MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee. for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutors, in distresses for Christ’s sake. for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 AV)
People often say, when there is an accident, tragedy, or persecution that they cannot be reconciled to, “Why did God allow this?” or “If God is so loving how could He let this happen?”
This most often comes from people who do not believe in God anyway, but Christians and even clergy do not seem to be able to answer these cries of anguish. Is it because they do not know the God they profess to worship and love, or could it be that even they do not really believe in Him anymore, and are just going through the motions.
“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6 AV)
Whilst feeling for the ones affected by these events, we have to face up to the fact that this life is a tuition period for the greater life to come. Tragedies and persecutors do happen and this is all part of our fallen state and also a learning process. This may sound very hard to some, but we are dealing with Almighty God here and His ways are not our ways.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 AV)
Our spiritual life is paramount and if we concentrate on getting that right more often than not the physical side of this life will certainly improve. But as St Paul realized, and we must too, this life can never be perfect. We are under Grace through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore believing on Him we no longer must pay the ultimate price, as He did that for us, but still, we must go through “the valley of the shadow of death.”
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4 AV)
We can learn from all difficulties, if we have a mind to. That is if we really want to get to know the Lord. None of it is “God’s fault”, we have to understand that none of these things would have happened if the Cosmos had not fallen through Adam and Eve’s sin. All accidents and tragedies are a result of sin, whether our own personal ones or the consequences of other people’s sins. We live in a sinful world. Every day, every second of the day, some one, somewhere is sinning, and there are repercussions from those sins. They may not be obvious at first, even to the ones committing the sin, but somewhere down the line the consequences will happen.
Almighty God does not say He will protect even the most devout believer from the slings and arrows of this world order. But He does say He will be with us through them and help us deal with them.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10: 13 AV)
We must remember that it is not through our own strength, which most of the time seems very weak, but through God’s strength that we come through these events. And God’s strength is second to none. There is no one who can separate us from Him once we put our trust in Him completely. It is not easy. If anyone tells you to be a Christian is just going around singing God’s praises with a silly grin on your face, they are kidding you.
Being a Christian is hard work, but the rewards are beyond our wildest dreams and therefore worth every effort we put in to it, (No disease, no war, no crime, no famines, no “natural” disasters, no hindrances to our achieving the best we can be). This is how it will be in the new age to come when the Lord Jesus returns to take over His throne.
Our Father God offers us Everlasting Life with Him in true perfection of being, to glorify Him and enjoy Him. All He asks is that we obey His commandments, which is how we show our love for Him.
The Lord Jesus Christ made it possible for us to rise above the tragedies, persecutors and difficulties of our lives and when things go wrong for us, the promise that He is with us, has gone to prepare a place for us and will come again to receive us should help us to keep going what ever happens. Here is proof also that whilst He has gone into the Heavens for a while He can yet be with us all the time. Is not this truly our God and Saviour?
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may he also.” (John 14:2-3 AV)
“For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10 AV)
“But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:” (2 Timothy 1: 10 AV)
This is where the full Gospel of the Kingdom (Israel Identity), comes into its own. It provides the answers to that cry, “Why does God allow it?” We may not like the answer but it provides a stronger one than the useless reply the local priest usually gives, “I don’t know what to say to you, these things are a mystery.” Or something equally vague.
These are the answers, God does not cause these things but He does allow them. 1) Because of man’s original sin, and on-going sins 2) To lead us back to Him. At the end of our lives, even when one may not be a believer, when all else and every one else fails us. Who is it that people most often turn to if only out of desperation?
We all want to live, it’s only natural – that is what God intended that we should do. But this “Life” is not just physical. It is not the most important thing to hang on to at all costs no matter the quality or lack thereof. The most important thing is our eternal life, with God.
We must somehow try to look at life from His viewpoint. We have come so far from Him that it is difficult I admit but this should not stop us from trying. It means that we will have to do some serious rethinking about a lot of things. Such as is it right to keep people on machines just to keep the body functioning when the brain has stopped giving its natural signals to it, or prolonging a person’s physical life even though to do so only causes them incredible pain and suffering. Not that I am advocating euthanasia – merely that we should consider just how far we ought to go in keeping ourselves in this world when God has ordained that we should die and go to Him at appointed times. Are we fighting against the Lord’s will for us?
And what about all these insurance policies? Every day through the mail, on TV and elsewhere we are encouraged to take out insurance against accidents, unemployment, flood, fire, theft, even death, for the benefit of those left behind. Oh and don’t forget pensions for our retirement. Most people do take out these policies, just in case. I don’t, I can’t afford to for one thing. No amount of money can take away the despair we feel when these things happen. Sure money can help to rebuild the material side of life, but the loneliness and frustration we feel cannot be healed with an insurance policy. Deep down inside I cannot help thinking that we do not trust the Lord enough to look after us.
Circumstances have put me in a position where I do have to entirely trust that the Lord will look after me, because I have no money and no one person to care for me, should anything go wrong. I do not however worry all day, every day about my situation. I put my life in the Lord’s hands and get on with living. He certainly has looked after me and I know will continue to do so.
That is not to say unpleasant things have not happened to me, but as I look back I can see where and how the Lord has been with me and guided and supported me through those troublous times.
Insurance policies? The best policy should be taken out with the firm of Father, Son & Holy Ghost. Because that is one policy that has already been paid in full. One that we can all afford, nay one that we cannot afford to be without!
And so as with St Paul I say;
“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutors, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 AV)
“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” (1 Peter 2:6 AV)
“Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.” (Proverbs 28:14 AV)
“They cried unto thee and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.” (Psalms 22.5 AV)
