Don't be surprised by the title
Contents
1 Peter 4:12-13 Do not be surprised
There were three vultures living in a certain vulture country. They thought they were the ugliest eagles in the world. And I thought I didn't need to live in this world anymore. Then one day the three eagles gathered on a cliff to commit suicide. Just as he was about to commit suicide, the heroic eagle, who was watching from a high place, flew up and asked, "Why do you guys want to die?"
An eagle replied, "A eagle eagle like us doesn't need to live." "No, why are you ugly eagles?" asked the heroic eagle, and the three eagles who were about to commit suicide answered, "I fail my flight test every day. There's no other eagle as stupid as me." “I live every day being beaten by a strong eagle. I'd rather die than live like this." "I was abandoned by my beloved eagle. A fool like me doesn't have to live."
Hearing this, the heroic eagle replied: "In your eyes, you think I became a heroic eagle as soon as I was born without any scars." And the heroic eagle spread out its wings. Then a lot of wounds appeared here and there on the wing. The heroic eagle points to the wound on his wing and says:
"This is a wound from a flight test, and this is a wound from another eagle. But these are only visible wounds, and the wounds buried in the chest are bigger. It must be a dead eagle. How are you going to live in the world without scars and pain? Don't think strangely about the wounds you get in your world. Even the coolest heroic eagle lives with a lot of wounds."
Ladies and gentlemen, people who do not believe in God sometimes ridicule believers by saying, “No, why do you suffer like that when you believe in God?” And among those who believe in God, “Because I believe in God, because I keep the Lord’s Day, because I pay tithing, because I do a lot of service… There are often people who think, “I will not have any difficulties.”
I just entered seminary and took an exam. The test question was, “Talk about suffering.” I stood like this on the answer sheet. “If you believe in Jesus, you will never suffer. Suffering comes from not believing in Jesus. If you believe in God well, all things will prosper.” I wrote the answer sheet in this way and expected good grades in my own way. But at the time, my report card was almost F. When I asked the professor who raised the question, the answer was that it was not biblical.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you look through history, even those who believed in Jesus and became God's people suffered numerous difficulties. Of course, suffering is not a happy thing right away. However, suffering comes to Christians who want to live a separate and holy life, and they should not be surprised at the coming suffering. Today's text also speaks. “Beloved, do not marvel at the fiery trial that comes to try you, as if something strange happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12).
In the Bible, there is a man named Job. He was pure and upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. But for some reason, a very severe ordeal came upon him. Occasionally, we see articles about 'very unlucky' in overseas topics. Perhaps this person named Job also has the potential to be number one if he goes out and competes in such a field.
In one day, barbarians attacked and took away a lot of property, and fire came down from the sky, killing the sheep and their servants, and the 7 boys and 3 girls who had raised them all collapsed and their houses were crushed. And he had a bad spear from head to toe, so he wanted to die.
I have suffered. His closest friends also came to see Job and were amazed to see that so much suffering had come upon him. “No, I thought Job was a righteous man, but seeing that he suffered such a great disaster, he must have committed a great sin.” And on the contrary, they condemned and denounced Job even more.
Job's wife also thought that his husband was very righteous, so he thought that God had given him such a great blessing, but now he has lost that great blessing and all ten children have died. started going. And I have doubts about the existence of God and the disposition of God, and I say this “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die.” Then Job replies: “Your words are like the words of one of the foolish women. If we have received a blessing from God, shall we not receive disaster?” (Job 2:10) “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
Guys, change your stance on this case and think about it. If God's great blessing comes to you, it is very pleasant, and you will take it for granted that God has blessed you. Because we take God's blessings for granted, we may not be able to give thanks when we should. On the other hand, if you believe in God well in your own way, but continue to face hardships, you may ask, “No, why are you like this?” You may start thinking strangely, even thinking about things you shouldn't have thought of, and later on you may become obsessed with thoughts that are not biblical at all. In other words, there may be confusion of faith.
