How Long Must Heaven Suffer?

I and my Father are one. John 10: 30. 

God Himself was crucified with Christ; for Christ was one with the Father. Few give thought to the suffering that sin has caused our Creator. All heaven suffered in Christ's agony; but that suffering did not begin or end with His manifestation in humanity. The cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God. Every departure from the right, every deed of cruelty, every failure of humanity to reach His ideal, brings grief to Him. When there came upon Israel the calamities that were the sure result of separation from God-- subjugation by their enemies, cruelty, and death-- it is said that "his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel." "In all their affliction he was afflicted: . . . and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old" (Judges 10: 16; Isa. 63: 9).

His Spirit "maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." As the "whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together" (Rom. 8: 26, 22), the heart of the infinite Father is pained in sympathy. Our world is a vast lazar house, a scene of misery that we dare not allow our thoughts to dwell upon. Did we realize it as it is, the burden would be too terrible. Yet God feels it all.

Not a sigh is breathed, not a pain felt, not a grief pierces the soul, but the throb vibrates to the Father's heart.

He who knows the depths of the world's misery and despair, knows by what means to bring relief. . . . Although human beings have abused their mercies, wasted their talents, and lost the dignity of godlike manhood, the Creator is to be glorified in their redemption.

In order to destroy sin and its results He gave His best Beloved, and He has put it in our power, through cooperation with Him, to bring this scene of misery to an end.

With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon- coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world! How soon might the end come-- the end of suffering and sorrow and sin!

Don't Forget to Forgive

Scripture: "When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:25).

What does forgiveness look like? Some describe it as giving up the right to revenge or the obligation to "get even." Perhaps you have heard the phrase "forgive and forget." I think God’s forgiveness looks more like that, because He said of Himself, "I will blot out your sins and will never think of them again" (Isaiah 43:25, paraphrased).

Forgive for Forgiveness

When someone hurts us, it is so difficult to even want to forgive them – I sometimes get so angry that I can’t even think, let alone pray. But after a while, I remember Jesus’ instructions: "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15). In other words, hanging on to our unforgiveness hinders our intimacy with God.

You Forgive Others

The Apostle Paul instructed, "be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). No matter what someone has done – or how many times they have offended you – Jesus said we should still forgive them, according to the Parable of the Debtor in Matthew 18. This is not a command to stay in a physically unhealthy or emotionally abusive relationship. But "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8), and with forgiveness, God’s love can redeem anyone and any relationship.

God Forgives You

After God has helped us forgive others and mend relationships, we turn to Him in repentance for our own sins. We know that "if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (1 John 1:9). King David wrote of the joy and relief we can experience when the Lord forgives us: "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!" (Psalm 32:1).

Bless Those Who Curse You

Scripture: "I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” ( Luke 6:27-28 ).

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you? How difficult is it to love someone who has offended or hurt you? A few years ago, our family was very hurt when some really good friends (or so we had thought) tried to sabotage our adoption of a baby. They lied to the adoption agency and even told them we were bad parents to our own daughter. We were so angry and felt so betrayed!

The Best Role Model

Do you know Who else has been betrayed by a close friend? Jesus. It was predicted in the Old Testament: "Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared My food, has turned against Me" (Psalm 41:9). Our family’s choice to respond in prayer instead of anger was difficult; but we have the best Role Model. And Jesus, even on the cross, prayed, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). We know we need to forgive and pray for those who hurt us, as Jesus did, no matter what has been done against us. We turn to God in prayer, as the Bible instructs us, “Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you” (Psalm 55:22).

Promise from God

The Bible also tells us that “A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape” (Proverbs 19:5). But rather than praying that our former friends will be punished, we pray that they will turn from sinning and won’t cause pain to anyone else. God has even given us strength to pray that the godly things they do will prosper. And we know we can rely on His promises in our own lives: “Those who know Your Name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You” (Psalm 9:10).

"Worthy is the Lamb!"

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Rev. 5: 12. 

We are not worthy of God's love, but Christ, our surety, is worthy, and is abundantly able to save all who shall come unto Him. 

Christ delights to take apparently hopeless material, those whom Satan has debased and through whom he has worked, and make them the subjects of His grace. He rejoices to deliver them from suffering and from the wrath that is to fall upon the disobedient.

If the enemy can lead the desponding to take their eyes off from Jesus, and look to themselves, and dwell upon their own unworthiness, instead of dwelling upon the worthiness of Jesus, His love, His merits, and His great mercy, he will get away their shield of faith and gain his object; they will be exposed to his fiery temptations. The weak should therefore look to Jesus, and believe in Him; they then exercise faith.

The Son of God gave all-- life and love and suffering-- for our redemption. And can it be that we, the unworthy objects of so great love, will withhold our hearts from Him? Every moment of our lives we have been partakers of the blessings of His grace, and for this very reason we cannot fully realize the depths of ignorance and misery from which we have been saved.

