The Lutheran Hour
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"God’s Light in Your Darkness"
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Text: Psalm 40:1, Psalm 68:19
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PRAYER: Almighty and everlasting God, look with mercy upon the discouraged. And by the resurrection power of Your son Jesus Christ, lift up all heavy hearts. Assure us, heavenly Father, of Your perfect forgiveness made possible through the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. Bless all who hear Your word today. Amen.
One decade ago, an atheistic Soviet Union collapsed. Since that time, numerous individuals have written their memoir describing what it was like to live under an atheistic state.
Now let’s remember during the existence of the Soviet Union, only four percent of all Russians were ever Communists. Nevertheless, because the military was led by communist officers, and because of the secret police, the majority of the population had no choice but to go along with the party. Christians were often singled out by these Christ-hating Communist leaders.
Dr. Timothy Ware has served as a professor at Oxford University in England. Dr. Ware is also the author of a popular book which explains what happened to the Christian Church in the Soviet days. “So intense,” writes Ware, “was the hatred by the Soviet leaders against the Church, that in 1952 there were 150,000 lectures pitting atheism against Christianity. And by 1958, these lectures on atheism were increased to 300,000 in one year.” This means, roughly speaking, there were 1,000 atheistic lectures directed against Christianity every day at one point in the Soviet Union.
Now here is the good news. In the midst of all this persecution, Christianity not only survived, but, it actually flourished. Christians should not be surprised that the Christian Church was not wiped out in the Soviet Union. In Matthew, chapter 16, we read Jesus’ promise, “I will build My church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Throughout history, various individuals and movements have sought to wipe out the Christian faith. But these atheistic attacks have never succeeded — not during the 74 years of the Soviet Experiment.
Our blessed Lord Jesus, crucified on the cross and raised from the dead, protects and defends not only the church corporately, but also Christians individually. For this reason, no matter what problem you may be facing at home at this hour, with your faith built upon the crucified Christ, you can say with King David, “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was inclined to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1). King David was also the author of many of the Psalms. He was also a prophet. In the book of Acts we read how David looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that “He was neither abandoned to the grave nor did his flesh suffer decay” (Acts 2:31). With this same confidence in the resurrected Christ, David said, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, and the God who is our salvation” (Psalm 68:19).
In those days or moments when the devil tempts you to believe life is too difficult to continue or you have more problems than you deserve or that God has forgotten you, then first think of the untold thousands who have been persecuted and who have suffered much more than you are now going through. Instead of whining and complaining, remember also another thing. The Bible teaches clearly that God often permits challenges and difficulties to come upon us so that our life might be purified and our faith strengthened.
In the Bible, Hebrews chapter 12 we read, “Do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” The Bible continues, “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son the Bible asks, “is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”
“Furthermore,” the Bible explains, “we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of Spirits, and live?” “All discipline for the moment,” the Bible says, “seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 5-11). In Revelation we read the words of Jesus, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline” (Revelation 3:19). The apostle Paul writes, “When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world” (Corinthians 11:32).
Now the point is, when you go through challenges and difficulties in life this is not necessarily God punishing you. Often, the Bible explains, God permits challenges to come upon us. And then in Romans 5:3, St. Paul writes, “we exult in tribulations knowing that tribulation brings perseverance, and perseverance proves character and proven character brings hope.” No, it is not easy in our current culture of “convenience” Christianity for anyone to believe that God permits suffering to come into our lives to purify us and to strengthen us.
This is also why it is so very helpful and encouraging to read about other Christians who have survived even greater difficulties.
For example, several years ago, a lady who suffered severely in the Soviet Union described her experience. In her memoirs she writes: “We were brought into the forest to work. One morning, however, I saw a horrible scene. The guards, the secret police, had arrested a young boy who had been caught begging for food at the train station. “I thought to myself,” she said, “now he’ll be glad when they shoot him.” But that would have been too easy. After he had already been tortured, and was swollen, and covered with blood, he was then led before an officer who screamed at the top of his voice. “Look at this fellow! The same thing will happen to anybody who tries to escape! Then the officer gave a command and the dogs were unleashed to attack the wretched boy. He made no sound and was soon dead.”
This lady also wrote, “When I saw these horrible things happen, I remembered the stories my mother told us about the persecution of the Christians, [in the early church] and how these Christians were torn to pieces by the lions in the circus arena. This was similar.”
The author continued by saying, “When we were brought each morning to our workplace, little was said, and only in low tones. The terrible thing we had just witnessed (the boy being torn apart by the dogs) silenced all of us. Yes, even the trees in the forest stood silent and seemed to whisper: ‘Be comforted, be comforted!’ Nothing will happen to you but that which God has chosen for you, and which will be beneficial to you!”
Yes, in every generation people who have suffered, even into death, have always heard the words of Isaiah the prophet, the same words sung by Handel’s Messiah, “Comfort, comfort my people.”
In our day and age of convenient Christianity and luxury living, it is fitting that we pause especially when we think life is too difficult to continue on. At that moment, we need to remember all those who have gone ahead of us as martyrs. Then we need to see clearly that our lot in life is much less difficult. Indeed, whenever we think we have a difficult time, we need to remember God’s Word in Hebrews chapter 12 which reminds us that you and I have not suffered “to the point of shedding blood.” Furthermore, the Bible says, “consider Jesus Christ so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.”
