(This comes as an accompaniment to last week’s letter)
What is there to live for?
In last week’s letter I talked about how hopelessness is part of every human’s life. This is because, despite being made by God for a relationship with Him, sin separates us from Him. We don’t always seek God. But even when we do, sin stands in the way.
Despite all this, there is still something to hope for!
Our future hope:
We can hope in our eternal lives with God in heaven.
The apostle Paul echoes this hope in his letter to the Philippians. He considers his desire to depart from this earthly life and to be with Christ, “for that is far better” (1:23). Paul knows it is far better to be with God in heaven than to continue suffering from the effects of sin on earth, and looks forward to the day when he can do that. We, too, can do the same. Why then did Paul choose to continue his missionary work instead of joining God (1:25-26)?
God’s work in this earthly life:
In Philippians, we also see that Paul valued his earthly life as it allowed him to do fruitful labour in encouraging God’s people in their work and walk (1:22). Paul was torn between doing God’s work and joining Him in heaven, but Paul chose the former.
He did so because it would progress the Philippians and increase their joy in faith - and Paul saw that that was more important than his personal desires. He knew the Philippians would experience this conflict too (1:29-30), and implored them to, through the gospel, stand firm and fight against opponents of the faith.
The idea of standing firm and fighting are also highlighted in the letters to the churches in Revelation. Notice that, in every letter, a promise is made to ‘the one who conquers’.
To the church in Ephesus (2:7)
I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God
To the church in Smyrna (2:11)
Will not be hurt by the second death
To the church in Laodicea (3:21)
I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne
Though the churches faced different difficulties, they all dealt with opposition to their faith, in the forms of passivity (2:4), persecution (2:10), deceptive teachings (2:20) and seduction (2:20) amongst others. It's a fight common to all Christians. But to those who conquer and persevere through the struggle, to these are promised the hope of eternal life with God!
Why does God allow these oppositions?
It may seem senseless that we have to fight for our faith and struggle along the way. No one can peer into God’s mind and give you the real reasons. However, some books like Job and Ecclesiastes explore the reasons God might put us through suffering.
One possible reason I would like to highlight for our encouragement lies in 1 Peter 1. Peter shares that trials may come to test the genuineness of our faith (which is more precious than gold) so that our faith may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. In other words, the pain of suffering may strengthen our faith and glorify God.
Oftentimes however, suffering does not seem to strengthen our faith. Instead, it leaves us discouraged and disappointed. It makes us feel alone. But it is in this struggle, that we intensely thirst for hope and comfort. Personally, it is in these moments that I am reminded of the battle already won by Jesus. We need only to rely on His grace and love that surpasses our failing and our flaws. And because of that, I am all the more amazed by God and convicted by the gospel of grace!
In the meantime...
We now know that there is a hope in the next life and until then, doing God’s work is important. But does that mean we are subject to a life full of suffering here on earth?
Not really. Firstly, I want to remind you that God empathises with our suffering. In the passages above, God made promises to ‘those who conquer’. In the same passages, He acknowledges their ‘tribulations’, ‘works’, ‘toil’ and ‘patient endurance’. Jesus, in becoming a man, was tempted in every way. He is able to feel sympathy for our weaknesses (Heb 4:14-15). Jesus knows and feels our struggles. He is on our side and will intercede in prayer for us when we are struggle to. You are not alone!
Secondly, God is a gracious giver who gives us good things in life too. In the famous “A Time for Everything” passage in Ecclesiastes (3:1-8), the writer speaks about the cyclical nature of life, where there will be a time for rejoicing and a time for suffering, a time to be born and a time to die. God has made everything beautiful in His time. We may be in a season of suffering now, but there will come a season for rejoicing as well. I hope that we will learn to enjoy the good things and endure the bad. And I pray that in our sadness and happiness, in our weeping and laughter, in our mourning and dancing, may we know and remember our Creator (12:1), and trust in His plan for us, His creation.
With Love: Noah