Greetings!
I have covered the reasons why God and Christ Jesus allow suffering and apparent injustices in general terms under the Categories of “Suffering” and “God Can Give Nothing But Blessing And Goodness” but I want to cover the title of this present Category in a little more specific manner.
I have to admit I am taken back sometimes, how-be-it if only momentarily, when I see the obviously innocent suffer pain and indignities for no apparent reason. This is especially true concerning the suffering of children and animals.
However, the main example that God has given to insure us that His ways, in ALL that He does, will ULTIMATELY bring about the greatest of blessings for each and everyone involved….even for the justifiable suffering of the sinner, which I will explain later.
This one prime example is, of course, the crucifixion of our Lord and Savi0r Christ Jesus.
God the Father, to the unenlightened human eye and thought, certainly seemed anything but fair and loving when, after His Son had lived a completely PERFECT life in total and absolute obedience and love to Him, then required and demanded Jesus to suffer one of the most horrible ways of dying possible….as well as being beaten severely !!
I can think of no greater apparent injustice.
And, it was beyond question the greatest of sins in that the world crucified its Creator Who had lived a perfect life on their (our) behalf. I can think of no greater sin than this.
But wait! God had a way to turn this greatest of sins and injustices into the greatest of blessings FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED!!!
God knew that Jesus could handle the suffering that He went through with the Cross or He would not have allowed it….plain and simple. And because of Christ’s love for the Father and His Creation He endured it and was exalted higher than all and given the Name that is above all names (Philippians 2:9)….quite a BLESSING!!
As for the world and the Creation that killed Him, God even was here able to bring about the GREATEST OF BLESSINGS for ALL mankind in that the sacrifice of Christ was accepted by the Father as the ULTIMATE penalty for sin for ALL who have ever lived or will live. (1 Peter 3:18; Romans 5:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Colossians 1:20)
This is why Jesus could say in John 12:32: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL to Myself….”. No ambiguity here. No mincing of words. No exceptions noted.
So, the major point of this presentation is to show that even if we can’t understand why some of the lesser sins and suffering, as well as apparent injustices, are allowed by God and Jesus then our being able to CLEARLY see how God can take the greatest sin and injustice EVER COMMITTED and turn them into the GREATEST OF BLESSINGS….He and Jesus will have little trouble turning ALL of these lesser ones into blessings, as well.
Concerning how Christ’s sacrifice was the ULTIMATE penalty for EVERYONE’S sin (permanent death) please refer to these Categories for a more complete explanation:
“All Creation Will Be Saved”
“God’s Plan For The Ages”
“Eon vs Forever”
“Hell”
“Lazarus And The Rich Man”
“Misunderstanding About the Salvation of All Creation”
The last Category listed especially deals with how sinners will suffer for their continuing sins and how some of the suffering will be quite severe. However, ULTIMATELY, even the suffering they experience will serve as chastisement for CORRECTION and NOT suffering for the mere sake of vindictive pain. Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible puts this nicely in Matthew 25:46: “And these shall go away into age-abiding CORRECTION”. And notice, it is “age-abiding” NOT ‘eternal’!
Until later, be blessed in Him.
Fred
Merechristianthoughts' Blog 