Based on 1 Peter 3:13-18 (New King James Version)
“And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.’ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”
Nick Vujicic (one of my heroes in the faith) said: “Often people ask how I manage to be happy despite having no arms and no legs. The quick answer is that I have a choice. I can be angry about not having limbs, or I can be thankful that I have a purpose. I chose gratitude.” Many times, people struggle in their faith in God because something went wrong, or because certain prayers were not answered, or because they get tired of doing the right thing without seeing some sort of reward for their actions.
I have heard of many folks that cannot bring themselves to believe in God because something tragic happened in their lives. It could involve the unexpected or untimely death of a loved one; and they felt that God should have intervened somehow. I have heard stories like, “I lost a parent to a sickness at an early age, and God didn’t hear my prayer for healing.” Others may judge God on global occurrences such as hunger, disease, wars, etc. And they ask, “If God exists, and He is a good God, why does He allow for such tragedies to happen?” I remember speaking to a coworker that was of Hebrew descent who told me once, “Where was God in the Holocaust”, and “how could He allow for millions, including women and children, to be tortured and killed by the Nazis?” Believers struggle with their faith in God as well because not everything goes well. Sometimes, prayers are left unanswered. Prayers are not heard, and much suffering occurs because of those unanswered prayers. And of course, they feel that those prayers should have been answered because they were praying for necessary things. Believers many times judge God because “He let” someone die, or “He did not provide” for a particular need, or “He did not help” in a time of extreme need. They charge God with the failure. Others give up on having a fervent faith because they don’t see a reward for it. Some people just throw their hands up in the air after a while and say, “I give up!”. They think, “What have I gained by leading a different life, and trying to please God, if I am worse off than others, and I don’t get what I need?” So, they give in to certain things thinking that compromise will allow for them to get what they need. As an example, some believers get into marriages with unbelievers or get into the practice of sin thinking that they will get what they want. They justify themselves on the basis that God did not provide for them, and they needed to take matters into their own hands.
I think that if a survey was taken that involved God’s performance, I don’t think He would do so well. I think many folks would say that His performance is at minimum, substandard; that He is clearly not everything He should be. One of the issues that causes that thinking is what we think success is. Success is judged on having everything people think they should have in this life, the here and now. Success is judged upon everything going well: family, health, wealth, possessions, power, careers, fame, being able to do what you want, getting what you want or need, etc. If you don’t achieve or have a “good amount” of any of those things, then you are not considered to be successful. And of course, any god is judged on the merits of how they help achieve a certain level of success. So, people hold this unmentioned, yet very real standard to God: If You (God) cannot help me achieve what I think is success, then I will not be as devoted; or not devoted at all to you. There are a lot of things that remain unsaid, but actions articulate very well the intentions of the heart.
And now, where our passage today is referred to more clearly (but ties into the previous), what if we suffer for doing what is right? This goes beyond struggling with believing in God, having trouble following God because He doesn’t do what you need Him to do, or not being as devoted because doing good does not seem to have an expected result. This passage has to do with actually being a devoted follower of God, and being punished and persecuted for doing what is right. Basically, being punished for doing good. What then? Isn’t it even more traumatizing to be treated as criminal because of trying to help others come to Christ, or suffer wrong doing because of doing that which pleases God?
The answer for everyone should revolve around one thing: love. Aside from all the things that could go wrong, things that could shake your faith, questions left unanswered, or suffering for doing good; the love of God through Jesus Christ should be the one act that helps us understand what is really important. God exists. Let’s at least establish that. And history tells us that there was a Jesus of Nazareth that did incredible miracles, but more importantly, that He died for all mankind, so that we could be saved. He didn’t die on the cross so we can necessarily be successful in our own human terms here on earth, but rather, so we can live eternally, saved from our sins. And He did it while having the choice to walk away. The Lord could have turned back and not gone through the awful sacrifice of the cross. And without that, the only thing we would have left is this very temporary and truly imperfect world, full of the things that make life unpleasant. And after it’s all done, go to hell; a place that is eternally separated from God. But praise God that Christ did not walk away from the cross. So we are encouraged as follows: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Hebrews 12:1-3.
So, when things get tough, remember what Christ did for you. Don’t give up because He did not give up on you. Through His sacrifice, He gave you more than you would ever even know that you needed. Isn’t God’s love more than enough to keep pushing on; a love that opened the door to eternity for you and me? Lord bless! John