Friends, every time you feel life is more than you can bear, cling to the bloody cross of Christ and see also the empty Easter tomb. Then, with confidence, in Jesus, who lives today, say with King David, “Blessed be the Lord who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation” (Psalm 68:19).
Oh, how tragic we live in a world of so many whiners. Daily and hourly, whining and whining. Thousands constantly whine about how hard life is. Some complain about the traffic; others complain the grocery store checkout line is too long; still others complain that we can’t see the doctor as quickly as we would like. Everybody complains about the weather and still others complain they don’t make enough money to buy everything they would like.
Well, let’s be honest. Probably the best thing that could happen to each of us would be that we would live in a country where we could not own a car. Then we would not complain. We would thank God we had some traffic to be in; or, we perhaps ought to live, for a while at least, in a country where there is little or no food. Then we would thank God again we had the opportunity of standing in line at a grocery store. Maybe we should spend some time where there is little or no healthcare. Then we would be glad for the doctors and the hospitals we have.
So instead of whining and complaining, now is the time for each of us to look into the mirror of God’s Law. This mirror exposes our thankless hearts. How important this is as we start a new year. And so, it’s a good time for all of us to acknowledge our sins of whining and complaining and to repent these sinful attitudes.
With the power, which only God can give us, we need to look at the many things God has given us, all of which we do not deserve.
Most of all we need to thank our heavenly Father who has reconciled us to Himself. In Christ, God has forgiven us for our sins. “Even while we were yet sinners,” the Bible says, “Christ died for us.” The psalmist reminds us that God “has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Instead, “as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is God’s loving kindness toward all those who fear Him. “As far as the east is from the west,” the Bible explains, “so far has God [through Jesus Christ] removed our transgressions from us.”
So as you begin the year 2001, also beginning this very hour, take time to reestablish your priorities. On your own you cannot do this. However, by His word and spirit God will enable all of us. As a result, He will also redirect our lives in Jesus Christ and we will then find ourselves complaining less and rejoicing more!
The apostle Paul says: “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say ‘Rejoice.'” God has made you His own. He has adopted you in Jesus Christ and through His gift of faith, God enables you to stand holy and justified in His sight. “Therefore,” the Bible says, “having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”
Not only this, not only do we exult in God’s love the Bible says, but we exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance brings proven character; and proven character brings hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:1-5).
So the next time the devil tempts you into believing that life is more than you can bear, remember God often permits challenges and difficulties to come upon us, and in this way He is purifying and strengthening our faith and preparing us to see Him soon face to face. Rejoice, even in suffering, for this is evidence that God is working His love in your heart. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for January 7, 2001
ANNOUNCER: Dr. Schulz, listeners often write to us and pour out their hearts about the many difficulties they experience in life. However, in your message today you said God’s Word states that suffering and challenges are often permitted by God in His desire to bless us.
SCHULZ: Mark, this is certainly true. You see, along with His gift of faith and His gift of total forgiveness and new life, in His mercy, God also permits difficulties to enter our lives — difficulties which actually strengthen our faith!
ANNOUNCER: Could you give us an example of this?
SCHULZ: I think we can. You see, in His Word, our loving Lord says to us, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). What I just read is certainly the Gospel of God. It is His “Good News” to us. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the crucifixion cross, through His gift of faith, God has made us friends again. And what a thrill it is to hear this. As St. Paul says, “we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).
ANNOUNCER: That certainly is “Good News” from God’s Word.
SCHULZ: It certainly is. But now, listen to this. What follows is so surprising to so many people today. You see, immediately after St. Paul says we have “peace with God” in Jesus Christ, he also adds, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3&4).
ANNOUNCER: Why are many people surprised then when they hear followers of Christ “exult” in their tribulation?”
SCHULZ: Well, Mark, unfortunately or tragically, many today who claim to be Christians have been misled by the devil to believe they can expect or even should expect a life without problems. This, of course, is not what the Bible teaches. In fact, in Romans 8:18 we read, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
ANNOUNCER: Dr. Schulz, this glory soon to be revealed is the hope of the Gospel which enables us to rejoice even in the middle of suffering.
SCHULZ: Absolutely! This is also why the words of the apostle John in Revelation are so important. St. John writes, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men. He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them, and He will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.’ Then He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!'” (Revelation 21:3-5)
ANNOUNCER: So, Dr. Schulz, for those listeners experiencing challenges and suffering at this hour, what is the bottom line?
SCHULZ: We need to say no more or no less than what God says in His Word. That is this: In addition to the Good News of His forgiveness, God also purifies our life and strengthens our faith, and makes our eternal hope more clear in Jesus Christ as sure as He continues to permit us to face challenges. You see, most things in life when we use them, they wear out, such as an automobile or a TV or clothes or whatever. One exception, however, is our muscles. Our muscles are uniquely different. When we use our muscles, they get stronger. This is also true for Christians. When a Christian experiences persecution and difficulties, their faith is also strengthened. This is why God permits difficulties to come into our lives. Tribulation brings perseverance, perseverance brings proven character, and proven character brings hope — a hope in Christ that is eternal.