One of my biggest blessings this year has been the testimony
of Bro. Jun (see Feb. 20 entry). After
experiencing kidney cancer nearly 2 years ago, God exalted this humble servant
and led him to revive the church he now pastors. On June 4, we ordained him. Two days later, it was confirmed that his
cancer had returned and metastasized. Now
he is in deep pain, doubtful that he will make it to Christmas.
One doesn’t have to live long in the Christian life before
running up against situations that just do not make sense. A Christian soldier is killed, others
unharmed. A tornado destroys a church
building, leaving surrounding structures intact. An innocent child is kidnapped and tortured,
his captor never caught. An immoral man
becomes wealthy, an honest Christian looses his job. It’s a question often asked by the prophets
of old, “Lord, why do the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer?” (Psalm
73:3; Jer. 12:1; Job 21:7; Hab. 1:4)
Before we claim to know the answer, let’s recall these
words: “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter” (Prov. 25:2); “The secret
things belong to the Lord” (Deut. 29:29); “Truly you are a God who hides
Himself” (Isaiah 45:15); “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the
body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God,
the maker of all things” (Eccl. 11:5). Sometimes
God may reveal to us why a particular trial comes, other times He’s
silent.
Many people willingly make sacrifices, such as a mother who
gives her life in order to save her child, or a soldier who sacrifices his life
for his country. But what is
particularly troubling is when we can’t find a purpose for the suffering; when
we can’t see God behind it. Job (23:2-9)
complained, “If only I knew where to find Him… I would state my case before Him… But if I go to the east, He is not there; if
I go to the west, I do not find Him.
When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when He turns to the
south, I catch no glimpse of Him.”
So what are we to do when God seems absent during a tidal
wave of adversity? James Dobson, in His
book, When God Doesn’t Make Sense, recommends that we camp our thoughts on
three truths. First, God is present and
involved in our lives even when we don’t see Him. Like the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus
who didn’t recognize Jesus, even though He was beside them, we choose not to
trust our emotions, but to believe God’s Word.
“I will never leave you,” Jesus said. (Matt. 28). God is “a friend who sticks closer than a
brother” (Prov.18). “If I take the wings
of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Thy hand
will lead me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me” (Psalm 139).
Second, God’s timing is perfect, even when He seems
late. Mary and Martha were certain God
was too late in coming to the aid of their deceased brother, Lazarus. But God’s purposes could only be accomplished
by coming when He did. When tragedy
strikes, some of God’s purposes may be seen, but other purposes will never be
understood this side of heaven’s gates. And
that’s when we remember a third truth: For reasons that are impossible to
explain, we are incredibly precious to God.
“What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him
so much attention, that you examine him every morning?” (Job 7). David said in Psalm 8, “What is man that you
are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” “O Lord, you have searched me and you know
me. You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar. You
discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways…”
(Psalm 139).
So why did kidney cancer have to strike Bro. Jun? (I can understand me getting kidney cancer;
no problem with that!) In fact, I could
make a long list of people who I think make better candidates for kidney
cancer. I can give God the list whenever
He’s ready for it! But in the shadows of
heaven there works a wisdom and purpose far higher than I could ever see. What He HAS given to me and you are precious
truths that can see us through any dark storm of adversity: God is always with us, He is never late, and for
some unimaginable reason, we are precious to Him.
2 comments:
This blog is very encouraging to us. Sometimes so difficult not to ask WHY but we know God is in control and His timing is perfect. We pray God's richest blessings on you and your family.
I am curious about your perspective on the recent leadership and upcoming structural changes to the IMB. I would be very interested to see a post on that topic.
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