KNOWING THE PARADOXES OF SUFFERIN

KNOWING THE PARADOXES OF SUFFERING

I'd like to share yet another way God teaches us through Paul not to fear suffering, dying or death. I put it that way because often when we say we're afraid of dying, it's the "suffering" part that we're actually afraid of. We've already talked about how terribly Paul suffered. He suffered both physical illness, as well as pain; he suffered persecution by his own people, the Jews as well as from false teachers. That persecution took just about every form it can take--from name calling, derogatory remarks about him and his teaching, to being arrested and threatened with death, to being beaten etc. So how did Paul handle all of this, besides the ways which we already talked about? He did exactly what the Lord tells us to do, he took his (and everyone elses in the process) focus off himself and his problems and put it directly on God where it belonged. Look how he does that here by contrasting his own weakness with the great power of God: (I want to quote it in context so you'll know what he's talking about)

2 Corinthians 4:5–7, NIV For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

So Paul compares himself to a jar of clay that's filled with "this treasure". What treasure is he talking about? The treasure is that when we're born again the Lord gives us His light, His Holy Spirit, who teaches us and guides us into all truth so that we can understand and have "the knowledge of the glory of God in Christ". In other words, because we're saved and have the Holy Spirit, we can now understand God's Word and understand the gospel of Christ, God's plan of salvation. If you go back further you'll see that Paul explains how unbelievers can't understand the truth.

So to Paul, what he saw as "his treasure", the most important thing in his life, we today pretty much ignore or take for granted.

Next Paul shows us that when we take the focus off ourselves and put it on God a most remarkable thing happens. He shows us how God enables us because of our human weakness. Remember that verse where God tells us that His strength is made perfect in weakness? Well this next passage shows that in action:

2 Corinthians 4:8–12, NIV We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Here Paul shows again that He trusted God to always show him a way out of every situation. He didn't fight against suffering, he simply rolled with the punches, knowing God was in control. This shows us that Paul believed that he suffered for a reason and since he knew God's Word and had a close relationship with the Lord, he also knew that God didn't "enjoy" making people suffer, but instead that God would allow it for that persons good, for their spiritual growth, and for the good and spiritual growth of others in the body of Christ.

I just have to share with you something from MacArthur's book, The Power of Suffering. When it talks about the 4 paradoxes, it's talking about this verse:

2 Corinthians 4:8–12, NIV We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Paul’s four paradoxes in the face of suffering give us additional reason to marvel at his testimony. They are also reminders that we do not realize power by avoiding suffering but by enduring it. Paul was completely committed to tenacious perseverance through any difficulty. Certainly he knew the truth and reality of the Prophet Isaiah’s words concerning God’s care for His own:

But now, thus says the Lord, your creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isa. 43:1–3).
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. The Power of Suffering

The 4 paradoxes are:
1. hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
2. perplexed, but not in despair;
3. persecuted, but not abandoned
4. struck down, but not destroyed

The paradox is that while we may be weak, God is strong so while we go through these trials, fears etc (or in this case as Paul does) while what we and the world sees with our physical eyes are all the troubles, trials, crises etc, we also see that while the person going through them may be having a rough time, they aren't crushed, despairing, abandoned or destroyed. Instead they're rejoicing over God's provision, over God's comfort and encouragement, etc. We know we can do that, be joyful even in the midst of trials, because we know the Lord loves us and will take care of us, so all is well with our souls.

An example if I may: During the 20 months that Bruce was unemployed, I was very very aware of God's provision for us and very thankful. At the same time however, the sinful part of me, wanted more, and still whined at times about it. It wasn't until recently when I saw how bad off some other people were that I realized just how well the Lord had provided for us. I've been totally amazed by this since then that He would do this for us. Of course it makes me even more embarrassed about the times I did get down and whine about it, and I certainly hope I've learned that lesson for good. I'm sure that Paul didn't realize just how much his sufferings would help others or how many other people he would help by what he went through. He must be amazed and humbled even now that the Lord used him in this way. But what he did know and trust was that the Lord would bring good from it and that it was something that was worthwhile for him to go through both for his own growth and for the growth of others.

That's the lesson we need to remember. That no matter what we're going through, no matter how bad it looks to us, that it's something we need to go through, otherwise we wouldn't be going through it. And if it's something we need to go through, it's much better for us if we pay attention to the Lord and try and learn what He's trying to teach us and show us.

No one likes to suffer, and I'm sure Paul didn't enjoy it anymore then any of us would. So how in the world did he endure it for so long? First as I said before he endured because he never doubted for a moment that anyone, not himself, not Satan, not the world or circumstances etc were in control other then God. Like Job, he figured if God ordained it, then it must be for a good reason, and who was he to argue with God?

That's one of the biggest differences I find in our culture today and the culture of those who lived in the days of Jesus or the days of the Old testament. I know I brought this up in another study as well, but as you read the old testament, you see over and over again that people didn't doubt that God was behind what happened to them, regardless of whether what happened was good or bad. Today we're quick to admit that it's God if the thing happening is good, but many would rather cut out their tongues then imply that God could send bad things into our lives. (Or at least what we consider bad things) For those that might not have read that other study were we discussed this, let me just point out some examples. When you read them, think about what people today would say if they were in the same position and you'll see what I mean.

Remember the story of Joseph? How his brothers sold him as a slave and he wound up in Egypt? Joseph went from being a wealthy mans beloved son, to being a lowly slave, and from there to being in a prison for a couple of years, so he suffered a great deal and for quite a long time before Pharaoh released him from prison and made him his first hand man.

When his brothers went to Egypt to buy food, Joseph set them up, remember? He had the guards put their money back in their sacks. You can imagine what someone would say when they discovered something like that today! But here's what the brothers said:

Genesis 42:27–28, NIV At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.” Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”

There are examples like that all through the Bible.

When his brothers realized who Joseph was when they went to Egypt to buy food, they were terrified because they assumed that Joseph would want to pay them back for what they did. Here's what Joseph said:

Genesis 50:19–21, NIV But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

I think Job describes this belief quite well when he says:

Job 2:10, NIV He replied, ... Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

It simply didn't occur to people then that anyone or anything other then God would be the cause of any problems they might be having. Where today we're very quick to blame another person or the government or the weather, or Satan, back then people knew and understood that it was God who was ultimately in control. I don't have to tell you what others including Christians will say today if you try to tell them that now! People today have been so infected with ideas about "God is love" that they no longer understand that although He is love, He is also Holy, just, righteous etc.

But Paul understood this, so he didn't try to fight it when he suffered. Like I said, he just rolled with the punches, fully expecting that because he was living for God and doing His Will that God would eventually provide a way out each time. And as we know, God always did.

God doesn't change even though people's ideas about Him do. So the God that never let Paul down is not going to let us down either. We can trust Him, just like Paul did and for the same reasons.