On top of that, not everything that happens works together for our good, for our sins never serve to commend the righteousness of God. (Romans 3:1-8) Therefore, let us examine this verse to understand what its true intent is so that we can press forward as more refulgent lights in our land in which we live. The first clause says "and not only so," which is language that ties the thought in with that which has gone before. The second clause of the verse ends with the word "also," which necessarily ties the thrust of this verse's message into the previous verses. What has just gone before? Paul has just finished describing the peace of justification by faith and the rejoicing in the hopeful view of the glory of God that we yearn one day to see. What Paul has just concluded is the description of our thoughts whenever we experience periods of serene stillness. What is the opposite of that? Persecutions. Paul is labouring in our verse (as he ultimately marches toward the thought of hope again) to show that whether in serene, hopeful watching or times of persecution, we can and should rejoice. Now, having noticed what the verse is tied into by its context, let us examine - very briefly - what the text is said sometimes to teach but in fact does not. Some look at the language this way, "Whenever persecutions come, rejoice in the persecution. Glory in what is brought on you. It will come to a good end; take delight in that thing." However, should any of those thoughts be the actual intent of Paul, the verse would read thusly, "And not only so, but we glory in the tribulations also." What is different in that sentence and what the text really says? The difference is one little word "the." We do not "glory in the tribulations" but rather we "glory in tribulations. To say that we are taught in this verse to glory in the tribulations goes further than Paul does. What in fact should we glory or rejoice in? Paul tells us in another place that our rejoicing is in the Lord always and if we glory to glory in the Lord. (Philippians 4:4, I Corinthians 1:31) Who do we rejoice/glory in? We rejoice/glory in Him. When do we rejoice/glory in Him? ALWAYS! This is Paul's thought. We rejoice in the Lord whether in times of serene hopeful watching or times of direst tribulation and persecution. We do not rejoice in the tribulation, but rather, we rejoice in the Lord in tribulations and distress. The reason that we should rejoice in Him in all seasons is because He is worthy to be praised no matter what is happening in our lives or what we are going through. Therefore, it is a shameful thing to glory in the tribulation itself as if it is something worth glorifying. Rather, there is One and One only who is worth glorifying, and He is worth all of our efforts no matter the season or situation in life. What if the tribulation is really a judgment from Him chastening our disobedience? Praise Him, for He is worthy. What if the tribulation is a trial of our faith, which we might suffer at the hands of bloodthirsty men? Praise Him, for He is worthy. Wherever we are in life, He is worthy. The circumstance should be of less importance in our mind as the One we should be focused on. Now, without going into great detail about the chain of succession that follows this thought: tribulation - patience - experience - hope, we should at least make a couple of observations about some results of tribulation in our life. The first time someone comes up against a hurdle, of any sort, in their life, there is the instinctive mindset to get through it as fast as possible, do whatever is necessary to be removed from it, etc. Sadly, this is a mindset that we still engage from time to time in many different ways. However, one of the things that we should learn while in tribulation is that patience (cheerful endurance) should be nurtured for however long or however short that tribulation may last. While cheerful endurance is not the easiest of things to nurture, cheerful endurance is the best way to continue rejoicing and glorifying God while in the hardest of circumstances. The result of that cheerful endurance is that we then have a knowledge base to draw from next time (experience). That experience should serve to teach us that the "quick knee-jerk reaction to get away from tribulation" may not be the most prudent or advised. Sometimes that experience serves to tell us to move when we should move or be still when we should be still. Yet, at the end of the day, we are looking for that blessed bud and blossom of hope that shines in beauty and gives of the fragrance of grace and mercy for our steps here below. This hope at the end of the chain serves to promote the thought that God is still God whether in times of sereneness (Verse 2) when we anticipate His coming and glory with anxious hearts, and He is still God when we have been through fires with scars and experiences to show for it. Regardless, He is still God. He is still worthy of glory, praise, and rejoicing. Hope should still spring out and lighten our lives as His goodness and mercy are profound realities both in this world and in the world to come. Just as we anticipate the coming glory of God with hope and joy during peace, so should we anticipate that same thing during our wars and daily struggles. In so doing, we find that blessed hope that tells us, "Fear not, be not ashamed. As I have been with you through this, so will I be with you always, never to leave you nor forsake you." With the knowledge that He is God who still loves us, nurtures us, and cares for us no matter whatever else may happen, what reason is there not to glory in Him? Absolutely no reason whatsoever. If He has been with us through six trials and in seven, what reason do we have not to have hope and keep our heads held high looking unto the hills from whence cometh our help? Absolutely no reason whatsoever. If these things be true, what reason do we have to walk around with the bright light of today and hope of tomorrow with heads held high? Every reason in the world. May we be found so looking hopefully upwards rather than downward upon the weak and beggarly elements of this old world.  In Hope, Bro Philip |