Lies We Believe #2: If God Loved Me, I Wouldn’t Suffer
“When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”—Acts 14:21-22
“Why do good people suffer?” is the question that many of us have undoubtedly asked ourselves when we see the wicked living life without any apparent hint of suffering, while those who seem to follow God suffer and face many difficulties. There are some who believe that God doesn’t want people to suffer. They believe that He is some cosmic Santa Claus ready to dispense His presents to those who were nice, while giving the naughty a giant lump of coal. This lie is rooted in the seedbed of poor theology, that God doesn’t want us to suffer. One subtle aspect of this lie is what I call “The ATM God.” This is the God to whom we keep giving spiritual money—i.e., going to church, reading our Bible, prayer, giving money, etc., in the vain belief that God owes us blessing when we come back to Him with our ATM cards of prayer demanding to get back what we put in. But that is a wrong concept of God and a wrong concept of living a righteous life. When we follow God, we do so entirely of grace, not by works, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”—Ephesians 2:8-9. We can’t save ourselves by our works, nor can we earn God’s favor by what we do. The righteous deeds that we do are what we are created for (Ephesians 2:10), so that God may receive glory. God is not beholden to us and does not have to do anything for us. Whatever God does, He does in His own good pleasure.
We don’t get a “pass” when it comes to suffering; on the contrary, as Christians we will face more of it. As Luke wrote in our text for today, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Why do we suffer? There are a variety of reasons. It may be that we might bind together as believers in Christ, so that as we experience suffering, we may also experience comfort (2 Corinthians 1:6-7). We may suffer so that others might see how important Christ is to us (Ephesians 3:13). Or it may be so that we become more like Christ (Philippians 3:10), ceasing from sin (1 Peter 4:1). Christ was perfected through suffering (Hebrews 2:10), learning obedience through it (Hebrews 5:8). We too will suffer, following the example of Christ (1 Peter 2:21), suffering as good soldiers of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3), enduring it so that Christ might be seen in us (2 Timothy 4:5).
The question is not if God wants us to suffer, but how are we to live in the midst of suffering. Suffering brings us closer to God and is an opportunity for others to see Christ in us. The early church did not grow through legislation, but through patiently enduring suffering as they continued to testify of Christ’s saving power, while living their lives under the Lordship of Christ. May we be as the apostles were when they suffered, “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name”—Acts 5:41. May God be glorified in our suffering and may Christ be seen as our soul’s true sole satisfaction. Amen.
“Why do good people suffer?” is the question that many of us have undoubtedly asked ourselves when we see the wicked living life without any apparent hint of suffering, while those who seem to follow God suffer and face many difficulties. There are some who believe that God doesn’t want people to suffer. They believe that He is some cosmic Santa Claus ready to dispense His presents to those who were nice, while giving the naughty a giant lump of coal. This lie is rooted in the seedbed of poor theology, that God doesn’t want us to suffer. One subtle aspect of this lie is what I call “The ATM God.” This is the God to whom we keep giving spiritual money—i.e., going to church, reading our Bible, prayer, giving money, etc., in the vain belief that God owes us blessing when we come back to Him with our ATM cards of prayer demanding to get back what we put in. But that is a wrong concept of God and a wrong concept of living a righteous life. When we follow God, we do so entirely of grace, not by works, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”—Ephesians 2:8-9. We can’t save ourselves by our works, nor can we earn God’s favor by what we do. The righteous deeds that we do are what we are created for (Ephesians 2:10), so that God may receive glory. God is not beholden to us and does not have to do anything for us. Whatever God does, He does in His own good pleasure.
We don’t get a “pass” when it comes to suffering; on the contrary, as Christians we will face more of it. As Luke wrote in our text for today, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Why do we suffer? There are a variety of reasons. It may be that we might bind together as believers in Christ, so that as we experience suffering, we may also experience comfort (2 Corinthians 1:6-7). We may suffer so that others might see how important Christ is to us (Ephesians 3:13). Or it may be so that we become more like Christ (Philippians 3:10), ceasing from sin (1 Peter 4:1). Christ was perfected through suffering (Hebrews 2:10), learning obedience through it (Hebrews 5:8). We too will suffer, following the example of Christ (1 Peter 2:21), suffering as good soldiers of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3), enduring it so that Christ might be seen in us (2 Timothy 4:5).
The question is not if God wants us to suffer, but how are we to live in the midst of suffering. Suffering brings us closer to God and is an opportunity for others to see Christ in us. The early church did not grow through legislation, but through patiently enduring suffering as they continued to testify of Christ’s saving power, while living their lives under the Lordship of Christ. May we be as the apostles were when they suffered, “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name”—Acts 5:41. May God be glorified in our suffering and may Christ be seen as our soul’s true sole satisfaction. Amen.
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