We all go through difficulties and trials. We are always quick to ask the question why. Why God is this happening to me? I don’t understand! Kind of reminds me of the story of “How to catch a porcupine. An old woodsman gives this advice about catching a porcupine: “Watch for the slapping tail as you dash in and drop a large washtub over him. The washtub will give you something to sit on while you ponder your next move.”
Trials and difficulties are kind of like the quills of the porcupine. They stick in us and really hurt. I can’t imagine how long it would take to think about your next move. But, time is the ally of those trying to discern God’s plan. Sometimes, we need the aid of 20/20 hindsight to look back and see the results in our lives and the lives of others when we experience difficulties. God does make all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
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We are beginning the book of Revelation. Many are intimidated by this book, thinking it’s too complicated and even strange; difficult to understand. It is different, maybe even somewhat complicated. However, I think the author (the Holy Spirit through John) anticipated that, because He promises a blessing just for reading it. He said, “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy” (Rev. 1:3a).
So don’t let the strange imagery discourage you. You may not understand everything, but you will understand something. Like the other 65 books in the Bible, it is meant to be read, and the more you read it, the more you will understand and be blessed. So read!
Introduction to Revelation (1:1-3):
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Being much concerned about the rise of denominations in the church, John Wesley tells of a dream he had. In the dream, he was ushered to the gates of Hell. There he asked, “Are there any Presbyterians here?” “Yes!” came the answer. Then he asked, “Are there any Baptists? Any Episcopalians? Any Methodists?” The answer was Yes! each time. Much distressed, Wesley was then ushered to the gates of Heaven. There he asked the same question, and the answer was No! “No?” To this, Wesley asked, “Who then is inside?” The answer came back, “There are only Christians here.”
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How entertaining is a one string guitar? It may well depend on who’s playing it, because you can get quite a few notes from a single string. That may true, but it would certainly lack variety. Have you ever been around someone who can only talk about one thing? It becomes monotonous and difficult to listen to. Ever been around someone who has life all figured out? All organized in neat and tidy categories. The problem is, life doesn’t fit in neat and tidy categories. Life challenges us; it isn’t easy for us to figure out. There is always more going on than is readily apparent.
As our study of Job continues, we learn from Bidad’s confrontation of Job that his neatly constructed categories, philosophy and theology aren’t very comforting to Job, who is going through profound pain and suffering. That’s a powerful lesson for us to remember.
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A question that invariably gets asked when something happens to us or somone we know is “why me?” This question emerges all the time; we want context and meaning. We want understanding. Even people who don’t have a relationship with God through Christ want meaning when they go through troubled times, some kind of purpose for the difficulty they’re going through.
What are some of the answers we get sometimes from our Christian friends? Sometimes we may feel as though we have our own set of “Job’s comforters” in the person(s) of of well meaning friends. The conclusion that the suffering that is being experienced is undoubtedly the result of sin when the onlookers don’t know the details of what is going on is addressed in the book of Job. Thanks be to God, He has given us His Word, and we can learn from having the advantage of knowing the conclusion of Job’s suffering while studying the narrative of it.
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Somerset Maughan, a famous author and playwright, told a story about his family. His mother was an extraordinarily beautiful woman married to an extraordinarily ugly man. When a family friend once asked how such a beautiful woman could have married such an ugly man, she replied, “He has never once hurt my feelings.” Alexander Maclaren said, “Kindness makes a person attractive. If you would win the world, melt it, do not hammer it.” Kindness is a powerful agent for good. If you want to be more like God, be kind. The Scripture declares that salvation emanates from the kindness and love of God. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God for Christ sake has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).
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Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ’s first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ’s second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second advent of Christ—an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ’s first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second!
Pretty cool!
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Paul wrote to Titus about the importance of sound doctrine; then, he continued with the way people lived. Martin Luther gave a short eulogy that illustrated this point. He spoke these words at the memorial for a pastor at Zwickau in 1522 named Nicholas Haussmann. “What we preach, he lived,” said the great reformer. We might say that actions speak louder than words. I would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk, but they do shine. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
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Should there be a connection between belief and behavior? Arthur Simon, founder of the international organization Bread for the World, believes that all aspects of our lives need to be touched by Christ. His father, who grew up on a farm in Wisconsin, taught him: “Even the cows should know you are a Christian by the way you treat them.” Arthur has incorporated this philosophy into his ministry, adding: “And if cows, how much more people!”
Christ said,“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16-20)
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