THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET REAL
Where is God in suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? These are some of the deepest questions of the human soul.
Pain shapes us. The ancient Greek poet Hesiod (c. 700 BC) wrote:...”But before the road of Excellence the immortal gods have placed sweat. And the way to it is long and steep and rough at first. But when one arrives at the summit, then it is easy, even though remaining difficult.” In 1577, a British poet said: “They must take pain that look for any gain." And today, of course, we say ”No pain, no gain.”
Rembrandt, and a host of other famous artists, have been captured by the image of the church's first great tragedy in Acts; the killing of Stephen. This event arrests us with its violence, and at the same time, it reminds us of what Jesus went through. Stephen's death brought great pain, yet catalyzed the first faith community toward a deeper communion with Jesus' suffering and on to a mission that would change the world.
When we feel judged by others, when we feel lonely and excluded from certain friend groups or at work, when we feel like “exiles” in our contemporary culture, we’re in good company with Jesus and Stephen... and Matthew, Mark, Luke, the other disciples, Paul, saints of the Church; Tyndale, Joan of Arc, Wycliffe, Jim Elliot, Dietrich Bonhoeffer…
These people would say losing their life was nothing compared to the gain of knowing Jesus deeply. The old hymn says, “Oh the wonderful cross, bids me come and die and find that I may truly live.”
Jesus invites us to die to our “old selves”, our “false selves” and find our true selves - in Him. How might God use suffering, hardship, and challenge to grow us?
** Also, a copy of what Justin read at the end, an excerpt from his forthcoming (maybe someday??) book, can be found at www.brancheshumboldt.org/invitation
