THE SIGNS OF TROUBLE MAY BE SWEET

On July 10, 2020, Tropical Storm Fay swept across the East Coast and into the State of Pennsylvania. One house that suffered some ill effects from the storm was that of Andrea Isabel and her husband. 

Honeyed Walls

They live in the town of Perkasie, Bucks County. The torrential rain caused some dark streaks to appear on one of the interior walls. Andrea’s husband touched the wet substance and noticed it was sticky. Then, when he ventured to smell and taste it, he realized that it was honey! At first her kids rejoiced. “This is awesome. We can put a tap in the wall and have an endless supply of honey for our granola and tea.”  But Andrea and her husband stared at each other with troubled looks. They knew that with honey comes lots and lots of honey bees. Since a single bee only produces one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its entire lifetime, there had to be lots and lots of bees behind the leaking honey.

They immediately called “The Bee Guy,” Allan Lattanzi. He operates the Yerkes Honey Farm in Collegeville. Allan inspected the home and proceeded to “re-home the hive”, using it to produce honey for his company. This story is a reminder that sometimes the signs of trouble can be sweet. Nowhere is this truer than in the spiritual realm. The Bible is filled with passages on why the wicked prosper while the righteous must suffer affliction (e.g. Psalm 73 and the entire book of Job). Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Shouldn’t the wicked suffer in this life and the lives of the righteous be sweet?

Regimen of Discipline

According to the book of Hebrews, Chapter 12:4-11, a life of sweet ease may be a sign that all is not well between you and God. The Bible insists, “the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what child is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all” (Hebrews 12:5-8).

The reality is that, for the Christian believer, God’s love for us will often be expressed in a regimen of discipline which He administers. The obverse of this is that the lives of godless people may, for a season, appear to be very sweet. For God knows that “this life is the only heaven the wicked will ever enjoy and the only hell the righteous will suffer.” And one moment in heaven will erase all the pain of this life.

Part of receiving Jesus into our hearts and lives is accepting His lordship over us. Part of coming to God as His beloved child is suffering His necessary discipline. Believe me, God takes no pleasure in causing us pain, disappointment, and grief. But without theses factors in our lives, we will never be conformed into the image of His Son. For, by nature, all of us tend to be tyrants and bullies. Selfishness and pride come natural to us. Kindness, empathy, and humility must be learned. So, God has to administer His discipline if He is to prepare us for heaven.

God Is Our Trainer

So, don’t make pleasure and the avoidance of pain your pursuit. Nor should you deliberately pursue hardship. You are not the disciplinarian. Neither are you the manager. What successful boxer serves as his own trainer and manager? Success requires other people with an objective eye and extensive experience to fill those roles.

God is your trainer and the manager of your discipline. He knows exactly which trials, and their intensity, must be administered. Just as a master craftsman knows which tools to use and the correct amount of pressure that must be applied, God alone knows what kind and amount of discomfort is essential to make you ready for eternity with Him. Submit, therefore, to His loving and priceless discipline.

PRAYER

Dear Father in heaven, here and now I acknowledge that You know what’s best for me. You know which success will ruin me and what disappointment will facilitate my spiritual growth. Into Your loving and capable hands I commit my life, my dreams, and my destiny. Please have Your own way in my life and make my heart submissive to Your will. Amen.