 The “why” something “bad” happens to those we love can lead us to despair or to make excuses for God. How could God let this happen to my child, to my wife, to my girlfriend?
Some say, “He didn’t, He allowed it to happen.” Sorry, that’s passive doing. He could’ve stopped it. But, why didn’t He? He’s all-powerful, isn’t He? Why’d He let that happen? Where is God in my suffering?
Missing in this is the Cross. Our God gives gifts in Christ. He doesn’t just “allow” things to happen haphazardly. He doesn’t turn His back – not after He turned His back on His Son. He tends to us not as One who is indifferent to our problems, but as One who cares for us. He experienced suffering Himself. The Son suffered the agony and punishment of our sins.
Sickness, suffering, pain, and evil in those we love makes us ache and grieve. All of it comes from the Fall. Children weren’t “meant” to be sick. They weren’t “meant” to hate their parents, to be violent, and to lash out. They weren’t meant to be in pain and they weren’t meant to die. Teenagers weren't meant to have cancer. Yet, they get sick. They do suffer and they do die.
We can find great comfort with the resurrection! It will be better on the Last Day –for children, their parents, and all who suffer in this life. Thank God for the Resurrection of Christ!
Is that where the Gospel stops? Are we given to wait for true comfort in the life of the world to come? If that’s the gift-rejection point, then that is where the gift stops. The "gift rejection point" is the point in which we push ourselves away from the table and say, "I've reached my Gospel limit, it doesn't get any better than this." It's the point where we limit the Gospel and stop ourselves because to say more would be to think (shudder the thought) that the Gospel makes a bigger splash than we think (smile). So, we'll put our little theological labels on it to make ourselves feel right ("Gospel reductionism, universalism, or antinomianism" - you pick), but it really just gift rejection. It's saying, "Jesus can't be that much for me."
And Jesus doesn’t force gifts and comfort, He gives them. If they are rejected, He suffers Himself to be rejected. If we can only confess that “things will be better later” then that is as far as our comfort goes.
There's some comfort there - things will get better later. But, The Gospel always has more. Faith believes that the “later” is going on "right now." Our sins are not forgiven later, they are forgiven now. Heaven is not only something that is ours “later,” heaven is ours right now in Christ. “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3).
Our lives are “hidden now (perfect passive!)." Our lives go on where He is – at the right hand of God. Not later, but now. Going on now in heaven with Him, but hidden with Christ in God. The Father cares for us that much in Christ– for real, right-now-and-not-just-later, even in our suffering, even in our death.
Our Baptism actually does means that whatever comes our way isn’t an accident, punishment, or consequence, but a gift from her Heavenly Father. Good and Bad – for you – as gift from a Heavenly Father who loved you in the suffering and death of Christ.
Punishment? Sure, I deserve it. The Lord disciplines those He loves. But, when He’s the one doing the disciplining and that discipline is for my salvation – how can it not be gift?
Only faith receives the bad things, the nasty things, the sicknesses in our life, and even our death as a gift from our Heavenly Father. Only faith expects only good from Him – in all times and in all places. Only faith has the courage to not defend God as if He has dropped the ball but to say “If we live, we live to the Lord. And if we live, we die in the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or we die, we are the Lord’s” (Rom. 14:8)
Am I telling someone to “buck up and believe that God turns lemons into lemonade?” No, that would truly be to turning the Gospel into the Law. Nice try, but I'm not doing that (smile).
I am speaking in the way of faith, that is the way of receiving gifts from God.The Lutheran Confessions say that faith is "receiving gifts from God." Faith desires always more. Faith trusts God for only good things.
Faith believes that the Gospel is a big enough of a splash that it effects everything that happens to us - good and bad! This is to understand that nothing happens to us – even sickness and death – apart from the Cross of Christ.
But, when that the gift is rejected, the Gospel stops. Is that too much of a loving Lord for you? Too much care and concern from your heavenly Father?
Then, what was given as a gift becomes a Law for you, a chore, a requirement. When you refuse a gift from the Lord, then you are left to either make excuses for Him or come up with alternatives for where He has lacked in your estimation. Is this the point where we need to come to God's defense? (smile)
Thank God, He doesn't need my defense. He doesn’t push His gifts on anyone. He suffers Himself to be rejected.
But.. what if the Gospel truly does change everything in our world – even our sickness and even our death. What if the Blood of Christ truly does turn evil into good? What if He truly loves us in Christ that much? What if He truly does do everything for our good in the Cross?
He does. You’ll see it one day. It’s hidden now. Your Baptism says that it's for sure. The Word says that Christ is that much for you. The Sacrament says He cares for you that much. He makes all things new.. even our suffering and even our death.
The Gospel truly is that big and audacious. Let no one tell you otherwise with clever analogies. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Edited on: October 18th, 2005 5:05 pm
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