Therefore, we must have a biblical right attitude toward suffering. I'll tell you straight up. Believe in Jesus and you will die. Even if you believe in Jesus, you will get sick. Even if you believe in Jesus, suffering will come. “I believed in Jesus, but why did he die? If you believe in Jesus, why do you suffer from disease? Instead of asking, “You believed in Jesus, why did you fail?” I pray, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
If you read the Bible, there is not a single person who has climbed the hill of victory without walking the path of suffering. Abraham, the father of faith, also had to leave the home of his father, his friendly and familiar homeland, and had to live abroad. Jacob also said that he had spent 130 years of harsh life as a stranger. (Genesis 47:9) And he confessed that he had spent the years embracing the heat during the day and the cold at night (Genesis 31:40). .
Also, Moses confessed, "Our years are 70, and if we are strong we are 80, but the pride of those years is our toil and sorrow, and it goes quickly, and we fly away" (Psalm 90:10). Who has not cherished toil and sorrow? Who has lived without a sigh, without tears? Trials and pains are also present in even the finest Christians. Thoughtful, full of hope, with a golden faith, with love. Even those who live this overflowing life have trials.
Therefore, in verse 12 of today's text, we are told to be prepared and accept suffering. And the word ‘fire test’ comes out. These words teach that there will be refinements of faith, just as gold and silver are smelted in a hot furnace. In other words, I want you to believe that you will go through a difficult and difficult process of suffering, but through such a process, you will stand tall as a person after God's heart.
Of course, you don't have to deliberately set yourself up for hardship. But if it's a hardship you've been through, if it's something you have to go through anyway... Rather, you should be able to afford to enjoy it. Among the words I learned in the military, there are some really good words that I remember. "If you can't avoid it, enjoy it". Today's text also speaks. “But rejoice in your sharing in the sufferings of Christ. so that you may rejoice and rejoice when he reveals his glory” (1 Peter 4:13).
Ladies and gentlemen, when you get annoyed that hardship is approaching, that hardship doesn't go away. We don't even think that it is strange why suffering comes when we believe in God. We know. The Christian life comes with all kinds of trials and tribulations, just like the life of an unbeliever. The Lord also speaks. "I give this name to you that you may find peace in me. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage. I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
These words do not promise Christians a life free from tribulation. He promised us absolute peace that we can overcome and enjoy peace in spite of the coming tribulations and trials. Therefore, each of us expects that I will have a smooth life for the rest of my life, but it should not be surprising that I have a test. We must have a biblical attitude that sometimes unexpected waves of suffering may come personally, family, nationally, and ecclesiastical.
But keep in mind. The waves of trouble are coming, but don't be afraid of them. Rather, sit on the waves of suffering and believe that there is a God who comes with you. That is, we must not only look at the trials, but also look to the God who is seated in the flood of suffering. Psalm 29:10 says: "The LORD is enthroned in the flood; the LORD is enthroned as king forever and ever."
Ladies and gentlemen, God sometimes blesses the saints through the flood of trials and tribulations. Look at the athletes. They get up early in the morning for a run, lift heavy equipment, and constantly train. Hard training is a huge pain for them, but it is through this pain that they become stronger and become great athletes. Also, have you ever seen the fingers of a student majoring in the violin? They practiced so much that they had calluses on their hands. The same goes for the toes of those who do ballet.
To be a good Christian, God sometimes makes us suffer.
You can also give the process. But when such painful days come, don't be surprised and say, "Aha, this makes me more beautiful!" Think about it and accept the suffering with joy. And use that suffering as an opportunity to reflect on yourself more, and use it as an opportunity to draw closer to God. This is the season of Lent, when we remember the sufferings of the Lord. In other words, just as there was a period of suffering before the brilliant resurrection of Jesus, it is a period in which we also participate in suffering to meet the brilliant resurrection. I hope that you will pass through the hardships that come in your life well, so I pray that you will participate in the more splendid moment of resurrection.