Forbearance (part 4)

4. Suffering

        Suffering is one of the mysteries of life. Many philosophers and thinkers have tried to solve this mystery, but in vain.  After all, suffering is an experience, not a theory. To remove pain, an aspirin works better.

        Since we cannot avoid suffering in life, we might as well examine the purpose of suffering.   Hebrews 12:6-7 tells us:

        “because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?”        

          Throughout the ages, suffering drove man to examine life deeply. Many great philosophers were such products. Christians were no exception. Through suffering, God revealed more about Himself and human nature. Job was a good example. He suffered greatly for no apparent reason.  At the beginning, he was able to uphold his faith in God:

          “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart; The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;may the name of the Lord be praised.”    Job 1:21

           But as torments continued, Job became impatient and indignant. He bravely argued with God. In the end, he found he was actually ignorant and self-righteous. Then he repented, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6), a well-known Scripture passage that comforted many Christians during times of suffering.   If we were to learn from Job, we should better turn our attention to the mental stages that he went through during his suffering:

1) He grieved. (This is an honest expression of suffering. After all, suffering is real, not a mental illusion.)

2) He reflected. (With the help of his friends, he had to examine himself deeply to see if he had any hidden sin.)

3) He was frustrated. (Who has no fault? If you, Lord, kept a record of all our sins and refused to forgive, who could stand?  Why do you not forgive, but mindful of my sins?)

4) He argued with God. (Lord, if I have sinned, please tell me what did I do wrong that deserved this pain and suffering?)  

         God responded by only asking Job some questions about the secrets of the universe.  Only then did Job realize he was ignorant. His ignorance led him to believe that God's had made a mistake which caused his suffering. This discovery enabled Job to realize God's will, wisdom and power. At the end, he humbly accepted God's will and worshipped Him. Job was awakened, and his pain was replaced by a spirit of worship.  

         May we too patiently seek God’s face in the midst of suffering.

       “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”  Jeremiah 33:3 

 （續上週）                   忍耐

四、受苦（絕望般的苦）

         痛苦是人生之謎。歷世歷代不知多少哲學家、思想家想揭開這個謎， 但都徒勞無功。畢竟痛苦是經驗，不是理論；理論無法解決經驗上的痛苦。 哪怕那理論多麼精妙、合邏輯，痛苦依然是痛苦。

         聖經給我們的啟示在 希伯來書 12:6-7

        因為主所愛的，祂必管教，又鞭打凡所收納的兒子。7你們所忍受的，是神 管教你們，待你們如同待兒子。焉有兒子不被父親管教的呢？

        痛苦有使人深思、反省的作用。所謂吃得苦中苦，方為人上人；基督徒也不例外。神借著痛苦，將有關神的事情和人的本性，啟示我們。約伯就是個好例子。 他無緣無故地受了大苦難。在苦難之初，他仍堅持對神的信念說：

       「我赤身出於母胎，也必赤身歸回；賞賜的是耶和華，收取的也是耶和華。 耶和華的名是應當稱頌的。」（約伯記 1:21）

          後來在苦難的煎熬下，他悲哀、 自我反省、悲憤、勇敢地與神爭辯。最後他發現自己的無知和自以為義， 然後說出那句歷代基督徒在苦難中得安慰、信心被提升的話：我從前風聞有你，現在親眼看見你。因此我厭惡自己，在塵土和爐灰中懊悔。（約伯記 42:5-6） 我想約伯的經歷，值得我們注意的是他走過的心路階段：

 1) 他悲哀。（這是對苦難的誠實表態。原來苦難並非心理作用；改變想法不能使痛苦消失。）

 2) 他反省。（在朋友的幫助下，他深入自我反省，看自己有否隱惡。）

 3) 他悲憤。（人誰無過？神若向人追討過往一切的罪，誰能站立？ 神啊，你為何不饒恕我的過犯？依然紀念我的惡？）

 4) 他與神爭辯。（神你既然追討我的罪，請告訴我如今的痛苦，是為 我犯了什麼罪？）

          神的回應只是問了約伯一些人不知曉的宇宙奧袐。這一問，約伯才醒 悟自己原屬無知；他在無知之下，認為神治理宇宙失誤，導致他受苦。 這個發現，使約伯認識神的智慧、能力和旨意。他甘心接受神的旨意，然後敬拜神。這敬虔的心，掩蓋了痛苦，使約伯蘇醒！  

         所以，我們在苦難中要耐心尋求神。

       你求告我，我就應允你，並將你 所不知道、又大又難的事指示你。 （耶利米書 33:3） 

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