The promise of God to the Christian is that He will wipe every tear from their eyes. That is part of the glorification process. But here on earth, we are still subject to the pains of sin and sorrow as our process of sanctification progresses. But we can count on God delivering us from death and sanctifying us completely.
In the beginning, the world was perfect. Then, God tells us how sin and death entered His ideal creation, through the disobedience of man. This rebellion against God was the crime that brought the King’s righteous wrath and indignation upon us. The fall of man, therefore, is the cause of our depraved natures, and the desire for utter depravity. The grace of God holds in check the evil of mankind, only for the sake of Christ and His elect.
God is a just King. He will not let the righteous suffer (with one exception), nor the wicked escape punishment (with one exception). Aside from Christ, we are all wicked, vile perverts. Because none are righteous, we all deserve punishment. But for the sake of Christ, the Father has shown mercy to His people. For through Christ, we are righteous in His sight. And “I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his children begging for bread.” Through Christ, we are the Father’s own children, and He will not leave His own to die on the battlefield.
Pain, death and suffering is a natural consequence of man having lost faith in God, and disobeying His righteous decrees. As Adam sinned, he created a family culture of sin that was passed down to all generations, endowed us with a natural predisposition to evil, and, as evidenced by his immediate ‘flight’ from the presence of God, an inbred fear.
Becoming a Christian doesn’t excuse you from the consequences of sin; no, it delivers you from them. The trials and hard work and sadness don’t go away, but God gives the strength to carry through, and glorifies His servants to eternal life. Being sad over sin is a good, healthy thing. Weeping at death is proper. Mourning the curse is right. But there is hope also; there is joy. And that is for the Christian, the one belonging to Christ.
Fight sin with every ounce of your strength, it is your most important battle. Your weapons are at hand, go out in faith and obey the King’s commandments.
Editor’s note: I’ve received some feedback that paragraph 3 was confusing–how can God take at the same time let good, Christian friends die and yet, not leave one of His elect to “die on the battlefield.” For additional context, see the comments on this post.
So, how does the Christian experience hardship, trials, death, and the curse, and yet at the same time, is delivered from them? First, let me back up my claims that both cases are true.
David’s bases his claim that the Lord’s saints will be preserved forever on the character of God, which never changes. Thus, the Lord’s saints will always be preserved.
Paul was a prime example of a man of faith and obedience who suffered for the sake of the Gospel. He may have been the only man to be martyred multiple times. (stoned at Lystra, beheaded at Rome, see 2 Cor 11:25.) Constantly imprisoned, beaten, derided, etc. And yet the Paul we know from his letters is a man of victory.
So how are we to reconcile these extremes? I’ll let Paul answer himself. (excerpts from Romans 8–read the whole chapter if you get a chance.):
And that, my friends, is why this world can kill me, all day long, and yet I have everlasting victory in the love of Christ Jesus my Lord.