Trials: God’s Approval
If your understanding of a relationship with God is “Good things happen when God is happy with me, bad things happen when He is displeased with me” then not only you will be shocked by what the Bible says about trials, but it may indicate that you have a misunderstanding of the gospel. Jesus said that trials, troubles, and tribulations (from a variety sources!) would increase for those who put their trust in Him and that far from being a proof of God’s disapproval they serve as evidence that you truly belong to Him. The gospel tells us that all of God’s disapproval and displeasure against us was placed upon His own Son at the cross of calvary so that we would now only receive the trials of grace that He allows to awaken us, test us, mature us, chasten us and shape us. (James 1:1-12, 1 Peter 4:12-13, Heb. 12:1-11)
I came across an old out-of-print book by J. Oswald Sanders entitled “Men from God’s School” and in it I found a quote that presents this truth wonderfully:
“Severe testing is not the mark of divine disapproval, rather the reverse. Only Ore which bears precious metal is subject to processing and crushing. Only alloy in which there is valuable metal is placed within the refiner’s fire. Since God has pledged Himself never to subject His children to tests beyond their ability to bear, a severe test is in reality His vote of confidence” Men from God’s School pg. 20
Man, the Gospel is so much better than we often imagine and practice. Thank you Jesus!!
(Amen brother)
“I didn’t suffer for Jesus in prison. No! I was with Jesus and I experienced His very real presence, joy, peace every day. It’s not those in prison for the sake of the gospel who suffer. The person who suffers is he who never experiences God’s intimate presence.” -Brother Yun (AKA “The Heavenly Man”)
Not sure that this is true:), but thanks for a post.
Elcoj
Elcoj,
what?
Wow! That’s awesome! Thanks for the Word, bro.
Elcoj, I know the idea Tim has written on can sound wierd. Probably because people do not ever talk about this. However I think if you read 1 Peter you will see this spelled out in clear terms. For example when Peter writes to christians who have been dispersed because of persecution throughout Asia Minor He essentially tells them not to “think it is strange that they are undergoing fiery trials” (1 Pet 4:12). He tells believers to rejoice because trials/sufferings/persecutions are one of God’s means of saving His people (1 Pet 4:17-19). It is referred to in the OT as a “salvation judgment”. The thought is, if God does not judge me (discipline me, sanctify me, rebuke me, confront me, teach me, chastise me) then I am jacked!! If God leaves me to myself to work out my salvation, to discipline myself, to rebuke myself then I am jacked!! Why? We would be jacked because we are all lazy, forgetful, undisciplined, faithless followers without the discipline, counseling, help, and friendship of the Holy Spirit. Jesus makes that clear to his disciples in the upper room (Jn14-16).Thank God that He does not leave us to work out our salvation, but the Holy Spirit comes into my sin indwelt life to take out my trash, and make me no longer dependent on the world and its system for my nourishment. How does God, like a mother nursing a child, wean me off the “milk” of the world? He allows me to see how “spoiled” the milk I was drinking once was!! Through trials, I begin to experience that in this world, I have trouble!! This is not so God can point and laugh and see if I can try to fight through the pain. But so, I will look to His world, the New heavens and New earth wherein righteousness dwells, so I will worship His King, Jesus. God deeply wants my eyes to be fixed to Him, His King, and His Kingdom, that is why, until I am at that place, the Father will lovingly “salvation judge” me until I am fixed up (Heb 12:10-11). God does allow trials and sufferings (not beyond what we are able to handle 1 Cor. 10:31) to come into our lives so that our faith may be strengthened (1 Pet 1:6-9) Let me ask you this Elcoj. If we are saved by faith from beginning to end (Rom 1:16-17), and trials merely serve to strengthen our faith/hope in God (Rom. 5:1-5), and Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:1-2) then should not we as believers embrace and expect the God who loves us and wills to bring us into His kingdom through many trials (Acts 14:22) to strengthen our faith in this way? I think we should, but you should read 1 Peter for yourself to see if what I am saying is true (Acts 17:11).