NEWS & VIEWS: SUFFERING

HUMAN SUFFERING IS not something that initially springs to mind as an ‘international problem’. However on reflection most of us will accept that millions of people world-wide suffer because of war, famine, disease or natural disasters, to name but a few causes of suffering in the world. In December 2004 the world was horrified by the Tsunami that claimed the lives of nearly 300,000 people in countries as far apart as Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Somalia.

A powerful earthquake (magnitude 9 on the Richter scale) shook the area for eight minutes as pressure built up by the movement of two of the world's tectonic plates, was catastrophically released. The lower plate, carrying India, slipped beneath the upper plate carrying most of Southeast Asia. At the same time far below the Indian Ocean, at the epicentre of the earthquake, the sea floor thrust upwards by about 20 metres (65 feet). This upward thrust of the seafloor then triggered a series of geological events that were to devastate the lives of millions of people.

Billions of tonnes of seawater, forced upward by the movement of the seabed flowed away from the fault in a series of giant waves. The resulting tsunami raced across the ocean and on reaching the shoreline, it devastated huge swathes of the various countries affected.

The immediate reactions to this event were varied and the following are some examples of comments made:

• Robin Harger, a retired UN official, wrote an article detailing the failure of the global society to give adequate warning about the magnitude, direction, speed and form of the tsunami originating from the tectonic movement off the Northwest coast of Sumatra.

• The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams is reported by the Sunday Telegraph to have said, ‘this has made me question God’s existence.’

• Muslim cleric Manajiid blamed the tsunami upon the presence of Westerners or Christians as he views them, on the beaches of these holiday resorts.

Naturally people try to find an answer to the question, ‘why’? Yet in seeking answers to this question people sought something or somebody to blame. Few voices were heard describing this event as a natural disaster, a random event that could happen at any time.

Many Christians have been moved to question why such intense suffering happens. The problem of suffering is a difficult one to answer but in seeking an answer we must remember that God is in complete control and has a longer term perspective than our limited human view of things. When a tragedy such as the Tsunami strikes suddenly and suffering is experienced, questions are asked ‘why does an all powerful God allow such pain, anguish and suffering?’ or ‘does God really exist? Even for sincere Christians who believe in a God that is actively involved in His creation and in their lives, events such as the tsunami cause much heart searching.

CAN PEOPLE EXPECT GOD TO INTERVENE?

Naturally as human beings we grieve for the tragic loss of life of thousands at Phuket in Thailand, Sri Lanka and other holiday resorts. However consider what they were spending the Christmas season doing. Reflect also about the priorities of the millions who spent huge amounts of money on material things before Christmas. Their priorities were clear - no thought for God and no thought for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul foretold the attitude of many people today in these words:

‘But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers…headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God’ 2 Timothy 3:1-4.

The description ‘lovers of pleasure’ sums up the attitude of the majority of mankind, who show no responsibility towards their Creator and reject His Law. The general reaction of people to the precarious nature of life, is to indulge in an endless pursuit of personal happiness, with the attitude of ‘eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.’ It is only when disaster strikes that people turn to God expecting help. Yet He is soon forgotten again once the danger has passed. Mankind rejects God’s way; therefore God leaves man to the folly of his own way.

Indeed why should people expect God to intervene and help those who only seek their own pleasure and reject Him? Whilst it is true that God could easily prevent suffering, if He did so and gave us everything without restriction, the human race would never change. History shows that man would merely become increasingly greedy and self-centred, seeing no need to honour God in their lives. Thus God would never achieve His purpose, which is to teach mankind the wisdom of His ways and produce a people ‘for his Name’ Acts 15:14.

THE REASON FOR SUFFERING

In the beginning God created all things to give Him pleasure and He saw all that He had made as being ‘good’ [Genesis 1.31]. God provided everything needed by man, yet man disobeyed and turned away from God and was thus alienated from his Creator. God’s summation of man is that ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?’ [Jeremiah 17.9]. In short, mankind has turned away from the path of sound spiritual morality, becoming corrupt and spiritually barren as Jesus said:

‘...from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile a man.’ Mark 7:21-23.

These evil characteristics are the opposite of what God wants from His creation and is the root cause of so much suffering. God will not allow the world and daily life as it exists now to continue indefinitely. The Bible clearly speaks of a time when God will intervene in the affairs of mankind. He will intervene to stop man from destroying both himself and the earth.

THE LESSON TO BE LEARNED

God will ultimately end all suffering, but in His own good time. However, the primary reason for His intervention will not be the saving of all mankind, but that His original purpose with creation will be fulfilled. The wise in heart will consider the problem of suffering and learn from it. Jesus was once told about some people who experienced suffering. We read:

‘There were present at that season some who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?”’ Luke 13:1-4.

The answer was ‘no’. These people were no better or worse than any other people. They all died as a result of events over which they had no control. We could all die at any time from natural disasters, disease, accident, famine, war or other causes. The lesson from Jesus was very clear: ‘unless you repent you will all likewise perish’ Luke 13:5.

