It’s a fact that ‘we
stop learning only when we die’. It means ‘if I stop learning, I’m dead.’ We
experienced this fact in our lives as the saying goes, “Experience is the
father of Wisdom.” It seems to me, most of the times learning and wisdom grow
best in the environment of struggles and problems. It’s Malcolm Muggeridge who
said most of his learning and understanding comes from suffering (70 %?). I see
more in the Calvary cross where the Son of God suffered, bled and died for the
solutions of the problems of mankind and universe.
What’s life? Is it only learning, learning through struggles, and
nothing else? Man even before the fall (In toil you shall eat of it – Gen3:17) was given a work to
have dominion over all creatures. Work out your salvation with fear and
trembling – Phil.2:12. All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution – 2Tim.3:12. I picture how hard Israelite entered Canaan, their land,
sovereign God-given land. If life is all about working, struggling,
learning and experiencing, how do we enjoy, and when do the living, as we think to begin? Help Think!!!
Genesis 2-3 tells
that Life was perfect and bliss in the Garden of Eden and the LORD God was
walking in the garden. The world was perfect before, but with the introduction
of sin by the first man Adam, comes the death and the struggles for a living.
Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden. Work before the fall of man was
to tend the garden and to rule and have dominion over the earth and the
creatures of God, which sounds so interesting but after the fall the ground or
the world was cursed because of man disobedience and rebellion against God
commandment. Man has to struggles for survival with hard labor, learning how to
make bread in the sweat of the face, and the thorns and thistles in the field (Gen.
3:17-19). Moreover, sorrows and sufferings make their entrance into the life of the human race until man return to the ground (dead).
God’s original design
may not be to struggle and live life with sorrows and sufferings as we
experience life. Moreover, there would not be dead without sin (Romans
5:12). Lucifer was thrown out from heaven to earth and the Bible says that
Satan is the prince of the air. Yes, life is so horrible and so pathetic and we
are all perishing in spite of all our hard working for survival. We are a dead
man living and 'working' on earth. In fact, we are born dead but the good news
is that God sent Someone to make us alive and help us carry our sufferings; and
without Him, life is worth no living. And He says that He is the way, the
truth, and the life, and no one can come to the Creator but only through Him (John
14:6). He is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ravi Zacharias said,
“Jesus did not come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people live”
We are born dead spiritually. Though we live the life we are spiritually dead. He
is the true life; in Him is the fullness of life. Jesus gives the eternal life
of joy and peace and He is the eternal life. And no one can snatch away from us
what He has given us (John 10:28). Jesus calls us, who labor and are
heavy laden to come unto Him and He will give rest. In following Him, He
gives us peace and joy for He is gentle, lowly in heart, and His yoke is easy
and His burden is light (Matt.11:28-30; John 14:27; 16:20-22).
Yes, even the
followers of Christ are not exempted from troubles and suffering, because of
the fallen world. Even Christ has to be crucified. On the contrary, Christ-followers would be persecuted because this world is under the power of the
Devil but God promised that He will be with us through it. Jesus prayed to the
Father not to let us be free from the problems of the world but to keep us from
the evil one (John 17:15). Further, it says, “No temptation has overtaken
you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow
you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also
make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it”(1 Cor. 10:13). God’s
promise is not the absence of temptation but the presence of His faithfulness
in helping us bear it.
Christian are created
and redeemed by the blood of Christ to do good works, not to stay idle. Our
freedom in Christ does not mean that we should stop working. Paul tells
us to be where we are when God called us, while in a slave or in a freedman (1
Cor. 7:20-24). Our works or fruits are the evidence of knowing Christ. It
is the testimony of the believers that Christ gives joy and peace amidst sorrow
and sufferings (1 Cor. 7:4; 8:2; Heb. 12:11). “For the kingdom of God
is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit (Romans 14:17). Moreover, Paul said in Philippians 4:13 “I
can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” May grace be ours to
say and live like that!