Adversity on a Rampage (or so it seems)!

         As is true for anyone who writes as much as I do, I tend to write out of what I am experiencing, and this is certainly true today. It seems that adversity is on a rampage, as it is showing up of the doorsteps of far-too-many of those who make up the congregation that I pastor. One man has just recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer, another heard his doctor tell him that he has esophageal cancer, another’s best friend died as the result of a heart attack; one woman’s mother just had a stroke and is headed for a nursing home, another’s father died, and another’s just left the hospital to recover.

          Oh, I know all the religious, legalistic answers, but I neither want to hear them nor do I want to talk about them, as in my opinion, they are but rubbish. You see, I believe that God is absolutely sovereign over His creation, that He does nothing contingently, that He is in control every time and all the time, that everything that happens (the good, the bad, and the ugly) happens because He allows it to happen, and I believe that He allows it to happen for our good and for His glory. Does that mean that I like adversity? Absolutely not!

          The fact is this: there is nothing in my belief system that eliminates the fact that adversity usually shakes us to our bones, scare the wits out of us, causes us to question the very existence of God, and, oftentimes, causes us to act legalistically, being momentarily persuaded that we can manipulate God into causing the adversity to vanish.

          Speaking of that, have you ever considered why we are more prone to take that approach, when adversity comes, instead of choosing simply to submit to His will, whatever it might be? Whatever the reason, we are in good company, as Jesus, Himself, had that problem. I am sure you remember His prayer: Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done. Keep in mind, however, that while He was uttering those words, He was sweating blood!

          This is what Peter had to say: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; . . . (1 Peter 4:12 NASB).

                        

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).