IT
IS NOT IN VAIN.
Life is short but full of trouble. Life is painful, yet a
merciful God ordained that this pain not be in vain. The suffering He created
not; sin did, and the father of wickedness. Sin and suffering have the same
birthday. They both began when Satan became Satan. We often wonder when
perplexity hits us if and when our suffering shall ever end. It seems so heavy and indefinite. Well, Good News; it
shall all come to an end. Suffering doesn’t last forever.
As I write this I am suffering. I am enduring persecution
and I cannot describe adequately what it looks or feels like. The worst kind of
persecution is that from the one you love, like a family member. You are victimized
because you can tell no one but Jesus. That said, I have come to the realization
that perhaps Christ is all you need at this hour of trial.
My first reaction to my persecution was anger. I am
Kisii. I fear my own anger and my apparent inability to cool down. I fear what
I might do to those chronic elements that make me ever so hopeless, those elements
that kill my spirit. Those elements that failed me and failed themselves and
above all, God. These elements are people, urged on by the Devil and his
angels. There is a war going on between good and evil. We are not merely in the
crossfire, but we are to pick a side in this great scheme of things. “He that
is not with me is against me.”
If you have chosen to be with Christ, congratulations! You are on the path to heaven. I urge you to
stay that path, to the very end, where He will give you a crown of life. The devil
however will try to throw his darkness athwart your path that if possible, he
may obscure the hope that lies before you. He has but a short time and wants to
perish with as many as he can. He is suicidal and homicidal. He comes
masquerading as an angel of light because he is a deceiver. I write this not
because I love him, but so that you may see him when he comes. “Fear not him
who can harm the flesh, but fear him who can harm both body and soul in hell.”
Fear not the inconvenience. Don’t fear his fear. Loose all self-preservation,
shrink not from death, and yield not a yard to him. He is defeated. Does Christ
fear a war He has already conquered? NO. So don’t be afraid. Only believe.
“In the last days, the love of many will grow cold.” We live
in a cold world. But I thank God for His sanctuary where we may come and
partake of the warmth and love of Heaven, where we may defrost our callousness.
I urge my brethren to be warm and kind to one another, because that way, the
love of Christ may be complete in all of us. The world is cold enough. Let us
be willing to share our testimonies and a reason for our faith. I am more
encouraged to hear that someone somewhere is acquainted with my suffering, that
I am not alone in it all. “Your brethren throughout the world are going through
the same kind of troubles.” 1 Peter 5:9
Good news, it all comes to an end. “And He shall wipe
away every tear from their eyes.” Rev 21:4
Here
is how it ends.
The Final
Judgment
“…13The sea gave up its
dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according
to his deeds. 14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death —the lake of fire. 15And if anyone was found whose name was not written
in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Rev 20:13-15 . All the sin and suffering is
heaped upon the originator of it all, the Devil. Sin shall be no more. Death
shall be no more. There shall be no more sorrow. “The sun shall no longer beat
down on their foreheads.” Rev 22:5
Ellen White writes, “The
sufferings those Christians endured drove them closer to the Lord, and led them
to love one
another, and caused them to fear more than ever to offend him.” Spiritual Gifts pg 103-104
Sometimes I worry who will read this. I wonder as I type.
I choose to worry not either way, for I serve the overseer of all knowledge and
He will see to it that His children get
the message. I pray for your peace and your well-being, not just physical but
spiritual. I pray that you may have hope in the midst of your suffering. I pray
That God will guide you and show you His tender mercies. I pray that you will
Rejoice in the midst of your suffering for it is not in vain. I pray that you
remember, “Great is your reward in Heaven.” May God be with you. May Heaven
shine their light upon you and light your path as you walk the narrow path to
heaven. And finally, when we get Home, we shall sing, “Glory Allelluia!” and
Christ Jesus shall bid us, “ Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter
into my rest prepared for you.” Amen.
