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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Three Kinds of Divinely Appointed Suffering, #7
Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:22,23—NIV)
Many American Christians who have not been serving the Lord as they should, in some instances because of false teaching, will be slain during the fiery Divine judgment and then raised in the day of resurrection. Instead of being crowned with glory they may be driven into the outer darkness. Then there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Chastening of God's Sons
We have stated there are three forms of Divinely appointed suffering:
The torment of Divine wrath.
The chastening of God's sons.
The pruning of our personality that produces fruit.
We divided the torment of Divine wrath into total destruction of the personality and then partial destruction of the personality.
A second form of Divinely-appointed suffering is the chastening of God's sons, which often is referred to as tribulation.
The difference between wrath and tribulation is that wrath is destructive whereas tribulation is designed to train us up in the knowledge of the Lord.
All Christians must experience tribulation if they are to be legitimate children of God, just as all human children must receive chastening if they are to be acceptable members of the household.
The punishment of criminals is another matter. Wrath is visited on those who rebel against God, not being willing to obey Him. But God's obedient children are chastened severely that they may be acceptable in His household.
And you have forgotten the word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. (Hebrews 12:5-8—NIV)
Again:
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. (Revelation 3:19—NIV)
When God is dealing with us He may tear us to pieces in order that soon He may bind us up.
Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. (Hosea 6:1—NIV)
When God is chastening us He often uses people to tear off the graveclothes, so to speak. We must be careful always to look to the Lord and pray to Him when we are hurt and frustrated by other people. If we become angry with the tools the Lord uses we will not grow in the Lord and will become bitter and unforgiving. Thus that which was meant for our good results in our harm.
We must be prepared to suffer in the Lord, because such suffering is intended to save us from sin.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (I Peter 4:1,2—NIV)
To be continued.