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However, many of us have been to church; born gain for the 3rd time and re-baptized. They have laid hands on us all Sundays plus holidays. We have a hundred times declared victory and a thousand times banished problems away. All the 10% of our incomes, 40% of our profits and 70% of our bonuses have been given to the storehouse of the Lord – But we still, come home to face the same old problems. It is the most faithful Believers who still face the chop at work, sleep in emergency rooms and lose their loved ones. Why does God allow His beloved to face such hardships?
Below are a few biblical reasons. Let’s go through them together.
To test the genuineness of their faith.
The best way to check the genuineness of something is to stretch it beyond its limit. Many fall away from Christianity the first time they meet challenges, proving that their faith was based on what they could get from God, not on true love for Him. For God wants people who truly love Him as a Father; not those who pretend to love Him because they want to use Him to get “anointed blessings”. Therefore, if one’s faith in Christ will hold on even after tribulation, temptation and persecution. Such faith is not dependent on circumstances but on Christ the Rock. Just like Job who proved to be a true Believer even after losing everything. That is genuine faith indeed.
Matthew 24:13 - But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
To grow their faith.
The more a Born-again is afflicted, the more is his or her dependence on the Lord to seek Him. Anyone can relax when everything is going good. Why pray when the fridge is overflowing? On the other hand, a bad situation is a good method to drive a Christian to his or her knees and a chance to return to "first Love" with Christ. The end result is a more mature and fruitful Christian life.
James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
So that they don’t make earth their heaven
The devil enjoys it to see Christians too comfortable on earth as they are today. They are far from any thought and desire of heaven. Such is a Christian with no desire to meet Christ, no urgency to work hard for God now, unconcern for others to help them, increased love for money, and more ambitions to built kingdoms on earth than lay treasures in heaven. Hence this is the reason why the Almighty always allows wars, diseases, droughts, accidents and difficult times. These are necessary for heaven citizens who become too comfortable with earthly pleasures until they forget about a better home that Christ went to prepare for them. It takes one or two tears plus a bad day for someone to desire a better home.
2 Corinthians 5:2 - For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.
To remove their idols.
An idol is something you value more than your God. Such a thing occupies your thoughts more than anything else. Some people over-love their possessions and goods such that they have no time for their Maker. Others are they who exalt their heroes and spiritual leaders to the level of the Creator Himself. Still, others are addicted to idolizing themselves and their bodies. Most idols promote pride. God wants His true believers to value Him as number one, far above anything they can have. He is the giver of everything. Therefore He may allow a calamity that will wipe away your idols and pride; in humility, you will acknowledge Him as did Nebuchadnezzar when the whole kingdom was taken away from him. In the end, God remains as the ultimate treasure for our souls.
Jeremiah 9:23- Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me...
To get their attention.
God loves His sheep so much that He desires to be in constant fellowship and communion with them. However, Believers sometimes ignore God through unopened Bibles, prayer-less lives and general laziness about the things of God. Like Jonah, it may take a desperate situation for a Believer to desperately run back to his Saviour.
Psalm 120:1 - In my distress, I cried to the LORD, And He heard me.
To train them for service.
Soldiers get months of painful training so that they may be well-equipped to do their job well. In the same way, God also uses painful challenges to train those He has chosen for a certain calling in the future. The bigger the mission, the harder the training.
Acts 9:15- But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."
To discipline them for their sinning.
For Believers, there is no condemnation for any sin because of the Cross of Christ which forgives all past, present and future sins. However, God as a loving father has a right to discipline His children if they do not want to listen. Although many times believers may not know when the Lord disciplines them for certain sins. However, just like David, God's discipline is of a loving Father.
Revelation 3:19 - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
So that they may have compassion for others in the future.
An experience with life's problems softens one’s heart and creates compassion for others who go through the same so as to help them.
Hebrews 13:3 - Remember the prisoners as if chained with them, those who are mistreated-since you yourselves are in the body also.
Problems affect every human on earth
Whoever told the innocent souls that coming to church and being a Christian will wipe away all their earthly problems is cruel, nor does that person understand the reality of the fact that all human beings under the sun face sufferings of many kinds. Both the African and the Asian, the black man and the white man; yes, even the richest people with the smartest doctors also get sick and die.
When Adam sinned, these words echoed across the garden, “cursed is the ground because of you”. We all still live on that cursed ground, which is full of thorns and thistles (suffering and pain) to give discomfort to our flesh.
The only solution to our problems is an understanding that this earth is not a home that God has in store for us. He has prepared a heavenly city for us. Let us therefore not put too much hope in this fallen world, but let us look ahead to a New Jerusalem, where the Saviour of our souls will wipe every tear from our eyes.
Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 - What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.
Conclusion
Day to day challenges of a Believer are not a sign that the Lord forsakes His elect but evidence of His love and care. In your painful times do not be angry at God, nor complain. He knows that all things (good &bad) shall work together for good for them that love Him.
Nothing that this world throws at you should be able to take away your joy in Christ. Rather, you should pray that your faith may not fail – that you may remain faithful until the end no matter what trouble you face in this life. Amen.
Sinothi Ncube
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