____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ December 29, 1996 ____________________________________________________ Some Benefits of Suffering by Bob J. Walton There is no problem in life more universal, more common, and more unique than that of suffering. It is the common malady of mankind; if we live long enough, we will experience some type or degree of suffering. It is not my purpose in this article to discuss the source or origin of suffering. While it is a baffling question, many good articles and tracts have been written to explain this problem and they can be read and studied with much profit. It is my intent to look at some ways suffering can benefit us. First of all, we can learn complete dependence on God. If there is ever a time in life when men tend to turn to God, it is when they suffer. We certainly learn this principle from the study of God's word. Great men of the Bible always turned to God and leaned on him when sufferings came. I believe this is the great lesson in the book of Job. In severe suffering Job ``did not sin with his lips'' (Job 1:10). Neither did he ``charge God foolishly'' (Job 1:22), but worshiped Jehovah. He knew God was his redeemer (Job 9:25) and that God would vindicate his cause. This was also a quality of Daniel; when problems and threats of death came, he trusted in God for his help (Dan. 6:10-11). And he walked into that den of lions believing God would win the victory for him. And by complete dependence on God, the victory was won (Dan. 6:22-23). Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. God did not send this suffering; the devil did. And God did not remove it, but gave Paul the grace to bear it (2 Cor. 12:7-9). I believe it was complete dependence on God that enabled this great apostle to bear up under this and all other problems of suffering he encountered. And this is the ``bottom line'' for you and me. When suffering comes we should certainly turn to God, put our complete dependence in him and say, ``Lord, it is in your hands, I have no other source to which I can turn but you and may thy will be done.'' And what a great source of help, comfort, and strength he can and will bestow on us in time of trouble. ``The Lord is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble'' (Ps. 46:1). Another great benefit we can derive from suffering and trying times is the support of family. There is no greater source of strength and help than a faithful loving husband or wife by your side. And to see them patiently bear up under the long hours of concern and care, never wavering, but always there, cannot be surpassed as a genuine source of benefit and encouragement to one so dependent on others. This, along with children patiently encouraging and helping, makes what seems like unbearable times so much easier. Yes, we can certainly learn of the benefits of a faithful spouse and children in our times of problems and suffering. Still another thing we can learn from suffering is what our fellow Christians (especially the local church) can mean to us. In times of severe pain and stress, when the way looks exceedingly dark and drear, what a comfort it is to know of the love, concern, and prayers of our brethren in Christ. It is at these times that we learn what real love, support, and encouragement is all about. I am sure this is how Peter felt when he learned that while he was in prison, with all his sufferings and uncertainties, ``prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him'' (Acts 12:5). Another definite benefit of suffering is that we can learn of another suffering--that of Christ. While the sufferings of this life may be severe; those that try our very souls, they can in no way compare with the sufferings of Christ. But while they can in no way compare, maybe we can come to appreciate more his love and sacrifice for me. He became obedient unto death, yea even the death on the cross (Phil. 2:6). He was literally nailed to a cross and left there to die. What suffering, what agony! Now maybe, just maybe, in our sufferings we can in some small way come to appreciate that love and sacrifice more. Maybe we can appreciate more what he went through so I can be a Christian and have that hope of eternal life. What a great lesson we can learn in our times of suffering. One final and very important principle we can learn from suffering is: the sufferings here do not compare with the glory to follow. The New Testament reminds us of this again and again. Paul suffered much for the cause of the Lord. And in our times of suffering we can in some small way relate to him as to what he emphasized again and again, ``Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceeding weight of glory'' (2 Cor. 4:17-18). He states further, ``If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. For I reckon the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to usward'' (Rom. 8:17-18). So, we can understand that whatever sufferings we undergo here are light and insignificant in comparison to our eternal reward. All sufferings of this present world don't last long; yet heaven is eternal. This is precisely why we need to learn this great benefit of suffering and why we should endure patiently; knowing that by faithfully committing our lives to God, we can have a great reward in heaven. I believe it will certainly be worth it all. Yes, suffering is the common lot of mankind. And in suffering we can learn things learned nowhere else. We can learn a deeper and more abiding faith in God and a more humble trust in him. And despite the suffering of this world, we can cast all our cares on him knowing that he cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7). And in turning it all over to him and waiting on him, always believing he will work things out to our ultimate good, we will win. And finally, may we learn what the Spirit said to the church at Smyrna, ``Fear not the things thou are about to suffer, behold, the devil (the source of suffering) is about to cast some of you in prison, that you may be tried; and shall have tribulation ten days (a short but definite period of time). Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life'' (Rev. 2:10). -- Via Guardian of Truth December 19, 1996 ___________________________________________ ``Save the Whale!'' Mantra's of the 90's: Mantra #13 (final) by Warren E. Berkley In watching the news and keeping tract with current events and trends, it occurs to me sometimes that the world is going crazy. For instance, many of the same people who are so upset and vocal about snails and owls want unborn human babies to be aborted (killed). We often hear the cry to rescue the snail, preserve the spotted owl or... ``Save The Whale!'' I do not believe in mistreating animals. In fact, God spoke against that in His law to Israel. Yet, God gave man dominion ``over every living thing that moves on the earth'' (Gen. 1:28). And animals were killed--under orders from God--for food and sacrifices. Have you ever thought about this: God made tunics of skin for Adam and Eve to wear (Gen. 3:21). It says that the Lord ''...made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.'' In reading the Bible, surely we are impressed by the difference between man and animals. There is, in the Bible, the dignity of man; not just claimed by arrogant men, but decreed by the Creator (Psalms 8:6-9). God endowed man with intelligence, moral consciousness and freedom of choice. And so, in Matthew 6:26, there isn't any doubt: GOD CARES FOR THE BIRDS, BUT HE HAS NO PLAN OF SALVATION FOR THEM. Jesus said, ``You are worth more than many sparrows'' (Matt. 10:31). We ought not to mistreat animals or kill them for entertainment. But we need to recognize the role of animals in the service of man and believe what Jesus said about our role and worth. The Vice President has published a book, asking us to be more compassionate toward the earth we are wasting, and the endangered species. Yet in that book, not a word about the wholesale, legal slaughter of one and a half million unborn human beings every year. Writer and researcher Doug Groothuis commented on this: ``Gore is more concerned about preserving an ecological niche for the spotted owl than he is about the precarious prenatal niche of the unborn in America and throughout the planet. It is exceedingly odd that one who so adamantly argues for a greater sense of `connectedness to nature' would champion a public policy that allows the unrestricted severing of the connection between mother and child through abortion. This brutal fact alone disqualifies the Vice President from being an ecologist whose thinking is consistent with the deepest insights of Christian ethics. Prenatal ecology is not his concern'' (Doug Groothuis, ``America's Ecological Millennium...Al Gore in the Balance,'' SCP Journal, Vol. 17, no.3 (1992): 32). One more thing concerning the earth: While dominion and stewardship requires us to be responsible--in the use of resources and animals and the earth, we know, we believe--there will be a great EARTH DAY coming... ''...in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be--in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?'' (2 Pet. 3:11,12). Don't let the devil side-track you; don't let him gradually deceive you into jumping onto the fashionable bandwagons of our day or falling victim to the sayings and mantras of our day. When we love God, we will want to be good stewards of the earth...we will want to properly understand and fulfill our dominion over the earth--BUT WE WILL NOT WORSHIP THE EARTH!! ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Lynda Duthler writes, ``James and Antionette Dukes, Christians in Fremont, California, lost their precious daughter today. Jesica Dukes was their oldest of three beautiful children. She died unexpectedly in her sleep. The cause of her passing is unknown at this time.'' Steve Willis reports of the death of Ann Lovell of Portage, Indiana, whose husband had been an elder at the church in Valparaiso, Indiana. Warren E. Berkley writes, ``I suspect several on mars-list knew bro. Sam Walker, who served for many years as an elder with the church in Mulvane, Kansas (near Wichita). I preached there for almost ten years while Sam was one of the elders. Sam has today finished a battle with cancer, and has left this life. Those who know Sam and Ethel may want to send some expression of sympathy. The funeral is planned for 10:30 Friday morning in Mulvane.'' Doy Moyer writes the following: ``Forrest [Moyer] is doing much better. His swelling is down, and he really is looking good. They took him off the ventilator on Tuesday the 24th. He is still in intensive care, but the docs and nurses are all excited about his recovery (many did not think he would survive past the weekend). He is coming around much more, recognizing people, and starting to communicate. He is able to do a little talking now. All of his vital organs are working great, and the feared brain damage does not seem to be a problem. A few weeks and he'll be raring to preach again. ``Again, I cannot tell you how much I have appreciated the prayers on his behalf. It looks like he is on his way to full recovery. He should be in the hospital for several more days, though.'' Well, it's hard to believe that another year is almost gone. We wish you all a good year for `97--and may it be followed with many terrific years to come! ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@wwd.net ________________________________________