With care and concern, a father observes his children struggle.
Have you seen that short dark-comic video of a father restraining his wife from keeping their toddler from playing with an electrical outlet? Then after an exploratory short circuit, with the expected zapping noise and a brief brown out, the father gives his son, who is barely old enough to understand English at all, that “I bet you’re not going to do that again,” emphasizing the often practical, though in this case, a gross parody of learning by mistakes, sometimes quite painful mistakes.
One of the ways God restrains Himself, much like a parent often restrains themselves from helping their struggling children, is when He stands back and allows a person to suffer the consequences of their poor decisions, one of the manifestations of our free will.
We live in a fallen world, spiritually and physically, if we follow the basic law of thermodynamics, unless there is a constant influx of external energy, things ultimately lose their mojo, sort of like a spinning top that losses its steam. Furthermore, the spiritual aspect of life, evil is real, sin is real and the resulting suffering is most real. There are spells or periods of life that can seem confusing, unbearable, or unjust. The truth that life does not simply cater to our personal preferences can become a trite reminder that we live in a world full of diversity and adversity causing us to seek that which ultimately fulfills.
Given our propensity to be auto-filled with self-pride and self-righteousness, which are two personal attributes that are often fatal barriers to accepting God, it makes sense that those who are described in Jesus’ B-attitudes in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) are of those who are most able to more naturally be open to God’s calling.
The means to fulfillment seems paradoxical, compared to how the world lures us to its measures of success. Jesus taught how a contrite and humble heart opens the door to ultimate freedom to the Way, the Truth and the Life in God through Christ.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:3-10
This lists those who are in the position to receive blessing from God, the inverse of what the world considers very successful people. There is no favor given to those who are puffed up with self-pride and self-righteousness, those who are too full of themselves and their own accomplishments to be humble in the sight of an Almighty God. On the contrary, the people closer to God are either selfless or serving others, out of love, to bring about peace. Others may have endured much suffering at the hands of themselves, others, or accidents. In any case, the sincere and contrite heart, recognizing the awareness of their own sin problem and need for repentance, is a heart prepared for God to bless and comfort.
Not all people who suffer are open to receiving or asking God for help, but He remains ready to bless all those who earnestly seek Him.
This brings me back to the point of God’s restraint. He does not rescue us like some cosmic hand maiden. Like the stereotypical manly-man in the intro, there’s a sense of learning and character that God knows the bounds that you must endure to discover.
There’s saying in the movie “Gladiator” where the character, Maximus, played by Russell Crowe, while tied up in the Coliseum’s dungeon, states to Quintas, his former second in command, that “nothing ever happens to anyone that he is not fitted by nature to bear.” In other words, if you can’t handle it, fate will not call you to it (At least not that you realized it yet, Quintas). This philosophy is not biblical in the sense that God’s surety, blessings of peace and endurance, and sovereign will is not factored in, but some reality is touched upon in that difficulties in life, followers of Christ will be given courage to endure and rise above even tragic circumstances, receiving God’s peace and in which God’s glory is revealed.
There are three other truths, I’d like to point out, that play an important role in understanding the purpose of God’s restraint from the purpose of maturing a Christian:
One is a refinement of a person’s character weighed down by sin like excess weight on a drowning person. This process that can take a life time, or substantial portions of life to get to the watershed moment or period.
Two is in how God’s blessings may be glorified in the resulting transformations.
Three is the surety of an eternal kingdom where the greatest joy in this life cannot meet the amazingly wonderful satisfaction that awaits in heaven.
As for the last reason, there is no hope at all without the reality of an eternal life. For those who believe and have faith in God, death is not the end of life but merely a doorway that leads to an incomparable, breathtaking, and glorious fellowship with Jesus Christ (God) and other believers. Eternal life with God is being filled with the ultimate sense of well-being and purpose in service to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
This priceless gift of God’s grace came at a cost.
There is no lasting, enduring hope, without the truth of Jesus having died and rising spiritually and bodily from the grave, taking upon his own soul our sin for our sake because He loved us, and then defeating death in glorious declaration of God’s victory.
What do you trust your life to and why is it trustworthy?
For a detailed explanation of who Jesus Christ is from the Bible’s perspective go to the video in this website , “Who is Jesus Christ?”
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
CKY
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I like to think that heaven and hell are real places, but they are here, now in your life and where you are depends on your bad, or good decisions. We make our own heaven or hell based on how we live our lives every single day. Making bad decisions, falling down, but with the ability to get up and make better decisions in your life. Religion has the ability to provide a guide and comfort in times of suffering, but in my mind organized religion can have some negative aspects. The negative aspects have led me to look elsewhere for my truth, while keeping in mind the positive aspects of all religions. I am still working my way through this life and trying to be a good person and helping others when I can.