1 Timothy 1:15-17
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen
As I write my 88 year old father in hospital for the 5th time in 8 weeks with pneumonia, and there are signs that his bladder cancer has returned. I spoke to him this morning, and I am not sure he really understood who I was. He has suddenly turned into a very old and frail man. It’s not hard to work out that he will not be with us much longer. I think my mother is convinced he is not coming home this time.
My father will die, may be not this time but it is inevitable (Mr, Anderson – to quote the matrix). Of course that worries me and deeply saddens me, but my greatest concern of all is that he, and my mother do not know Jesus, and if this continues, they will be judged and found wanting, and the sentence for this is an eternity of torment. This I cannot bear, they will be gone for ever. Separated from me, and separated from the love of God for all eternity.
None of this alters who God is and what he has done for us through Jesus, He has shown us mercy so that we can have eternal life with him, as a free gift, because He sacrificed his son, Jesus, as FULL payment for all our sins for all time. Whether my father chooses to accept this or not God is still faithful, the promise for us, who believe, will be fulfilled. We may not see this as we travel through, the short term trials and tribulations of this earthly life. Things like the death of loved ones, tsunamis, earthquakes, genocide etc. Our faith may waver and we end up saying things like “How can a loving God allow these things to happen?”.
When my children where growing up, I would have done anything to protect them for any harm. I love both my daughters very much. But when they were growing I smacked them and disciplined them when they breached the boundaries of what I felt was good for them. I did not do this for my pleasure, but to help them learn and become better people. They have grown into beautiful, well rounded, polite and nice women. Would they have achieved this without the boundaries that had been set set for them? Who knows?
I am imperfect and flawed, and I got it wrong many times, in fact my eldest does not visit me that often. But we can have absolute faith that God is perfect, He NEVER gets it wrong. He has a long term plan, that is flawless. He is faithful and unchanging we can have absolute confidence in God, he has our best interests at heart, he wants us to succeed. But trials of faith produce perseverance and perseverance breeds hope and hope does not disappoint us (Romans 5).
So when we face trials, our response should be to rejoice in a God who loves us so much, and wants us to be with him for all eternity. To him be honour and glory for ever and ever AMEN.