| Very interesting question. THe Old Testament seemed to be full of
the idea that if something bad happened to you, then there was a
reason.
I remember I line of a prayer that asked help from God, with the part
about "do not give us what we truely deserve".
Anyone remember the rest of the line?
Marc H.
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| God is always loving and always has our best interest at heart in an
eternal sense. That is, whatever He allows to occur may always be
made profitable for our salvation, aside from our choice to sin. The
trials of life that God allows are so that we may be refined in our
faith; this brings glory to God.
If we hold on to sinful activities and all the milder ways the Lord may
give us in grace to convert are rejected, He may need to shake us up
so that we face the reality of our sin, our need for Him in our lives,
and His wisdom in the Way of life that he has given us.
Affliction in a person's life does not necessarily mean the person has
sinned. It is not a strict Cause-Effect reaction. Job is an example. Also,
Jesus was once asked why a man was blind, was it because he sinned or
because of the sins of the parents? Jesus said it was neither, but it was
so that God could manifest His mercy and be glorified.
If we face each affliction with trust in Jesus and God's provisions
for us then He gives us peace, cares for us, and we strengthen in
faith. Over time, we have testimony to God's goodness and provision
and steadfastness which is a genuine testimony of love which does
indeed give glory to God.
The hardhearted who persist in sin, however, are left to their sins and
the misery it causes. Certainly this is also a loving act of God meant
to help the sinner understand their need for repentance. Jesus says
what is the profit if we gain the whole world but lose our soul? Also,
if our hand offends (sins) then it's better to cut it off than to
persist in sin. This is all to say that our eternal state after this
life is of supreme importance, far beyond what trials we may endure
in this life.
Peace,
Mary
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