Have you ever heard anybody say, “While walking on the primrose path of sunshine I discovered the deepest and most lasting fellowship with Jesus”?Read the rest.
Never.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
The Primrose Path of Sunshine
John Piper:
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More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Rom 5:3-5 ESV)
Also go back and listen to some of Alistair Begg's messages on suffering (I really liked "The Genuine Article) from back in Sept. at www.truthforlife.org .
Almost as an aside, I find it amazing that on the verge of what appears to be an Obama Overtake of the Oval Office...God is leading His faithful servants to prepare His people for suffering and remind us that it is to be expected. I wonder what the smiling "preacher" (who should be a used car salesman) in Houston is telling his "congregation."
Broadly speaking, I agree with Piper's point here, because it is Biblical. However, it is also Biblical that we can learn about God and grow in Him through the "easier times" (by which I mean not-so-hard times) too.
To be sure, we shouldn't live our lives to *avoid* challenges and suffering. Self-protection at any cost is *not* the kind of radical, active life of love to which Christians are called. A life lived simply to avoid challenges and suffering will not be a deep Christian life.
However, I firmly believe that legitimate, non-sinful pleasures (such as edifying books, music, films, the touch of a loved one, a beautiful sunrise, etc.) can teach us about the goodness of God, sometimes just as well as suffering and challenges can lead us to "go deeper" with Him. Again, not that I disagree with Piper's point (God has grown me greatly through various challenges and suffering in my life), but I think that it is good for his point to be balanced with the Biblical truth that right, Godly pleasures can also teach us about God.
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