Hopelessness, Suffering, and Unjust Loss - Part 8
In every situation of pain and great loss, God provides a compensation package that more than makes up for the pain and loss that was suffered. We must learn to view pain and loss in that context. We must learn to see the whole picture. Once we realize that situations of pain and loss are signals that great compensation packages are set aside for us, then we can look to “the joy that is set before us” and focus on claiming that compensation from the Righteous Judge.
God’s Repayment in Ukraine
It was my first trip to Ukraine. I was with a small team of people teaching a course from Streams Ministries called “The Art of Hearing God” to a group of about 200 people or so. But a problem arose after the first night of teaching. Some of the people in the class misunderstood some of the concepts that were presented. They became convinced that we were teaching psychic principles, rather than Biblical truth. They thought that when we were asking them to try different activities to learn to hear God’s voice, we were actually teaching them to tap into psychic powers. That wasn’t true, but that was their impression.
Things got a bit ugly as they protested to the pastor who was hosting the class. They accused us of being false teachers presenting false concepts. Some wanted the pastor to stop the class and not allow us to continue.
The next night, it would be my turn to teach. It would be my job to try to ease those concerns, silence the critics, and restore confidence in the teaching. What I needed to do was to prove, without a doubt, that God speaks to people today, and that He will speak to anyone who truly seeks to hear his voice with a sincere heart.
In my lesson, I first addressed their concerns by clarifying the differences between people who speak under psychic influences and people who speak genuine prophetic words from God. Then I tried to assure them that we were not asking them to do anything that would open them up to evil influences. I explained that if we ask God to speak to us, he’s not going to send the devil to speak to us instead. I reminded them of the message of Luke 11:9-12:
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?”—Luke 11:9-12 (NKJV)
Finally, I felt comfortable that they were ready to hear God’s voice, so I asked the whole class, “Would you like for us to ask God to speak to us right now?” Many nodded their heads to say “Да” (“Yes”). So I focused on God to hear what He might be saying. I believed that He would give an individual prophetic word as described by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14.
In situations like this I usually get messages from God in the form of pictures, or “visions”, rather than hearing a voice. I believe that’s because I’m a visual person. I learn best visually, and I remember things that I see better than things that I hear. This time a woman in the room was highlighted to me. It’s hard to explain, but there seemed to be a light around her or over her head. I asked her to stand. Then, over her head, I saw a birthday cake. That was a symbol that could have meant many things, so I waited for an explanation—or an interpretation—of what I’d seen.
The interpretation came to me in an instant, and it came to me differently than the vision of the birthday cake. It did not come as a vision at all. I just knew instantly what the cake meant. That knowledge was just given to me. So, I said to the lady, “You have not felt valued or appreciated on your birthday, but God wants you to know that He has valued every birthday that you’ve had. He always values you on your birthday.”
As soon as she heard that, she got very excited and loudly confirmed to everyone in the room that what I had said was true. I’m not sure exactly what she said, because my Russian is not very good, and I was speaking through a translator. Later, the whole story was explained to me.
Many of the people in this class were from the same church. In that church, they had a practice of posting the birthdays of church members each month on some kind of bulletin board or announcement board. It just happened that this lady’s birthday had been overlooked this year. Her birthday had not been posted, and this had upset her. She had let people know that she was upset about it, so several people in the church were aware of this situation. So, when I gave that message to the lady, telling her that she had not felt valued or appreciated on her birthday, many people in the audience could confirm that it was true. God had chosen the perfect person and the perfect message to demonstrate to everyone in this class that He still speaks to people who really want to hear His voice.
No one protested our teaching after that night.
I still wonder if God had purposely set up this situation with the church birthday announcement in order to use it to prove to the class members that he still speaks today. The lady who had been overlooked by the church was more than happy with her compensation when God acknowledged His love and appreciation for her in front of so many church members!
Refusing Release
People who come to a thorough understanding of this principle of God’s justice will sometimes even refuse to accept an early release from their painful circumstances in order to claim a better eternal reward for their suffering!
“…others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection”—Hebrews 11:35 (KJV)
There are many stories of believers throughout history who refused to be released from prison, like Watchman Nee; and others who rejected opportunities to save themselves from martyr’s deaths because they understood that God’s compensation would far outweigh their comparatively insignificant temporary suffering. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs is full of these stories.
“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.”—2 Corinthians 1:5-7 (NKJV)
The Ultimate Payoff
Jesus provides us with the ultimate example of God’s justice for suffering and loss. Jesus was cut off in the prime of life. Unjustly accused and condemned to die, he was abandoned by his friends, shamefully treated, tortured mercilessly, and allowed to die between two thieves. Was it worth it? Was he compensated adequately for his suffering and loss?
See what you think.
Since his death, Jesus has been highly exalted; given the seat of highest honor at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2), far above everyone else, and all other authorities, not only now, but in the world to come (Ephesians 1:21). Everything has been put under His feet (Ephesians 1:22). All the kingdoms of this world will become His kingdoms, and he will reign forever (Revelation 11:15). He has been made the Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23). He will be presented with a bride that is holy and blameless, without spot or wrinkle. (Ephesians 5:27). His name is exalted above every other name. Every knee will bow to his name. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).
How’s that? Not a bad compensation package, huh? But that’s just scratching the surface! When you begin looking at everything else that resulted from God’s justice in repayment for Jesus’s suffering and death, the positive impact on people everywhere—and on all creation—throughout eternity past, present, and future is overwhelming to even try to comprehend!
Consider just a few of the results:
As a result of Jesus’ suffering and death, all people everywhere were provided with the means to be reconciled to God and be made holy and unblameable in God’s sight (Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:10). Everyone was provided with the way to obtain everlasting life (Romans 6:23). Thousands and thousands of people have been healed of everything from minor pains to terminal diseases (Acts 5:16). Countless people have been freed from the power and control of dark spiritual forces and bad habits that were plaguing them (Romans 6:22). God’s Spirit has been poured out on millions of people, guiding them into greater knowledge of the truth, sharing deep insights about life, and communicating directly with them through dreams, visions, and other amazing ways (Acts 2:17)!
It is truly staggering to try to comprehend all of the positive outcomes that have resulted from the justice package that God granted in repayment for the suffering and death that Jesus endured! It’s beyond our capacities to fully comprehend.
Now, wouldn’t you like to know what God has prepared for you? Wouldn’t you like to claim God’s compensation package for all that you have suffered and lost?