Some people believe that calamities occur because people are sinners deserving of punishment. It is true that the Bible predicts certain specific world events that will occur for the purpose of punishment. However, most natural disasters are a result of what the wise man Solomon described as ‘time and chance’ (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12) and Jesus taught that we can learn a lesson from such events.

So what lessons can be learned? Those people who regard the Bible as the Word of God will seek answers from within its pages. They will see a book containing His message to us, one that has stood the test of time and one that can teach the true meaning of life. It explains that because of mans disobedience, God allows suffering to happen and that we have no grounds for complaint if tragedies like the recent tsunami occur. Jesus taught that those who escape such tragedies and those who hear of such events, should reflect upon the fragility of their own lives, learn, amend their way of life and seek to know their Creator.

THE SUFFERING OF JOB

In the Scriptures we read about Job, of whom it is recorded ‘there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil’ [Job 1.8]. Now we may think that such a man would be protected by God from experiencing suffering, yet Job lost everything - his possessions, his family, and his health. Why? Firstly, God intended that Job would learn from his experience. Secondly, future generations would be encouraged to persevere, despite personal trials, by Job’s faithfulness under severe suffering.

Such was Job’s character that he did not blame God for the suffering he endured but acknowledged:

‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.’ Job 1:20-21

Job recognised that we came into the world with nothing and can take nothing with us, God provides all! It was enough for him to trust God to provide, no matter what the circumstances. We read, ‘In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong’ Job 1:22.

Job felt that he was alienated from God: ‘Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to His seat! [Job 23.3]. He looked for a reason for his suffering, yet his plea to God appeared to go unheeded. God did reply and give an answer but in His own time. In the end because of his faith, patience and endurance, despite intense suffering, Job was greatly rewarded:

‘Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters’ Job 42:12-13.

A similar situation of suffering may face God’s children at any time and it may appear that our prayers are not answered. Yet like Job we must learn patience, because God will answer prayer, but in His own time and according to His infallible wisdom. The answer may not be what we expect or desire, but it will be an answer that is for our ultimate good. Believers are not exempt from experiencing the adversities of life for as Paul wrote: ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God’ Acts 14:22. The experience of suffering is God’s means of testing our trust in Him, perfecting our character and preparing us for the greater purpose He has in store for those who are faithful.

MORE SUFFERING TO COME

Suffering is the means that God will use to teach mankind the lesson that we are powerless to help ourselves and must turn back to our Creator. The Scriptures foretell a time of trouble and suffering that will be far worse than anything that has gone before, such that if God did not intervene all life would come to an end. In Matthew’s gospel record we read:

‘For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And if those days had not been shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.’ Matthew 24:21-22.

God will bring this time of immense suffering in order that mankind will finally realise the futility of an existence without Him. God will punish those who defile His creation as we read in the last book of the Bible:

‘...you have taken your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should reward your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.’ Revelation 11:17-18

The Apostle Peter wrote about how God judged the world in the days of Noah, and warned his readers that He will judge the world again saying it is ‘reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men’ 2 Peter 3:7. At the time of Noah we read ‘the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and he was grieved in his heart’ Genesis 6:6. Why? Because ‘the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually’ (verse 5).

The age in which we live is no different and God is equally grieved with those who disregard Him and those who distort and change His Word. Peter warns that the time of judgement ‘will come as a thief in the night’ 2 Peter 3:10. It will be totally unexpected and mankind will resist but in vain:

‘He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. Then he shall speak to them in his wrath, and distress them in his deep displeasure: “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”’ Psalm 2:4-6

AN END TO SUFFERING

Jesus the ‘King’ referred to by the Psalmist, will set up the Kingdom of God, ruling from Zion (Jerusalem) and rewarding those who have obeyed God’s Word and put their trust in him. Many who call themselves Christians today do not believe that Jesus will return, yet this belief is the corner stone of the Gospel message preached by Jesus and his Apostles and recorded in the New Testament. The Apostle Peter warned that: ‘scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?”’ 2 Peter 3:3-4.

However, if we trust and obey God’s word, and are baptised into the saving name of Jesus we can enter into an age when there will be no more suffering. God has promised ‘eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honour, and immortality’ Romans 2:7. The joy of immortality is beautifully expressed in the vibrant words of the prophet Isaiah:

‘…they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint’ Isaiah 40:31 (KJV).

Jesus Christ is the ‘Prince of Peace’ Isaiah 9:6. He will rule the world in righteousness turning mankind back to God’s way:

‘Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us his ways, And we shall walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem’ Isaiah 2:2-3.

The suffering of past ages will then be long forgotten:

‘For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind...’ They shall not labour in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them. ‘It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.’ Isaiah 65:17-24

This is what God has promised and this is what will most certainly happen. God’s word is certain and will not change. There will be no more suffering for the time will come when:

‘…God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away’ Revelation 21:4 (KJV).

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