We are promised that no evil will befall us:
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Because you have made the Lord your dwelling
place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent. (Psalm 91:9-10)
Yet, the Bible promises that His children must suffer:
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always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live
are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus
also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:10-11)
Besides, we must all suffer death. How then do we reconcile
these two sets of promises? For one thing, our Lord promises to work all things
for our good (Roman 8:28), even martyrdom and other “evils.” However, for God
evils are not evils but His tools to refine His children. But how? It had been
revealed to the Prophet Daniel that the suffering of the last days are not
evils but refinement:
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“Forces from him shall appear and profane the
temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they
shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with flattery
those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand
firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand,
though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and
plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall
join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so
that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end,
for it still awaits the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:31-35)
We all require discipline and refinement. This can only be
achieved through pain and even loss:
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And have you forgotten the exhortation that
addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the
Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he
loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:5–6)
We find the admonition to wait upon the Lord throughout the
Bible. Waiting in the midst of adversity also prepares us for the Kingdom:
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So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self
is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light
momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all
comparison. (2 Corinthians 4:16-17)
Our afflictions are regarded as “light and momentary” in
comparison with our eternal rewards. While God will deliver us through all of
our adversity, we must patiently endure:
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Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands
take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to
man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability,
but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be
able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)
Our lives therefore rotate between suffering and God’s deliverance,
plagues and healings. However, if we could lose our salvation through the
trials of this life, then the trials constitute a real evil, and this explanation
of suffering crashes to the ground. However, we are assured that no one or
thing can pluck us out of His hand:
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No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37–39)
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