UPS AND DOWNS

Written by On Tuesday, 03 September 2013 10:08

2 SAMUEL 15, 16…

When we sin, it becomes our Father’s business to administer the most effective chastisement in order to restore us into a relationship with Him. Inasmuch as we are converted as Christians, but not entirely. Sin resides in us, and it is not a wonder to see the holiest and mightiest Christian, like David, falling into a sin that will make observes to shiver. Yet, inasmuch as God forgives our sins when we confess and repent as David did, in order to prove to us that He does not by His grace and forgiveness license us to sin, He employs the most painful and deterrent measures to ensure that we suffer the consequences of our sins, to the intent that we do desire to sin no more.


The lot that fell to David after his sin (with Bathsheba, his murder of Uriah, and his failure to be a responsible father and king) was a public humiliation, and more, a humiliation from his own son. And he knew too well the cause of his painful experience. So should we – when we suffer, it is well of us to examine ourselves, to know the cause of our suffering, and if it is related to our sins, to confess and repent, and bear with the fiery consequences until we come out of it liked gold purified seven times.

Knowing very well the nature and character of sin – that, although we have been pardoned once and for all, atoned to God, justified, and made children of God unconditionally and eternally, we are subject to be made vagabonds and prodigals by sin, to the point of losing the joy of our salvation, the security of our Father’s house, the fellowship of our brethren, and goodwill of the observing world.

Sin renders us weary and weak just as David was as he ran away from his recalcitrant son. Sin multiplies our enemies, to the point of turning our friends into foes. Sin makes us lose perspective of things, and we become incapable of making sound decisions on the most important things, and what is more worse, it makes us to doubt the truth, goodness and the faithfulness of God, and in effect making us to be tossed and swayed by any slightest turbulence of evil.

As such, ours becomes a painful pilgrimage, whose compass takes a direction to the howling wilderness of despair, where no dew falls, and no blossomings of hope catch your eye. It is this during such moments when we tend to ask, “Where is God?” God seems far. He seems to be punishing us for our sins, cursing us for our wickedness.

This and more is the portrait of the suffering of the children of God on account of sin. For God would sooner lose His Fatherhood than let His wayward children go unpunished. For God never goes far from His children when they sin, rather He comes closer to them with the painful rod of correction. Surely, our God is good, He is our Good Shepherd, who not only leads us through calm water and green pastures, but also comforts us from the tortures of sin through His blessed rod and staff. This thing we are to always bear in mind, that inasmuch as we cannot always have clear perspective of things, or make sound decision in regard to how we should respond when we are suffering, yet we should always remember that our Lord is good, His judgments are righteous, and His thoughts and plans us-ward are always good, for “All things work for good to those who love God, those called according to His purposes”.

HEB. 12:
5And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
6For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.
7If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?
8But if you be without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then are you illegitimate children, and not sons.
9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are trained by it.
12Therefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

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