Evidence of Righteous Judgment

The saying is true, things are not always as they seem.  Consider for example Paul’s statement regarding the Thessalonians’ suffering.  Their endurance through persecutions and afflictions is evidence of the righteous judgment of God (2Ths 1:4-5).  Who would ever believe that if the Spirit had not revealed it?  Would any of us consider public reproach, plundering of property, physical abuse and even death the proof that our Father is judging righteously?  To the eye of sense that seems absurd.  But to the eye of faith it is gospel truth.  As the apostle says elsewhere to the Philippians, This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God (Php 1:28).  As the Christian suffers the indignity and pain of persecution at the hands of malicious evildoers, it is a sign of their destruction and his salvation!  It is evidence of righteous judgment!  What strange irony.  In the midst of such hardship it requires a childlike trust in the wisdom and fidelity of our gracious God to think like that.  But then His kingdom is very different from the kingdoms of this world.  Indeed, it is otherworldly.  Its means and ends and principles are vastly different, even diametrically opposed to those of mere earthly realms.  So this should not surprise us.  It is a wonderful paradox characterizing the experience of Christians as we live in a fallen world and make our pilgrimage heavenward.  Things are not as they seem!  In the midst of affliction and persecution, suffering and weakness the church is growing, advancing, and glorifying God through faith in the crucified Christ.  It makes no sense to fleshly reason, but to the sanctified mind it makes perfect sense.  Scripture teaches us how it is in perfect accord with the infallible plan of God.  Our Lord Jesus has overcome Satan and always overrules his schemes.  By His death Christ has removed the evil of afflictions so that all of them without exception only serve the great cause of our salvation.  Are you enduring some form of persecution or hardship at the hands of evildoers?  It is evidence of God’s righteous judgment!  It is a sign of your salvation!  It is proof that God considers you worthy of His kingdom through our great Redeemer King, even Jesus Christ.

Who Is This Man? - Luke 5

Sermon delivered by Elder James Pavlic.

James Pavlic

    On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
    While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
    On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
    (Luke 5:1-26 ESV)

Suitable Sorrow

“Moderation in all things” is not a bad motto. As with almost everything else, it applies to the sphere of mourning. On the one hand, there is a time to weep… a time to mourn (Eccl 3:4). We live in a fallen world and the days are evil (Eph 5:16). Tombstones around the globe stand as silent witnesses of death’s shadow which permeates every facet of human existence. Daily the obituaries testify to the passing of one generation and the rise of another (Eccl 1:4). In this scenario it is appropriate to grieve. Abraham mourned for his beloved Sarah (Gen 23:2), all Israel grieved the death of Samuel (1 Sam 25:1), and Jesus Himself wept for His dear friend Lazarus (Jn 11:35). Such sorrow is natural and expected. With it comes no shame or culpability. On the other hand, one must not indulge his grief overmuch. Like any passion excessively coddled, sorrow can become a snare to godly living. For example, the disciples failed to support their Master in His hour of greatest need because they were found sleeping for sorrow (Lk 22:45). Even after Christ’s command to pray and His warning of temptation, they slept because their souls were exhausted from the grievous news about His sufferings and betrayal.

So the proper course, the right way is to moderate our sorrows under God’s providential dealings. In this vale of tears we will suffer. Our Lord Himself showed that godly grief is both good and right. Yet as believers in a wise and gracious providence we must not let our losses and disappointments master our hearts. “Moderation in all things.” The extremes are worldly – all or nothing, overindulged heartache or callous insensitivity. The balance is Christian – a measured, faith-filled godly grief. The one produces death, the other leads to salvation without regret (2 Cor 7:10). Let us not grieve as others do who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13). For Jesus died and rose again. Hallelujah!