Jeremiah was about 13 when God called him to be a prophet. God told him that he shouldn't have possessions, a wife and a family because his life's mission and messages would render his life miserable. I don't know about you but at the age of 13 I wasn't even contemplating any of those issues. Can you imagine telling a 13 year old today that message? Mary was probably close to 15 when she was engaged to be married. Not unusual for that day. The Lord told her that she was with child (pregnant) and that she would give birth to the Savior of the world. No pressure here. But how to tell your man that you are pregnant but haven't slept with anyone and have him believe it. What a miserable set of circumstances! Then to see Jesus launch into his mission with eventual death on a cross at 33. I'd be miserable too. John was an evangelist through and through. After Jesus was resurrected he went on to preach and was arrested. They tried to kill him by boiling him in oil. When that didn't work they sent him to the island of Patmos where he lived out his life in solitary...except for the Lord who gave him the book of Revelation. Imagine seeing the end of humanity and the new world and not being able to preach any of it to the lost. John was filled with the joy of Jesus but also had misery.
I've been miserable many times. Most of the time it's because of my own doing. We create our circumstances by doing something or not doing something, saying something or not saying something. It's what we do. We seem to do this the most when we aren't listening to God. But then look at the above examples of people who were listening to God. Why is it that the Christian has misery? Apart from the world the Christian has no misery. Misery is something the world has plenty of for everyone. It's because of our being fallen men and women who don't focus on God. Think about it. If we are a new creation and the old has passed away; then that which we are miserable about is also passed away. BUT you and I take that box of misery like a box of chocolates and stash it in our suitcase for the journey. You never know when a dose of misery may be needed! What would your life look like if you had no misery? Would you take for granted people, places and things? Would you take for granted your health, wealth and happiness? Maybe misery is there to be a reminder to us of that which we have been blessed with.
Jeremiah had all his needs met by God who sustained him through his long and contentious life. He prophesied captivity and destruction for Israel all of his life. Mary and Joseph had their needs met as well despite the whispering of the community. They provided God a place to come to mankind to save and restore. John provided important prophecy and insight into the end of time for all who want to know. His prophecy spells out the negative and the positive God has in store for those who love him and those who despise him. The misery in the lives of these people (and many more) serve as a lesson that out of our misery can come and should come the blessings of God not to us, but to those around us. How we handle misery is a testimony to the grace of God that lives within us. Paul says that he has the peace of God which passes all understanding. He had lots of misery but counted it all as joy pouring out his life for the Savior he loved so much. Misery doesn't mean we have failed. Misery doesn't mean we are less than. Misery doesn't tell us to give up. Misery is a means to reflect on what is good, what is positive and what we have as blessing. Those blessings then can be transferred to others who are watching you and I.
I still don't like misery. I don't really think anyone does. Yet, Jesus was arrested, beaten beyond recognition, made to carry his cross and then was nailed to a cross to die. He endured the cross and everything involved with that cross for you and I. So that we could understand that misery can have positive in and around our lives. I challenge you to look at your misery from open eyes as to what God is and wants to do in your life. It's your choice.
No comments:
Post a Comment