Just Repent Already

Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. [Proverbs 30.5]

There is no small amount of comfort to be found in these words today. This is an excellent passage of "promise scripture."

But, have we ever considered it a litmus test for true faith on our parts? In other words, if God is a shield for all who come to Him for protection, do we conclude if we are not shielded in any given circumstance that we must not be coming to Him for protection (ie. we are not coming to Him in faith)?

We desperately need to be clear on what we believe. Otherwise, we will conclude falsely that if God does not shield us, it must be some choice of His own. While this widely-held doctrine may comfort many, it's accuracy is greatly lacking.

The Bible is full of promises just like this one noted today from Proverbs. However, how we view Bible promises is critical. If we only look at Bible promises as pie-in-the-sky-this-is-the-way-we-wish-it-was statements, then we have missed the promise altogether.

We simply must believe the Bible if we are to enjoy the benefit of a relationship with God. Furthermore, our assessment of Gods character must not be formed based on our experience because our experience could be wrong! If we sin and suffer punishment, would it not be wrong to fail to rightly assess that punishment and incorrectly conclude that God's love for us is painful to us?

Oh, but this brings up a good point! A father's love may in fact inflict punishment! A father's love may be painful. Stay with me...

God's plan is not punishment, but blessing. However, blessing is for the obedient. Punishment is for the disobedient. So, while it is in fact right to say that it is God's love that brings pain to our lives, it is also right to say the punishment comes because I did wrong. 

A perversely incorrect and false "doctrine of suffering" has gained so much popularity because it rightly accepts the fact that pain is at God's control, but grossly and erroneously denies any personal responsibility for the pain (punishment).

In other words, when the holders of this false doctrine of suffering suffer, instead of repenting (as pain is designed to lead us to), they convince themselves (and, yes we can do that) that there is nothing wrong with them but their suffering is some mysterious blessing from God.

It reminds me of the repeated problem in the Bible regarding calling good "evil" and calling evil "good."

Why is this so important that I would repeatedly address it in this setting? Because it has set the Body of Christ at an ignorant disadvantage in the world today. The Bible history of God's people is very clear that God's favor is to be desired - it was always associated with blessing and well-being. Rightly so, God's blessing was always poured out on obedient people and His wrath was released on disobedient people. What I am saying is that God's blessing is indeed blessing and is desirable. If the world sees God's people suffer everything that comes along just like themselves, then what would they desire about that? If, however, they see God's people prosper and experience blessings in notable ways, then there is an attraction to God. 

People need the Lord. People need to see the Lord in us. But if we are unrepentant and give the excuse for our suffering that God randomly treats His own with such, then, we have been miserably poor representatives of God and His righteousness - all in preservation of our own pride. And, consequently, the world looks on and wants nothing to do with us or our God.

Father, help us to be clear in our understanding of You. Help us to rightly assess our situations and be quick to repent - whether we "think" we are guilty or not.