Those Who Mourn
Blessed are those who mourn…..
This rather paradoxical statement was made
by Jesus during the course of a lengthy discourse He had with His followers, an
exposition that would later come to be known as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew
5, 6, 7). He goes on in the same vein to say that those who are persecuted,
insulted and falsely accused are also blessed and commands the victims of these
circumstances to rejoice and be glad. (Matthew 5:4, 10, 11, 12). Some experts
claim the sermon was addressed specifically at the disciples and was not meant
for public consumption. But of this, we will never be sure.
A world that is in a relentless search for
pleasure, a world that diligently seeks wealth, power and authority, a world
that is seethed in greed, selfishness, and lust for power - would find an
injunction like the above meaningless and startling. But the values of the
kingdom of heaven Jesus talks about are diametrically opposed to those of a fallen world. I have tried to enlist
about a dozen reasons how persecution can be good for you:
1. Ecclesiastes 7:3 says “Sorrow is
better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us”. Grief is not
always bad. In 2 Corinth 7:10 Paul distinguishes between godly sorrow and worldly
sorrow. “For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from
sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But
worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death". Both
Peter and Judas felt deeply sorry for their actions, but compare the outcome of
their sorrowful states.
2. Sorrow draws us
closer to God, to repentance, and teaches us humility. Look at Psalms 119:67
and 71: This was King David’s experience: “Before I was afflicted I went astray
but now I keep your word. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may
learn your statutes”. Sorrow helps us get rid of self-righteousness, and self-reliance.
3. Sorrow teaches us compassion and equips us to comfort others in their
trials. Referring to a previous letter to the Corinthians Paul says: I wrote
that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn't
want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.
(2Corinth 2:4). God comforts in all our sufferings, so that we may be able to
comfort others.
4. Sorrow
strengthens us spiritually. James’ statement in James 1:2-4 is
self-explanatory: ‘’Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter
various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces
endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that
you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing’’.
5. The word of God is the Christian’s
sword that keeps the enemy at bay. Grief leads us to His word and strengthens
our defenses. Examples of what God’s word does to you are aplenty in the
scriptures: “If your instructions hadn't sustained me with joy, I would have
died in my misery (Psalms 119:92); Your
promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles(119.50). Let your unfailing
love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant(119:76)”.
6. God allows hardships and trials in our
life to harden us, train us and prepares us for greater service. Joseph’s
trials – brothers’ enmity, false accusation, long incarceration - all these
would eventually lead to his exaltation and advancement of God’s purpose. Moses
grew up in a palace and was being groomed to be an emperor, but God sent him
into Median’s desert to train him for forty years thro the rigors of a nomad’s
life before he was chosen to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. David was anointed as king of Israel
7. Suffering imbues in us the power of endurance that is essential for personal
salvation and evangelical work. Paul says in 2Tiimothy 2:10-12 “For this reason, I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may
obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal
glory. It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also
live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him”.
8. Sorrow teaches us to depend on God,
to wait patiently on Him; inspires us to pray incessantly. When Paul asked God
to heal him of a chronic condition, God refused and told him that it was in
Paul’s weakness that God’s strength is perfected. He taught Paul an important
lesson in obedience and discipline -‘’My grace is sufficient for you’’
(2Corinth 12:9). Paul could proclaim famously: I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the
power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For
when I am weak, then I am strong.…(2Corinth 12:9, 10).
9. It is our hardship that guards us
against getting too much attached to this world; it reminds us this world is not our
permanent home; we are aliens and travellers in this world. Hebrews 11:13
points out that all the faith giants of the Bible agreed they were only
foreigners and nomads in this world and didn’t expect any reward during their
earthly life. 1Peter 2:11 warns us as "temporary residents and
foreigners" we must keep away from worldly desires that wage war against
our very souls.
10. Some times God sends trials and
tribulations our way in order to warn us and give us an opportunity to make a
course correction. Sometimes he uses hardship as a punishment for our
transgressions. This means we will not be subjected to judgment when the world
is being judged. Hebrews 12:6, 7 says “… those whom the Lord loves he
disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives. It is for
discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is
there whom his father does not discipline?”
11. Sorrowful times make us good
witnesses for Him. Our greatest witnesses come out of our worst grief, hurt,
and defeat. This has been the experience of many a saint – both Biblical and
of modern times.
12. Sometimes God would never let us
know why we are suffering! Take the case of Job. Until the end he never came to
know why God allowed him to suffer so severely – even when God granted him a
personal audience. This is why it is
said we must never ask God “Why?” Even Jesus didn’t get an answer when He cried
in unbearable agony “My God, My God, why did you forsake me?”
No one born in this world is immune to misfortunes. Job 5:7
says “People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire”.
Mankind’s greatest sufferer – born to suffer - Jesus’ suffering brought us
salvation – His most disgraceful, lonely situation led to our glorification.
Is
it God’s will that you should remain in grief forever? No! The Bible speaks
again and again of joy and rejoicing. The letter to the Philippines
Psalms
126:5 says “Those who plant in tears will harvest
with shouts of joy”. Jesus promised peace that the world
can't give. He has also promised to turn our grief into joy (John 16:12).
God
gives us no guarantee that all our troubles will go away when we receive
Christ, when God comforts us. In that
case, people will turn to God for relief, not in love. Being comforted can also
mean strength, encouragement and hope to
deal with our difficulties. If you are overwhelmed, ask God to strengthen you.
Every trial you endure will help you comfort others who are similarly troubled.
This is the greatest blessing of the Christian life. We will not grieve like people
who have no hope.
To
those who don’t have God, life on earth is all that there is. It’s only natural
for them to strive for this world’s values like money, popularity, pleasure,
prestige, etc. But we will not grieve like people who have no hope (1 Thes 4:13).
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