Being a Christian can, in many ways, feel as if you live in two drastically different realities. When we read in scripture, we are confronted with all of these powerful exhortations and beautiful truths of who we now are in Christ...loved, redeemed, adopted, guarded, holy, chosen, reconciled, blessed, etc. But then we close our Bibles, leave the comfort of our favorite reading chair, and step out into the "real world" where we are smacked in the face with the reality of living in a fallen broken world. And let's be honest here...we aren't just victims of this second reality. We are, at times, maybe even often, willing participants in, and active contributors to, the mess.
If, as Cody mentioned in his sermon, God has given dominion over this world to mankind, then we can only conclude that the inmates are running the asylum. Pain, suffering, death, disease, war, and all types of man-made atrocities are not isolated rarities but rather common occurrences in the world in which we live. And in the midst of all of this, the question so often becomes, "God, where are you???" Again, let's be honest, even the most faithful and devoted of us have found ourselves, in the midst of deep darkness, in the quiet recesses of our hearts asking that question.
In just a few short years of pastoral ministry, I have already had to help people walk through the loss of a loved one, marriage and family struggles, divorce, infidelity, uncovered sin struggles, financial struggles, relational strife, church discipline matters...the list goes on and on and on. The challenges we encounter inside of the church look a lot like the ones we see in the lives of those who are outside of it. How is that possible? Has the Bible simply missed the mark in its description of God's people?
No! In fact, the Bible is actually quite authentic in the picture that it paints of the reality of the Christian life. Most of the New Testament is comprised of letters (including the one we are currently studying, Hebrews) that are written to early Christians to instruct them in the faith and to correct sinful thinking and behavior. Christ doesn't view his church through rose-colored glasses. He knows how we struggle because he has walked in our shoes. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
Likewise, Jesus and his apostles sought to prepare us for the difficulties that we would face as his followers. The picture of the Christian life that they paint is hopeful, but not because our circumstances, rather in spite of them. Nowhere are we promised sunny skies and smooth sailing on this side of eternity. Instead we are promised trials, suffering, and difficulties. So why do we so often seemed surprised when we find ourselves in the midst of them?
As I mentioned, it isn't Jesus who wears the rose colored glasses, rather it is us! We are searching for relief from the difficulties of life and so we rightly turn to Jesus, but the relief he offers so often fails to meet our expectations and goes unrecognized. We want nothing less than ease and comfort, but that's not what Jesus is offering...at least not in the ways we desire.
By grace, through faith, we are united to a life-giving Savior, an empathetic High Priest, and a reigning King. On the surface, it sounds like we have hit the eternal jackpot...and rightly so, because we have. But how often do we reflect on how Jesus took hold of and ushered us into those realities? Reflect with me on the stories.
First, how did Jesus become our life-giving Savior? Recall that it was through death that he opened the way to life for his people. Jesus took upon himself the guilt and shame of our sins. He bore them on the tree that we might be reconciled to God. The way to eternal life is through death. Now, in Christ, we are united to his atoning death, so that we can in turn experience the hope of his eternal life. Likewise, we are called to follow him by taking up our own cross and dying to self.
Second, how did Jesus become our empathetic High Priest? We often think of Jesus as a spiritual Superman who simply coasted through life with his divine defenses at the ready. This isn't the picture that the Bible paints for us though. How did Jesus resist sin and temptation? He was empowered by the Holy Spirit and leaned on the power of God's Word. The Spirit and the Word...the same two weapons we are equipped with as well. Jesus walked in the same realities of the flesh that we encounter day after day, but he overcame the desire to gratify the flesh by perfectly wielding the weapons he had been given for the spiritual battle he faced.
Finally, how did Jesus become the reigning King? Jesus was enthroned as the "King of kings" (Revelation 19:16) and given the "name above all names" (Philippians 2:9) not through the normal means that one ascends to such a place. Rather, the Bible has always made it clear that to be a king in God's upside down kingdom, is to be exalted through suffering. The king, as the representative head for the people, suffers on their behalf. We think of kingship as glorification, and rightly so. Jesus, as king is glorified, and through our union to him, we will taste glory as well, but this exultation comes through being brought low...through suffering. The prophet Isaiah paints the glorious picture of God's Messiah not as a reigning ruler, but as a suffering servant (Isaiah 53).
Right now, at this very moment, you may be suffering in a very dark place. In this moment, you may be asking, "Where are you God???" If so, let me leave you with some encouragement. If you are a follower of Jesus, then you have been united through faith to the one who overcame the grave for you. The groaning of your broken heart doesn't fall upon deaf ears, but rather your Great High Priest, who suffered as you suffer, intercedes for you before your Father in Heaven, even if you are too battered and broken to pray for yourself. Finally, when you are tempted to look around and see only the turmoil of this broken world, remember that you are united to the eternal King who is now seated in the place of honor at the right hand of the Father. He is seated because his work is done. He has overcome sin and death. The victory has already been won. That is the reality to which you have been granted access through the blood of Christ.
In Grace,
Chris Morris
If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.
Part 4 - Can I trust God while suffering?
Questions discussed in this sermon:
1. Why is Psalm 8 quoted in this passage?
2. What is the world to come?
3. If Jesus reigns then why is there still suffering?
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