I recently wrote an article looking at the ‘Death of the West’: how history reveals that we can not survive the next 40 years. (Article is Here) 1The Death of the West – how my grandchildren will likely never see the country I love https://wildeden.com.au/news/soul-food/2022/the-death-of-the-west-why-my-grandchildren-will-never-know-the-australia-i-love/
All through history, powerful, educated, military nations that should rule the world have ceased to exist. However, it is small, insignificant, uneducated nations like the Jews, have survived through the ages (despite concerted efforts to the contrary!) . It just does not make sense…
Unless of course there is some supernatural power at play. Interestingly, the Bible describes this very scenario: a God who punishes nations who violate His law.
According to this incredible book, the Creator of the Universe judges evil nations and allows them to be destroyed. At times it was supernatural, divine judgement, though most of the time it was ‘just’ another nation invading and taking over the nation that had violated or ignored God (or His ways).
Conversely, He protects and elevates the nation that worship Him and follow His ways. History shows that this has in fact come to pass. But to Him, there is more at stake…
10 He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you?
He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing?
11 The LORD knows people’s thoughts;
he knows they are worthless!
12 Joyful are those you discipline, LORD,
those you teach with your instructions.Psalms 94:10-12 (NLT)
This Bible verse describes an incredible reality: This Creator, who has clearly judged and influenced (or even controlled) human history, cares about individuals’ actions(!). If that was not enough, a concept is introduced in this verse that is echoed all throughout the Bible: that God wants to be known as a Father!
This is a very strange notion for any ‘god’, let alone the Only True God. ‘Gods’ normally want to be seen as powerful and seperate from, above, ‘mere mortals’. But this God, the God of Creation, introduces Himself over & over as Father, or even ‘Abba’ and term that is closer to “Daddy”. Intimate, trusting, and close.
So, while He punishes nations for their wrong actions, He is also looking out for individual people (like you and me), to treat as His sons and daughters. Amazingly, He wants to love these people. And not just the watered down and perverted ‘love’ that we are bombarded with in our culture, but genuine, unconditional, ‘wanting the best for the other person’ type love.
A love so real, so involved and intimate, that He is willing (and even wants) to be the One to discipline them! Yes you read that right – discipline! In our culture we may try to lump that into an abusive or unnecessary role. Believe me, I know how bad abuse can be…
As a young child, I was hit with a wooden paddle in front of all the teachers, after my pants were pulled down. I was smacked by people who had never had children, unrelated to me. I had someone light a match on my hand and burn me. But just because some discipline was administered in anger or incorrectly, does not mean that discipline is bad.
Discipline is vital for training a child in the normal lesson of consequences. It also communicates love to our children: it is far easy to let a child do what it wants. It is easy to neglect the teaching and discipline needed in the tens of thousands of situations they encounter while growing up. Parents you know how hard it is to give up time that you could use doing something you like or enjoy and instead discipline your children. It require attention, it costs time and at times, it hurts us too as we are forced to face our own failures.
Well, when you become a Christian, God treats us like a child – a child that He cares about: caring enough to discipline…
And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the LORD disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?Hebrews 12:5-9 (NLT) (emphasis added)
This side of God is seldom talked about, however it should come as a huge encouragement to many.
Think about this: No matter what we are going through, no matter how hard it gets, we can know that God is using it in our lives even if we did the wrong thing!!
If we did the wrong thing, He can use the consequences to bring us to a point of repentance – turning away from wrong actions, sin. The Bible words it like this:
I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. 9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
2 Corinthians 7:8-10 (NLT) (emphasis added)
See the heart? God wants you to have sorrow in the short term – so it produces joy and eternal life in the long run. He wants your good – but that doesn’t mean He wants you to have happiness every second or financial blessing or complete healing. In fact, He will use the difficult situations for your good!
Be encouraged – If you are experiencing the consequences of bad actions, repent: turn away from those actions, confess your sin to God and ask forgiveness. You don’t deserve it, but if you trust that Jesus paid for you, God will forgive you.
Be encouraged – If you are struggling through no fault of your own, relax and learn: God is allowing these things for your good. To test and strengthen and even to give you an understanding of others.
I have read that in the Hebrew Scriptures, it could be argued that the book of Job should be read first. Imagine if we, as Westerners, saw the plight of Job as normal?! Maybe we would have less issues if we were expecting the experience of Job through our Christian walk?
Jesus seems to think so – He prepared us like this:
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NLT)
Many trials should be expected if you are following Jesus – dying to self, serving others and sharing the Gospel = death to self! It hurts. The trials need to be endured.
Many other places in the Bible share different angles on the same topic…
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 (NLT)
Conclusion: Discipline communicates and demands love. God, the perfect Father, disciplines those He loves, we should too!
Lord, thankYou for your genuine, unconditional love. ThankYou that Your love is so great that you are willing to discipline us. Help us to recognise it and respond to it. And in areas where we have sinned against You, please forgive us because of what Your Son purchased for us on the cross. We turn away from that and turn to You to receive Your forgiveness and grace. Have Your way in us.
Footnotes:
- 1The Death of the West – how my grandchildren will likely never see the country I love https://wildeden.com.au/news/soul-food/2022/the-death-of-the-west-why-my-grandchildren-will-never-know-the-australia-i-love/