"For we would not brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us." II Cor. 1:7-10
Job said - that is, the Holy Spirit through Job said, "Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble [Job 14:1]." The Savior said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation… [Jn. 16:33a]." Paul said, "We would not…have you ignorant of our trouble…" The inference is that trouble is as much a part of life as life itself.
The reason for that is obvious, from a scriptural standpoint. Sin has thrown everything out of balance, and life does not function the way God designed it. The apostle indicates in Romans 8:22 that not only man and his relationships were marred by sin, but that Adam's transgression disrupted the very fabric of nature itself, so that the whole creation "groaneth and travaileth" as a result. Sickness, social disorder and natural disaster are all fallout from Adam's disobedience to the word of God, and conversion does not remove us nor exempt us from its tragic consequences. Hence the righteous suffer as well as the wicked in this present dispensation.
The fundamental difference between the saved and the lost, with reference to trouble is the Resource of the righteous in time of trouble. In the opening of this chapter the apostle denominates God as "the God of all comfort." As believers in the living God we have a relationship with Him which enables us to view trouble differently and relate to it on a higher plane.
To illustrate the point Paul makes reference to one of his own seasons of trouble so profound that he "despaired even of life," and in which he had experienced the sufficiency of God's grace. He declares that God "delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us." Note the three tenses: in the past, He delivered us; in the present He continues to deliver us; and with respect to the future, we trust that He will deliver us."
The key word in the book of Deuteronomy is "remember." Moses rehearsed the history of Israel in the wilderness as a reminder of God's sufficiency and goodness in the past, to encourage them in facing the challenges of the present and the uncertainties of the future in a world where trouble comes almost as naturally as sunshine. If God has delivered us from trials in the past, we do well to keep that deliverance in mind. It will be an encouragement to trust His overshadowing care in the problems confronting us in the present.
But what of tomorrow? When the apostle says, "we had the sentence of death in ourselves," he is simply saying, 'we took our lives out of our own hands and placed them in His.' "We should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead." We can never be sure of tomorrow. "We [are to] walk by faith and not by sight." Some day there will come a "trouble" from which God will not deliver us - here. It will be the launching pad for our transport to glory. 'Til then, we should recall His deliverance in the past, recognize His sustaining power and grace for the present and trust Him as "the God who raises the dead" for the uncertainties of tomorrow. Let it be noted, however, that a merely theoretical God will not do. If we are to have courage for the present and confidence for the future, we will need a personal relationship with the living God. That relationship comes through a genuine faith in Christ alone. It is to such that God gives His word,
"Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in t trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation ."
[Psalm 91:14-16]
"Pastor" Frasier
Job said - that is, the Holy Spirit through Job said, "Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble [Job 14:1]." The Savior said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation… [Jn. 16:33a]." Paul said, "We would not…have you ignorant of our trouble…" The inference is that trouble is as much a part of life as life itself.
The reason for that is obvious, from a scriptural standpoint. Sin has thrown everything out of balance, and life does not function the way God designed it. The apostle indicates in Romans 8:22 that not only man and his relationships were marred by sin, but that Adam's transgression disrupted the very fabric of nature itself, so that the whole creation "groaneth and travaileth" as a result. Sickness, social disorder and natural disaster are all fallout from Adam's disobedience to the word of God, and conversion does not remove us nor exempt us from its tragic consequences. Hence the righteous suffer as well as the wicked in this present dispensation.
The fundamental difference between the saved and the lost, with reference to trouble is the Resource of the righteous in time of trouble. In the opening of this chapter the apostle denominates God as "the God of all comfort." As believers in the living God we have a relationship with Him which enables us to view trouble differently and relate to it on a higher plane.
To illustrate the point Paul makes reference to one of his own seasons of trouble so profound that he "despaired even of life," and in which he had experienced the sufficiency of God's grace. He declares that God "delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us." Note the three tenses: in the past, He delivered us; in the present He continues to deliver us; and with respect to the future, we trust that He will deliver us."
The key word in the book of Deuteronomy is "remember." Moses rehearsed the history of Israel in the wilderness as a reminder of God's sufficiency and goodness in the past, to encourage them in facing the challenges of the present and the uncertainties of the future in a world where trouble comes almost as naturally as sunshine. If God has delivered us from trials in the past, we do well to keep that deliverance in mind. It will be an encouragement to trust His overshadowing care in the problems confronting us in the present.
But what of tomorrow? When the apostle says, "we had the sentence of death in ourselves," he is simply saying, 'we took our lives out of our own hands and placed them in His.' "We should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead." We can never be sure of tomorrow. "We [are to] walk by faith and not by sight." Some day there will come a "trouble" from which God will not deliver us - here. It will be the launching pad for our transport to glory. 'Til then, we should recall His deliverance in the past, recognize His sustaining power and grace for the present and trust Him as "the God who raises the dead" for the uncertainties of tomorrow. Let it be noted, however, that a merely theoretical God will not do. If we are to have courage for the present and confidence for the future, we will need a personal relationship with the living God. That relationship comes through a genuine faith in Christ alone. It is to such that God gives His word,
"Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in t trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation ."
[Psalm 91:14-16]
"I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day.Yours for victory in alien territory,
I don't borrow from its sunshine, For its skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him, For He knows what is ahead.
Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand;
CHO.: But I know Who holds tomorrow, And I know Who holds my hand.
(Ira Stanphil)
"Pastor" Frasier
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