Hi there,
So this is a simple lesson, that can make it easier to relate to God and the trials of this life. The lesson is this: God does not call something "finished" while people are still suffering. Now, this probably pricks your ears up, because Jesus said "it is finished" on the cross - my contention is, Jesus did not say that because 'he wanted it finished' or 'it was going to be finished', it was because to God, the payment for sin had been paid. Now you may stop there and think "I know that: the payment was made" which is great, but think just a little further: was any one suffering because Jesus made payment? The answer is no.
In other words, Jesus brought an end to suffering, by which the payment could be rejoiced in. Now people don't rejoice, if they are suffering, so there is no obstacle there. The point is, if God is telling Jesus that it is "finished" and Jesus says what God shows Him, then effectively God is asserting that suffering has come to an end and those who were waiting for the suffering to end, can now enter Heaven, where suffering cannot even start. If there was suffering, Jesus couldn't say "it is finished" - can you see the connection?
It is a small leap from this understanding, to realise that God actually suffers with us. Not only that, but He is suffering with us, ready to call the suffering "finished" if that is appropriate. That is what God is saying when He says "I know the thoughts I have for you, thoughts of good and not evil" (OT, from memory) - God is invested in our suffering, the same way He is invested in His suffering ending. Now the truth is, this may be an act of faith; Jesus saying "it is finished" did not stop people sinning, it stopped people worrying about what they would do about their sinning, if they wanted to stop. In other words, the more that people agree that it - sin - has been paid for, the less people will suffer and the more God is able to point to it being finished.
Now what is there, that can be against this? The Devil! The Devil will call it finished when it is not, or he will simply ignore the consequences of sinning how he likes - the suffering that goes with that. We must be ready to stand against this! Remember that God is willing to suffer, while the Devil's sin is unfinished, for a season, but the point is, that season will come to an end. The time is coming when God will say "no more payment" ("I will not always strive with Man" God, OT, from memory), it will be finished, but it will be so finished you won't even be able to take it for granted. We need pity with this respect, it is hard to serve a God who suffers - like a woman with birth pangs, it seems at one point like it will never end. What should give us confidence, is that God won't call it "finished", until the suffering is over!
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
So this is a simple lesson, that can make it easier to relate to God and the trials of this life. The lesson is this: God does not call something "finished" while people are still suffering. Now, this probably pricks your ears up, because Jesus said "it is finished" on the cross - my contention is, Jesus did not say that because 'he wanted it finished' or 'it was going to be finished', it was because to God, the payment for sin had been paid. Now you may stop there and think "I know that: the payment was made" which is great, but think just a little further: was any one suffering because Jesus made payment? The answer is no.
In other words, Jesus brought an end to suffering, by which the payment could be rejoiced in. Now people don't rejoice, if they are suffering, so there is no obstacle there. The point is, if God is telling Jesus that it is "finished" and Jesus says what God shows Him, then effectively God is asserting that suffering has come to an end and those who were waiting for the suffering to end, can now enter Heaven, where suffering cannot even start. If there was suffering, Jesus couldn't say "it is finished" - can you see the connection?
It is a small leap from this understanding, to realise that God actually suffers with us. Not only that, but He is suffering with us, ready to call the suffering "finished" if that is appropriate. That is what God is saying when He says "I know the thoughts I have for you, thoughts of good and not evil" (OT, from memory) - God is invested in our suffering, the same way He is invested in His suffering ending. Now the truth is, this may be an act of faith; Jesus saying "it is finished" did not stop people sinning, it stopped people worrying about what they would do about their sinning, if they wanted to stop. In other words, the more that people agree that it - sin - has been paid for, the less people will suffer and the more God is able to point to it being finished.
Now what is there, that can be against this? The Devil! The Devil will call it finished when it is not, or he will simply ignore the consequences of sinning how he likes - the suffering that goes with that. We must be ready to stand against this! Remember that God is willing to suffer, while the Devil's sin is unfinished, for a season, but the point is, that season will come to an end. The time is coming when God will say "no more payment" ("I will not always strive with Man" God, OT, from memory), it will be finished, but it will be so finished you won't even be able to take it for granted. We need pity with this respect, it is hard to serve a God who suffers - like a woman with birth pangs, it seems at one point like it will never end. What should give us confidence, is that God won't call it "finished", until the suffering is over!
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
