Enduring Suffering

For this is commendable, if through consciousness of God, someone endures pains, suffering unjust.*

It is one thing to suffer because of sin, it is another to suffer with a good conscious toward God. "For what good report if sinning and punished, you endure? But if when doing good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God."* There are consequences for sin, surely, the "good" people of the world live to such principles. There exists a law of reaping and sowing that even the world calls things like karma. But our mindset should be about identity, in that we are becoming like Christ, not living to principles but in becoming our true self. In regards to sin, we should say, I will not sin because it is not who I am. I could live my life thinking of whether my actions have good or bad consequences but I choose to live my life in regards to whether it is according to my true nature. I am a child of God, a partaker of His divine nature, I am indebted to righteousness. My consciousness is clear as to sin and my character has become like Jesus, pleasing to God. Established, we will endure.

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.*

Some say Job was a sinner, that he had pride therefore God allowed Satan to attack him. Of course this is not what we see in this verse. Some believe God allowed a thorn in Paul's side because he was prideful too, a sinner, but Paul writes this was given to him so he would not become conceited, because of great revelations he had in the knowledge of Christ. Was Paul having great revelation because he was living in sin? or was Paul having great revelations because of the suffering he was experiencing? I believe the latter, but certainly Paul did not say he was conceited and prideful, living in sin. The logic exists in the Church that bad things only happen to bad people, to those who live in sin, thus they say good comes to good people, and evil to evil people. These would look upon the wealthy, seeing all their earthly possessions and say see God has blessed them, because God blesses the good and punishes the evil, therefore they must be good people. 

Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse sinners than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?*

Of course this thinking, that bad only happens to sinners existed at the time of Jesus. Paul was thrown into prison five times, stoned and left for dead, thrown in to fight animals in Ephesus, and he was shipwrecked three times. Once when shipwrecked he went to gather sticks to make a fire and a viper, which is a very poisonous snake bit him. Now, "when the people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live. But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.”* Sometimes bad happens to righteous people. 

and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.*

One must count the cost of following Jesus. Paul writes, "In fact, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"* Jesus said, "remember the word that I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. But they will treat you like this on account of My name, because they do not know the One who sent Me"* Jesus healed a man blind from birth, the disciples asked "who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”* Jesus said neither, "this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him."* And really this is the story of Job, the works of God were displayed through him, written down in the Bible for many to read. Paul writes, "we are pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."* It is a fearful thing to know the truth and not walk in truth. 

Terrifying to fall in the hands of a living God. Instead, remember the former days in that light, you weathered great conflict, suffering,..*

We see in context this saying "to fall in the hands of a living God" is speaking to believers. Paul is writing to the Jewish Church, they had done many things for Christ, and were under sever persecution, and what they were in need of was endurance. In fact before he met Jesus Paul had persecuted them, we read he held the coats of those who stoned Steven. Paul understood well what they were going through, he is reasoning with them, do not turn back to do so is to fall in the hands of a living God. In regards to sin, how can Christ die again to purify and cleanse their consciousness? and then to encourage them he speaks of the hall of faith, "they died in their faith not receiving the promises, but from a far,  and embracing and acknowledging that they existed strangers and exiles in the land."* 

Certainly this church had given much for Jesus. Paul writes, "you were made public spectacles, both insulted and persecuted, yea, at times becoming one with those treated in that way." Some were thrown in prison, others had all that they owned, their material things confiscated, but Paul writes when they began "you knew yourselves had a better and lasting possession." These believers had endured much more than most and were in need of endurance. There exists the concept that we are to resist evil, but also those of the kingdom of heaven will experience evil doing good, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."* If we teach our children to have a mindset of consequentialism, which is to be aware of  their actions to the extent of the consequences that might follow, then will they not endure when negative consequences occur for following Jesus?  

Was Paul's thorn in the side, messengers of Satan sent to torment, because of sin? No, it was for the same purpose as others in the scriptures, so that God's work would be displayed through them. Paul writes of this, "you, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived."* Paul writes of a hall of faith, and we read...

who through faith conquered kingdoms, brought about justice, obtained promises, shut the mouth of lions, extinguished raging flames, escaped the sword, after weakness made powerful becoming mighty in war, putting foreign armies to flight...

Yes! to conquer armies, and bring about justice! Should we sign you up to be among those of great faith? would you like to hear your name ring through the halls? but read on first, "... but others were tortured not receiving release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. others experienced mocking and flogging and yet still others in chains and prison, stoned, sawed in two, murdered by the sword, going about in sheep skins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, mistreated (of whom the world is not worthy) caused to wander in deserts and mountains also living in caves and crevices in the ground, and although all commended through their faith, no one receiving the promises.*  What if God called you to suffer, to be persecuted, even to be sawed in two, to die? 

You have need of endurance now so that doing the will of God, receiving the promises. For 'just a little longer, the one coming will arrive and not long, the one my righteous live by faith also unless turning back, my soul takes no pleasure in him.' But we exist not turning back to the extent of being lost, however, of faith to extent of persevering our souls.*   

But you, you are not one who falls back into the hands of a living God, of whom he would be displeased with, no, you are of the ones who endured. So press on "obtaining the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."* To endure "abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul."* Abide in Christ, his words exist eternal Life and "You, abide in the things you have learned and have been assured of, having known from whom you learned them,"* Remember, "who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?"* Yes, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.*

Blessings