The world is going through uncharted territories with so much problems and unresolved issues but seemingly with no solutions in sight. Wars and conflicts are filling the news headlines with people killed and collateral damages mounting on every front. Though man may be able to send satellites to Mars, mankind has no answer to resolve man's inhumanity to man.
Take poverty and hunger for example, millions are poor and hungry without even the basic necessity of food and water to sustain life. The gross injustice done to the discriminated and marginalized in society is so rampant that it is happening even in Western developed countries.The seemingly endless series of problems and sufferings that millions are going through has no light at the end of the tunnel. Despite all the wisdom, wealth and power of nations, nothing seems able to stop the tide, let alone resolve them.
The question in most people's mind is - why God is allowing all the innocent to suffer? The popular explanation is because of sin due to the Fall of Adam and Eve - the first parents of the human race - and hence the consequences ever since. But while sin is ever present since the Fall because man had chosen the knowledge of good and evil - meaning that man chose to go their own way which has some good and some evil choices as well. The bad choices man made are the causes that result in bad effects, and this is happening all around us, albeit on a massive scale.
One of the fruits of the Spirit of God - His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)- is listed as longsuffering (Numbers 14:18, Galatians 5:22). The word literally means 'to suffer long'. For those who are called to be followers of Christ, and eventually sons of God, they need to develop Christ-like character and that includes longsuffering - the ability to bear suffering! If God were to eradicate suffering from this world, it would go against His will for His children to be partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). But God will not allow His children to be tempted and to suffer beyond what they are able to endure - 1 Corinthians 10:13.
King Solomon penned that God built suffering into man's life for a purpose - that he might become a mature and better person through it all - Ecclesiastes 7:2-4, 14,15,18. This is evident in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ and His suffering. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered - Hebrews 5:8. Our loving and perfect God has great power and infinite understanding (Psalm 147:5) and He expects the same from His children (Matthew 5:48).
The Bible tells us that one of God's character is longsuffering. Since God's plan is to develop His children to have the perfect and righteous character like the Lord Jesus Christ in order for them to be born again as immortal sons of God to rule and reign in His coming kingdom, it is essential for them to learn the value of human suffering in this world! - Hebrews 2:10. Nothing else short will do. Human mind will never understand why a powerful and loving God will allow mankind to suffer the way it is. Theologians taught that it is all a result of sin. While there is some truth in this, it is not the complete picture. Many suffer through no fault of their own, even more so than the wicked!
Similarly, the Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:21, 'For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps'. Those who aspire to be His followers should follow in His footstep to learn the value of suffering and be mature in Christ - 1 Peter 2:19-20. ' If we suffer, we shall also reign with him' - 2 Timothy 2:12. These verses explain that sufferings build character required of sons of God.
God's true servants like David, Job, Daniel, Paul and Peter among many others all suffer in one form or another. David declared, 'It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes' - Psalm 119:71. The Apostle Paul had endured it all (2 Corinthians 11:24-30), perhaps more than any others apart from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Suffering is unpleasant but necessary to learn the lesson God has intended in His infinite wisdom and power engineered in our lives. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution - 2 Timothy 3:12. The passage in 2 Timothy 3 is written in the context of the last days - the very time we are living in now! But take heart that God will not allow His called elect to endure beyond what they are able to bear, for He will provide them with a way of escape - 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.
Take poverty and hunger for example, millions are poor and hungry without even the basic necessity of food and water to sustain life. The gross injustice done to the discriminated and marginalized in society is so rampant that it is happening even in Western developed countries.The seemingly endless series of problems and sufferings that millions are going through has no light at the end of the tunnel. Despite all the wisdom, wealth and power of nations, nothing seems able to stop the tide, let alone resolve them.
The question in most people's mind is - why God is allowing all the innocent to suffer? The popular explanation is because of sin due to the Fall of Adam and Eve - the first parents of the human race - and hence the consequences ever since. But while sin is ever present since the Fall because man had chosen the knowledge of good and evil - meaning that man chose to go their own way which has some good and some evil choices as well. The bad choices man made are the causes that result in bad effects, and this is happening all around us, albeit on a massive scale.
One of the fruits of the Spirit of God - His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)- is listed as longsuffering (Numbers 14:18, Galatians 5:22). The word literally means 'to suffer long'. For those who are called to be followers of Christ, and eventually sons of God, they need to develop Christ-like character and that includes longsuffering - the ability to bear suffering! If God were to eradicate suffering from this world, it would go against His will for His children to be partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). But God will not allow His children to be tempted and to suffer beyond what they are able to endure - 1 Corinthians 10:13.
King Solomon penned that God built suffering into man's life for a purpose - that he might become a mature and better person through it all - Ecclesiastes 7:2-4, 14,15,18. This is evident in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ and His suffering. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered - Hebrews 5:8. Our loving and perfect God has great power and infinite understanding (Psalm 147:5) and He expects the same from His children (Matthew 5:48).
The Bible tells us that one of God's character is longsuffering. Since God's plan is to develop His children to have the perfect and righteous character like the Lord Jesus Christ in order for them to be born again as immortal sons of God to rule and reign in His coming kingdom, it is essential for them to learn the value of human suffering in this world! - Hebrews 2:10. Nothing else short will do. Human mind will never understand why a powerful and loving God will allow mankind to suffer the way it is. Theologians taught that it is all a result of sin. While there is some truth in this, it is not the complete picture. Many suffer through no fault of their own, even more so than the wicked!
Similarly, the Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:21, 'For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps'. Those who aspire to be His followers should follow in His footstep to learn the value of suffering and be mature in Christ - 1 Peter 2:19-20. ' If we suffer, we shall also reign with him' - 2 Timothy 2:12. These verses explain that sufferings build character required of sons of God.
God's true servants like David, Job, Daniel, Paul and Peter among many others all suffer in one form or another. David declared, 'It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes' - Psalm 119:71. The Apostle Paul had endured it all (2 Corinthians 11:24-30), perhaps more than any others apart from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Suffering is unpleasant but necessary to learn the lesson God has intended in His infinite wisdom and power engineered in our lives. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution - 2 Timothy 3:12. The passage in 2 Timothy 3 is written in the context of the last days - the very time we are living in now! But take heart that God will not allow His called elect to endure beyond what they are able to bear, for He will provide them with a way of escape - 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.
