by Richard Mansel

Suffering has touched all of our lives and often in unalterable ways. We mourn for the loss of our loved ones. We mourn for lost moments and stolen memories.

Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross writes that the second stage of grief is anger. We direct that anger at whomever is responsible. Having no one, God is most often blamed. Leslie Weatherford writes, "People get a lot of comfort from supposing that their tragedies are the will of God. One can bear a thing if it is God's will. It is hard to bear if it is a ghastly mistake and not the will of God."

God created us in a world without sin and suffering. God's love for man led Him to allow us freewill, which Adam and Eve utilized and brought sin into the world (Romans 5:12). When sin arrived, suffering and death became almost constant companions.

Dr. Richard Rice said, "God maintains ultimate sovereignty over history. But he does not exercise absolute control." God limits Himself in areas that would violate our freewill. When we suffer from sin, God allows us to deal with the consequences, despite doing so with a heavy heart.

We suffer because of our own actions, the actions of others, because of our mortality, and because of the natural course of the world. Hebrews 9:27 says it is appointed that we will die. Even if we are alive when Christ returns, we will be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51,52).

God set in motion weather patterns which produce good and bad weather and maintain the existence of our world. God allows microorganisms which serve the necessary functions of breaking down waste, disposing of dead animals and building our immune systems. At the same time, they also produce disease. Disease and death exist because our time here in this life is temporary (James 4:14).

We hate the evil, death and suffering of this world. Yet, we enjoy freewill, weather, mobility and technology. All of these produce extraordinary opportunities and blessings despite their dangers. Understanding the big picture, we see that the positives far outweigh the negatives.

God knows we suffer because He has seen it for thousands of years. He also knows because His Son suffered. Jesus lost earthly family members and friends. He grieved just as we do and begged that His own horrific death be removed from His future (Luke 22:39-46). Yet, He yielded to God's plan as we must also yield to the realities around us.

God suffered when His Son died and He suffers when our loved ones die. We know because He loves all of us. As His children, we know the undeniable love God has for us.

God has provided prayer, Scripture, fellowship of the saints and His presence for peace, comfort and strength (Revelation 21:4; Galatians 6:2). He provides ways to endure and the hope of heaven - a place where suffering and death will have been destroyed.

Remember, God is not responsible for suffering. Sin brought suffering into this world. Satan should bear the blame as he is the evil one. To blame God for evil is to blaspheme His name and nature. He is incapable of evil. God does not take our loved ones.

He sent His Son to overcome death. We also now have victory over death. We will rise again. We can go and be in heaven and shed the pain and suffering of this cruel world (John 14:1-6; Revelation 21:3ff). We can be reunited with loved ones and relax in pure safety and bliss. Without suffering, heaven would ultimately not be as sweet.

by Peter Mostert

The Bible, which speaks of good news, is a collection of books or writings that were written over a period of 1,500 years. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible (starting with Genesis), and John wrote the last (Revelation) in AD 96.

Throughout the Bible a unique thread of hope is interwoven — Jesus was the promised hope of the Old Testament, He came to earth and died for all, and is coming again on the last day to retrieve the faithful, as recorded in the New Testament.

The Bible is important to us as our source of hope — Jesus will be returning for "me" and "my" loved ones. The hope that we have in Christ as our Savior, however, is not wishful thinking, nor an unrealistic expectation, a "pie in the sky" as some may say. Our hope is an anchor of the soul, secure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:19-20).

Our hope is a feeling of confident expectation that will be realized when Jesus returns. It is an intangible that many people cannot understand; but for those who have hope, it is the major source of comfort, and those who hope place their trust in God.

There are two major reasons for having such a hope:

The first is in Jesus. He is our hope — He defeated Satan and death by His resurrection from the dead and is now preparing a place for us in heaven. He is also our advocate, able to overcome any charge set before us by Satan, the accuser.

The second is the Bible. The Bible, God's Word or Divine Communication, is the story of man's fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, and his redemption through Jesus. The Bible is not just a book, to be compared to Shakespeare, Homer, Plato, or others. There is no other book like it in continuity, circulation, translation, survival, teaching, or influence. It is the only book that is truly a universal manual for all people everywhere, any time, and in any culture.

The Bible can be believed today — not in part, but the whole. From Genesis to Malachi, Matthew to Revelation, God's Word is inspired — not someone's clever imagination or interpretation!

Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol 35, p. 29.

by Ron Bryant

"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20,21). The redeemed constitute a unique body of people, a body of divine origin, established to exist as an entity that brings glory to God throughout all generations. It is the church’s purpose to bring glory to God.

This truth is rejected by many. Some reject it overtly. Others reject it while pretending to accept it. These posture themselves as members of the body, but in truth, they never function in that capacity. They come to the assembly, but only as observers of the scene. They make token contributions of their means, but never really give themselves to the Lord. They sing praises, perhaps even heartily, but their lives do not fit the songs they sing. It is painfully obvious that they do not think in terms of giving glory unto God, let alone of giving glory unto Him in the church.

Interestingly, even the most feeble can rise to the call of giving glory unto God. God has always accepted the humble and the contrite of heart. He has always lifted them up (see James 4:8ff). The humility of man before God is to His glory. The devotion of man to God is to His glory. Humble service, loving obedience, ready and willing worship — all of these can be offered unto God with the assurance that they bring glory to Him.

Above all else, God wants our hearts and our lives. It is He who built the church as a place for us to live and prepare for eternity where we will continue to glorify Him.

Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol 35, p. 49.

by Rex Banks

"No one can appreciate so fully as a doctor the amazingly large percentage of human disease and suffering which is directly traceable to worry, fear, conflict,…to unwholesome thinking and unclean living" (Dr. William Sadler).

Even without a medical degree, most of us instinctively recognize that the anxiety which chases away sleep, the fear which causes our heart to race, and the slow-burning anger which gnaws at our gut are the enemies of both our bodies and our souls. The very language which we use is instructive. We speak of being "sick" with fear, "insane" with jealousy, and "eaten up" by anger.

In more prosaic language, medical men have drawn our attention to the fact that a mind filled with negative and destructive thoughts threatens the health of the body: "With every passing year, we obtain a wider comprehension of the ability of the mind (psyche) to produce varied disturbances in the body (soma): hence the term psychosomatic. Invisible emotional tension in the mind can produce striking visible changes in the body, changes that can become serious and fatal" (Dr. S. I. McMillen: None Of These Diseases).

Now, for those of us who believe that the Bible meets man's every emotional and spiritual need, it is not surprising to hear inspired writers emphasizing that a garbage-free heart/mind is essential to human well-being. True, emphasis is quite rightly placed upon the spiritual, but the God who created us has given laws which enhance our lives physically and emotionally, as well as spiritually.

We are to "guard" or "watch over" the heart (mind) (Proverbs 4:23), because it is the "wellspring of life." We are also to consciously, deliberately choose the focus of our minds. The Psalmist affirms: "I will meditate on Thy precepts" (Psalm 119:15,23,27,48,78,148), using a word which speaks of "silent reflection." Isn't it obvious that the man whose mind is saturated with Holy Scripture is less likely to "look on a woman to lust for her" (Matthew 5:28) than the man who feeds his imagination on pornography?

What of the man who silently reflects upon the cross each day and treasures in his mind the words of a dying Savior, "Father, forgive them…"? Isn't he far less likely to hold a grudge or nurse a grievance than the one who gives no thought to our dying God?

Again listen to David: "When I remember Thee on my bed, I meditate on Thee in the night watches" (Psalm 63:6). Isn't it obvious that the heart immersed in the promises of God will enjoy a freedom from doubt and fear which is not known to the atheist and the agnostic? What better antidote for anxiety than David's words: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1)?

Poor, sad Bertrand Russell lamented: "…no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling can preserve an individual life beyond the grave." That's the fruit of unbelief. Stephen died with heaven before his eyes, "the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:55). That's the fruit of a God-directed focus.

Friends, let's choose carefully the focus of our minds. When the garbage threatens to engulf our hearts and lives, let's fight back as the Psalmist did — "Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11). Job was "blameless, upright, fearing God" simply because he could say with conviction, "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 1:1; 23:12b).

Let's choose deliberately and with determination a God-directed focus to our life — our physical, emotional, and spiritual health depend upon our doing so.

Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol 35, pgs 12-13.

by Ed Short

Books, magazines, TV and radio programs, movies, and other forms of media all enable us to know people and to empathize with them. Through a novel or a biography, we can become very close to someone we've never met or someone who doesn't even exist. Untold millions of Chinese practically consider Bao Yu of "Dream of the Red Chamber" a blood relative.

Through the four gospel accounts of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), readers meet a man named Jesus. These four writers tell us that Jesus made incredible claims, did incredible things, and spoke incredible words.

Jesus made incredible claims. Think about it! Jesus claimed to be the Savior of the world, King of kings, and Creator of all things! Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life." He called himself the Bread of life, the Lamb of God, and the Son of God!

If we were to meet on the street today someone who makes claims like these, what would we think? Most of us would question his sanity. But Jesus dared to say these things!

Jesus did incredible deeds, including miracles: The blind received sight, the lame walked, and the dead were raised back to life. Jesus fed the hungry, encouraged the depressed, and gave new life to sinners who repented. He knew what was in people; he understood them. Jesus was with people; he contacted them and touched them.

I once was at a children's home when a group of well-dressed women came to visit and make a donation to the home. It was obvious, however, that the women did not want to contact the children. I guess the women thought the children were dirty, as they avoided even touching them.

Jesus, on the other hand, didn't fear dirt, wasn't afraid of poverty, didn't fear the unfamiliar; he only cared about people. Most wonderful of all, however, is that Jesus gave himself for mankind, was crucified, and was raised back to life on the third day. Through Jesus' death, our sins can be forgiven and we can receive a new life. Yes, Jesus did incredible deeds!

Jesus spoke incredible words. Please listen to some things Jesus said: "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them ... You are like salt for all mankind ... You are like light for the whole world ... Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you ... If you forgive others the wrongs they have done you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive the wrongs of others, then your Father in heaven will not forgive the wrongs you have done" (Matthew 5:3,10,13,14,44; 6:14,15, TEV).

Those who first listened to Jesus speak these words really appreciated his messages; today you and I can also admire the words of Jesus, as they will greatly encourage and benefit us.

Jesus made incredible claims, did incredible deeds, spoke incredible words.

May I ask what is your reaction to this man, Jesus? Do you believe His claims — Savior of the world, King of kings, Creator of all, Bread of life, Son of God? Do you want him to do some incredible things in your life, such as forgive your sins and change your way of living? Do you believe his incredible words, and will you allow them to influence your life?

I encourage you to read the Bible more and get better acquainted with this man Jesus.

Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, vol. 41, pp. 14-15.