Understanding God - 12

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus.
We thank God for another opportunity to communicate with you. We bring you another instalment of our series on “Understanding God”. In exploring this, we began to consider “The Sovereignty of God” which, in turn, has led us to a focus on “The Place of Satan” and “Understanding Tribulation”.
UNDERSTANDING GOD 12

In furtherance of our exploration on “The Sovereignty of God”, we have been considering the place of Satan in the scheme of things. We have confirmed from the Scriptures that Satan exists and operates only by God’s permission. This has led us to a focus on tribulation and a consideration of the roles played by God, man and Satan in the tribulation ‘ring’. Thus far, we have explored different types of tribulation, namely tests of faith, temptations, persecutions, the fiery darts of the wicked and the chastisement of God.
In this study, we are focusing on physical mishaps.

(6) Physical mishaps. These come in different forms: occupational hazards (e.g. quarrying stones and splitting wood –Ecc.10:9), natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes – Mk.13:8), accidents (e.g. Paul’s shipwreck and Eutychus’ fall – Ac.27:39-43, 2 Cor.11:25, Ac.20:9), attacks from animals (e.g. lion in relation to the young prophet, or snake in relation to Paul – 1 Ki.13:23-26) and diseases of the body and mind (e.g. leprosy, blindness, Trophymus’ illness, Timothy’s stomach disorder and other ailments – Lk.5:12, Jn.9:1-3, 2 Tim.4:20, 1 Tim.5:23). These are challenges arising from the fall of man, which are common to man. The fall of Adam weakened man and distorted the original order that God put in place. The soil was cursed (for man’s sake) and he has since needed his wits to keep in check the beasts of the forest. True, there is redemption in Christ, but the effects on nature can only be manifest in a progressive manner, for the following reasons:

(a) Not everyone has embraced the salvation that is in Christ. It would be unwise to completely reverse the effects of the curse on the earth while the vast majority of its population remains in spiritual darkness, especially when many are in that state by choice, and in total disregard for the gospel of salvation.
(b) In a sense, salvation is a continuous experience. We have been saved, we are being saved and we will be saved (1 Cor.1:18, Jam.1:21, Rom.5:10). Little wonder, Paul says “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phi.2:12). The Holy Spirit, given to us, is the “earnest of our inheritance”, (a deposit or part payment on our inheritance) pending the redemption of the purchased possession (Eph.1:13-14, 1 Pet.1:3-4).
(c) On account of the disobedience of man, the earth (as it is) is no longer a permanent home for man. The Lord has instituted a process of separation, to determine those who qualify for the New Jerusalem.
The present Heavens and Earth will pass away, and the New Jerusalem will descend from God out of Heaven, to rest upon the new earth. Even though there will be a foretaste of total restoration during the 1000-reign of Christ on the earth, the fulness of restoration will be experienced in the New Jerusalem (Rev.21:1-4).

(d) The main focus of God for now is two-fold: How He may save the lost and how He may get those that are saved to be God-focused and purpose-driven. Faith in God may cushion the effects of these challenges and deliver us, in many instances, but will not completely eliminate them. Now is the time to discover and fulfil God’s will. Afterwards, we may enter our rest.