A poem shared to me by Jon, from the perspective of the innkeeper who that night sheltered Jesus in his manger. Written and read by John Piper.
Of course all this is fictional and is only an extension of the author's imagination from the Bible. But the truth is not far away. For after Christ's departure from his birth place, the sword of Herod followed closely, slaying many innocent lives, breaking many hearts, hearts that would never ever be whole again.
Who can explain suffering? Who can explain hopelessness? Who can explain loss of lives and souls, the torment many go through on this earth?
I would not have the audacity to say I have suffered, having gone through so little in life. I wouldn't even go to lengths to define what 'suffering' means. What is considered for one to have suffered? A loss of a loved one? A loss of a limb? A cancer tumor? Giving birth to a handicapped child? Childlessness? Loneliness? Natural disaster victims? A kid bullied in school?
Who can truly and boldly say 'I have suffered?!' Those who can can only back their claim through comparison with many others in this life. And when people suffer they scream for answers. God, explain this. God, explain Yourself. If You exist, and You are good, and You are all powerful, why do You allow suffering?
But do you know Jesus went through the worst suffering for your sake? He died on the cross to take away our sins. And before you start to argue and suggest a billion or a trillion other torturous devices that are more painful and worthy to be deemed 'suffering' than death on the cross; the Bible said that Jesus' pain did not merely come from His wounded hands and feet, but from total separation from God - for the first time. As Jesus bore our sins on that cross, He suffered the painful separation from God, that separation in which makes hell hell. Hell is hell not just because of brimstone and fire but because it means eternal separation from God. He went through that suffering for our sake.
Do you also know that whatever is not tested is not shown fully to be true? How can one say that 'I have love', when there is no one to be loved by him? How can one say 'I am honest in my dealings' when he was never forced to make a dishonest one? How can one say, 'I have faith', unless he persevered although he has cause to doubt?
I would not say that the purpose of suffering is to make faith real, to make love real, to make God real in the times when He doesn't seem real - although it does all this. I am not all-knowing enough to explain convincingly why suffering exists. Suffering to me turns people to God, making them lose all until they clearly see that He is their only possession that can be eternal, and to those who love and believe Him, they will never lose Him despite their circumstance. Suffering grows character, grows faith, grows humility, and grows love.
If you are stuck in a situation whereby you start to question God today, to doubt His love and mercy; remember that you need no further proof of that than in the Savior who was willingly born to live and die for your sins. He loved you with an unconditional love, and in this way the glory of the God the Father is shown - in His identity of being love itself. And did not the Bible say 'the just shall live by faith'? It is through faith that we see through the clouds of suffering we are in now, faith that allows us to place our trust in the person and the love of God, not the situation we are in.
Remember, if you can't see His hand, trust His heart. He is faithful. Time has proven that. Love on the cross has proven that.
Be blessed this Christmas season.
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