Reversal

We live in an uncanny world filled with people who are always concerned about their social and economic status and they put in every possible effort and go to any lengths just to secure the status they wish for. More often people tend to associate themselves with those who have fame, name, wealth and influence as these are always equated to blessings from God, whereas people disassociate themselves from the poor, weak, widow, barren, lame and sick as these are always considered a curse and associating themselves with the less fortunate would affect their social status.

In an ever-changing world no matter to which social or economic status one belongs to, reversals are always waiting round the corner. Reversals can be either positive/good or negative/bad. When things take a good turn in life, it’s always welcomed with pomp, joy and celebration, what if it’s the other way round? A moment to ponder, do we all accept it the same way as the other? In the game of snakes and ladders, crashing down when bitten by snake is not the same as climbing up the ladder surpassing fellow players. Life is no different, managing a disaster/difficult day is not a cake walk for most of us. More often life crashes down or takes the wrong turn without any prior warning and that’s when you get to know the true nature of people around. They would now disassociate and disown you, and to make life more miserable they would go around gossiping, judging and condemning you. The world would immediately equate this bad turn of events as a curse from God and would start slandering you. Is every reversal/trial/suffering a curse from God? Digging deep into His Word gave some amazing revelations.

The Word puts it very clearly: some suffer grief and trials to prove the genuineness of their faith (1 Peter 1:6,7). Standing tall in faith during good times is a cake walk; does it hold good during difficult phase? If you falter in times of trouble how small/weak is your strength (Proverbs 24:10). Faith is not served on a platter to sit and relish, instead its nurtured in the fire of affliction.

Digging in further, the Word reveals God tests the heart (Proverbs 17:13), test the mind (Jeremiah 17:10), examines the righteous (Psalm 11:5), in the furnace of affliction (Isaiah 48:10), to know whether or not they would keep His command (Deuteronomy 8:2). Perishable silver and gold are refined to make it shine, should not faith which is much more precious than these be tested and refined? A ship is built to sail through rough seas and reach the other shore, not to stand majestic in the building dock. When you do not want to put the ship to sail, how will you ever know if it would sail through or sink down?

• Unless a weapon is formed against you, how will you know that it will not prevail?
• Unless you are ready to pass through the rivers, how will you know that it will not sweep over you?
• Unless you are ready to walk thru the fire, how will you know that you will not be burnt and the flames will not set you ablaze?

The Bible has a lengthy list of people who have gone thru and have overcome the testing/suffering phase. God’s chosen vessels, no matter where they come from, must have faced these trials before being used by God in a mighty way. Unless HE sees something worthy in you, how will HE use you for the glory of His Kingdom. HE does this for His own sake; He will not allow His name to be defamed nor yield His glory to another (Isaiah 48:10).

• Did Joseph commit any heinous crime that he was dropped into a waterless pit, sold as slave to the Midianites and later ended up in Pharaoh’s prison?
• Did Job live a sinful or unrighteous life, that disaster struck him one after another?
• Did Daniel sin against God that he ended up in lion’s den?
• Was Zechariah unfaithful that he remained childless?

Did the above-listed men of God, suffer for nothing? Not at all, when HE had done testing, they all shined forth as gold and were rewarded.

• Pharaoh acknowledged Joseph has the spirits of God and put him charge of the whole land of Egypt, gave him his signet ring and had him ride in chariot as his second in command (Genesis 41:38-43). God rewarded Joseph at the right time for running away from sin.
• Lord restored Job’s fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10), later half of his life was more blessed than the former, and he had 7 sons and 3 daughters (Job 42:12, 13). After the days of trouble, he lived 140 years and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation (Job 42:16).
• Daniel was unharmed in the lion’s den, because he trusted in His God, and King Darius issued a degree that everyone must fear and reverence the God of Daniel for He is a living God. Daniel prospered during the reign of King Darius and Cyprus (Daniel 6:16-28).
• Zacheriah and his wife Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist, when they were well advanced in years (Luke 1). John the Baptist was the forerunner to Jesus Christ (John 1:23) and it was he who baptized Jesus in the river of Jordan (Mark 1:9).

