Thursday, April 25, 2013
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
HE LEADS HIS SHEEP THROUGH TROUBLE TO TRIUMPH
When our Good Shepherd tells us He will keep us, His sheep, safe, this doesn't mean we will never experience heartache or adversity during our time in the world. Consider two tragedies in the news recently: one in Boston where three marathon race spectators were killed and 140 injured by a terrorist's bomb; the other in Texas where a violent explosion at a fertilizer plant claimed the lives of 14. When people suffer such things (it frequently happens that believers suffer right along with unbelievers when catastrophes strikes) it doesn't mean the Savior is defaulting on His promise to keep them safe. We need to remember that He always has the "big picture" in mind. He uses painful experiences for the good purpose of purifying and strengthening their faith or, in the case of a tragedy where the life of a Christian is lost, to bring them into the eternal blessedness of heaven.
I recall a pastor's words at a funeral service years ago for a young man of the congregation who perished in a helicopter crash in Vietnam. "How could this be a blessing for Rick?" the pastor asked. "We can't look into the Lord's mind and explain why He allows these things to happen. Perhaps He knew that if Rick had lived, he would have been tempted to stray from His fold into unbelief. Maybe He called Rick home early because He loved him so much that He wasn't going to let that happen! Whatever the reason for this tragedy we can say with certainty, it was rooted in Jesus' concern for Rick's eternal welfare."
What comfort this affords us when we or those whom we love experience painful trials. What peace is ours, especially, when we remember how our Good Shepherd went through the greatest trial of all for our sake, the anguish of hell's suffering on the cross, to atone for our sins. It's just because He did this for us that we can rest assured that He is going to lead us safely through trouble and tragedy to glory and triumph.
