God’s Loving Discipline
The entrance of sin in the world began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. As a result, they were banished from the Garden of Eden and thereafter their lives, and our lives, have been affected by the curse of sin. Sin is the root cause of all the evil in the world and is the cause of our death.
Sin is universal in its effects. Trials and tribulation are the lot of all mankind; both the outsider and the Christian indiscriminately. The non-Christian attribute their trials to chance, and are quite unaware that they are governed by God’s hand. Those of us who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and have been brought into the kingdom of God by grace know full well that we are sinners and deserve punishment for offending our Holy and Righteous God. But—a very important but—is that we know that Jesus has borne the penalty for every one of our sins on the cross at Calvary. Our justification before God is complete. However, we still continue to contend with the “sin which so easily ensnares us” (Hebrews 12:1).
But our striving against sin is nothing compared to Jesus who “endured such hostility from sinners against himself…to bloodshed” (Hebrews 12:3-4). Our spiritual warfare is a tussle between our old man with our old ways with the new man in our desire to be conformed into the image of Christ. Knowing that we could be overwhelmed in this spiritual battle, God graciously and gently prepares us with tests in keeping with what we can bear. “But God is
faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). In keeping with his grace God typically gives us lesser trials before he gives us more stringent trials, and typically mixes all our trials with mercy.
At the heart of God’s chastening of us, the bottom line, is that he loves us. After all, he is our Heavenly Father, and what father does not correct his children for their misbehaviour, out of love for them. And unlike our earthly fathers whose nurture and admonition are directed at the formative years of our lives, and primarily for our development in this life, God’s training is not only for our bodies and souls in this life, but also for eternity with him in heaven.
His chastisements are crucial in the overcoming of our remaining sin and the influences of the world, so that “we may not be condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32). God is always promoting our salvation so that we are fit for heaven, and the glory to come.
We could have one of two responses to God’s heavy hand on us. We could make light of our afflictions, make light of God, and make light of sin; or alternatively we could get despondent and murmur against God. Either way, these responses are indicative that we have lost sight that we are sons of the living God who loves us dearly, and that everything he does for us is good and profitable. “If you
are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons” (Hebrews 12:8). Even our earthly fathers, by just common light and reasoning, know they must correct unruly behaviour in their children. Sometimes they discipline out of passion and err in judgement, yet “we pay them respect” (Hebrew 12:9). But our heavenly Father always disciplines us “for our profit” (Hebrew 12:10).
Our lot is to bear patiently and with faith in our Saviour and Lord when he tests and tries us in the various trials and afflictions we endure, knowing that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8: 28). We know full well that our trials have been and will be “grievous; nevertheless, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). In other words, our afflictions yield more righteousness, and the fruit of righteousness is peace. The overall result is greater holiness of life and a greater conformity to our Lord and Saviour.
Rob Humphreys