Does God allow these many sufferings without any purpose? Never - tribulation produces perseverance, perseverance develops character and that leads to hope which is deep rooted in His Word (Romans 5:3-5). His intensity of testing/tribulation is never the same, because HE knows the level of endurance and never allows anything beyond one can bear, moreover HE always provides a way out (I Corinthians 10:13). The Psalmist puts it very clearly, if your Word had not been my delight I would have perished in my afflictions (Psalm 119:92). The Word says very clearly, HE is good (Psalm 118:1) and HE went about doing good (Acts 20:38), so no matter what the situation is for the better or worse one can be rest assured, everything happens for the good of those who love and who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Every chosen vessel of God must go thru trials. No matter how difficult the path is He will never leave nor forsake (Deuteronomy 31:6). Paul puts it beautifully, we are hard pressed on every side but not crushed (II Corinthians 4:8,9).

Does this mean that the guilty and wicked can walk away scot-free when God is busy testing and refining a handful? Absolutely not! HE is kind and loving but at the same time HE is righteous and just. If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner. He will never leave the guilty unpunished, even the children to the 3rd or 4th generation (Exodus 34:7) for the sins of the parents.

Moses, who was most humble and kind than any men on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3) with whom God spoke face to face (Exodus 33:11), even he was not spared, when he disobeyed God by striking the rock when God asked him to speak to it. He had to pay the price of his action; God did not allow him to enter the land of Canaan (Numbers 20:7-12).

King David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) faced His wrath for ordering to count all the fighting men. After the census was completed and reported David felt remorse for doing such a thing against God and begged Him for forgiveness. God forgave him, but not before sending down a plague on the land of Israel (2 Samuel 24).

God rained down fire and brimstone to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their extreme wickedness, but HE remembered Abraham and spared Lot and his family as they were found righteous in His sight (Genesis 19).

Prophet Jonah, prophesised against the city of Nineveh that it was destined for destruction in 40 days because of its wickedness and lawlessness. The people felt guilt-ridden for all their sins against God humbled themselves sat in ash and cried to Him. The most loving God Almighty, heard their cry for mercy and spared the land from destruction (Jonah 2 and 3).

Ananias and Sapphira fell down dead for lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-10). The Living Word has a long list of how HE dealt with wickedness and sin and at the same time how forgiving HE was when they confessed and acknowledged their sin. He never rejects a sorrowful heart with a remorse for their sin (Psalm 51:17). HE is always faithful and just to forgive when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9) at the same time HE deals with a heavy hand when one remains stubborn after many reproaches (Proverbs 29:1).

No matter what the cause, be it good or bad, HE is always there to deliver when we call out to Him (Psalm 91:15, Psalm 121:1). Psalmist even considers the days of his distress (Psalm 119:67) a blessing in disguise that taught him the laws (Psalm 119-71) which became the light for his path (Psalm 91:105), that’s why he says The God is good and whatever HE does is good (Psalm 119:68). Be it for the better or worse that one is suffering, never judge anyone. Paul says it clearly do not judge about anything before the appointment time, it is for the Lord to judge (1 Corinthians 4:3-5), because HE searches the heart (Jeremiah 17:10) while man just look into the face (1 Samuel 16:7). When you see someone suffer, give them a helping hand instead of judging, accusing and slandering, HE is a just God, HE will surely pay back and give relief to those who are troubled (2 Thessalonians 1:6.7). Never jump into conclusions about the speck in someone’s eye when you have a plank in yours (Mathew 7:3-7).

Life will always throw surprises, no matter what it throws, be rest assured HE is in control and all things happens for the good of those who love HIM (Romans 8:28), when HE pushes you down the cliff be rest assured, HE will either give you wings to fly or stretch out His hands to hold you safe so that your feet do not stumble on the ground (Psalms 91:12). When you are through difficult situations and could barely breath your way out, when everyone are accusing and looking down upon you with disdain, just turn a deaf dear to everyone who show contempt, do not lose hope, be of good cheer, look up to HIM and cast your anxieties upon HIM for HE is rock eternal (Isaiah 26:4), HE has inscribed you on His palms (Isaiah 49:16), HE will always sustain you (Psalm 55:2, 1 Peter 5:7) and HE has overcome the world (John 16:33). Rejoice! your present sufferings are not worth compared to the glory that is to be revealed in you (Romans 8:18).