Many make a serious mistake in their religious life by keeping the attention fixed upon their feelings and thus judging of their advancement or decline. Feelings are not a safe criterion. We are not to look within for evidence of our acceptance with God. We shall find there nothing but that which will discourage us. Our only hope is in "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12: 2). There is everything in Him to inspire with hope, with faith, and with courage. He is our righteousness, our consolation and rejoicing. . . .

A sense of our weakness and unworthiness should lead us with humility of heart to plead the atoning sacrifice of Christ. As we rely upon His merits we shall find rest and peace and joy. He saves to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him.

A Tip For Keeping Your Job: Do Not Gossip

This is a notice that was posted on a bulletin board at a business.

Due to increased competition and a keen desire to stay in business we find it necessary to institute a new policy. We are asking that somewhere between starting time and quitting time without infringing on the time devoted to lunch, coffee breaks, rest periods, storytelling, ticket selling, vacation planning, and rehashing of gossip, each employee endeavors to find some time that can be set aside and known as the work break. This may seem a radical innovation, but we believe the idea has possibilities. It can conceivably be an aid to steady employment and regular pay checks. While adoption of the work break is not compulsory, it is hope that each employee will find time to give it a fair trial.

You know a major reason why people get fired is because they don’t do their work. They end up spending their time gossiping or sharing personal stories or maybe just sharing their problems with everyone and they disrupt their work and the work of others. Are you literally talking yourself out of a job? The book of Proverbs says, “In all thy labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23
).  Are literally talking yourself out of a job?

God's Justice Vindicated

As I live, says the Lord, to me every knee shall bow and every tongue acknowledge God. Rom. 14: 11, N. E. B. 

For what was the great controversy permitted to continue throughout the ages? Why was it that Satan's existence was not cut short at the outset of his rebellion? It was that the universe might be convinced of God's justice in His dealing with evil; that sin might receive eternal condemnation. In the plan of redemption there are heights and depths that eternity itself can never exhaust, marvels into which the angels desire to look. The redeemed only, of all created beings, have in their own experience known the actual conflict with sin; they have wrought with Christ, and, as even the angels could not do, have entered into the fellowship of His sufferings; will they have no testimony as to the science of redemption-- nothing that will be of worth to unfallen beings? . . .

"In his temple doth everyone speak of his glory" (Ps. 29: 9), and the song which the ransomed ones will sing . . . will declare the glory of God: "Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages. Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy" (Rev. 15: 3, 4, R. V.).
 
As if entranced, the wicked have looked upon the coronation of the Son of God. They see in His hands the tables of the divine law, the statutes which they have despised and transgressed. . . . Every question of truth and error in the long- standing controversy has now been made plain. The results of rebellion, the fruits of setting aside the divine statutes, have been laid open to the view of all created intelligences. The working out of Satan's rule in contrast with the government of God has been presented to the whole universe. Satan's own works have condemned him. God's wisdom, His justice, and His goodness stand fully vindicated. It is seen that all His dealings in the great controversy have been conducted with respect to the eternal good of His people and the good of all the worlds that He has created. . . . With all the facts of the great controversy in view, the whole universe, both loyal and rebellious, with one accord declare: "Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints" (Rev. 15: 3).

Heaven Itself Imperiled

I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Isa. 13: 12. 

The value of a soul, who can estimate? Would you know its worth, go to Gethsemane, and there watch with Christ through those hours of anguish, when He sweat as it were great drops of blood. Look upon the Saviour uplifted on the cross. Hear that despairing cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15: 34). Look upon the wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet. Remember that Christ risked all. For our redemption, heaven itself was imperiled. At the foot of the cross, remembering that for one sinner Christ would have laid down His life, you may estimate the value of a soul. 

If you are in communion with Christ you will place His estimate upon every human being. You will feel for others the same deep love that Christ has felt for you. Then you will be able to win, not drive, to attract, not repulse, those for whom He died. . . . The greater their sin and the deeper their misery, the more earnest and tender will be your efforts for their recovery. You will discern the need of those who are suffering, who have been sinning against God, and who are oppressed with a burden of guilt. Your heart will go out in sympathy for them, and you will reach out to them a helping hand. 

Christ and Him crucified should become the theme of our thoughts and stir the deepest emotions of our souls. . . . It is through the cross alone that we can estimate the worth of the human soul. Such is the value of men for whom Christ died that the Father is satisfied with the infinite price which He pays for the salvation of man in yielding up His own Son to die for their redemption. What wisdom, mercy, and love in its fullness are here manifested! The worth of man is known only by going to Calvary. In the mystery of the cross of Christ we can place an estimate upon man. 

How glorious are the possibilities set before the fallen race! Through His Son, God has revealed the excellency to which man is capable of attaining. Through the merits of Christ man is lifted from his depraved state, purified, and made more precious than the golden wedge of Ophir.