Because the superficiality once exclusive to the world has made its way into the household of faith, and few are willing to take the time to be discipled, are humble enough to be taught, and sincere enough to admit when their preconceived notions were wrong or fell short of the mark, many dismiss the purpose of hardship, suffering, or trials.
The idea that good can come from suffering, that trials are a
means by which we are purified and refined, is anathema to them. I signed up
for the blessings and prosperity package, sir. What’s all this suffering talk?
What’s all this talk about enduring, persevering, and trusting God even in the
valleys? My life was supposed to be a constant, continual ascent. All the
valleys are behind me, the mountaintop is before me, and each new day should be
better than the last.
Never mind that one’s true character is revealed when
pressure is applied. Never mind that the choices we make under pressure reveal
who we really are, and not who we pretend to be. Just give me the stuff and be
on your way. Bless me coming and going, fill my cup until it runs over, accept
my duplicity and hypocrisy as an honest attempt at living my best life, and
don’t put me in situations where I’ll have to cling to You as a man clings to a
life preserver in the midst of a roiling sea. I am the captain of my own ship,
even if the ship is a rusted dinghy taking on water, destined to rest at the
bottom of the ocean with all the other dinghies whose navigators insisted they
were in charge.
I understand that gold is refined in fire, but I can live
with being 8 carats, rather than 24, thank you very much. Why such a high
standard? I mean, if Your purpose is to fill heaven, you should lower the bar
for entry; otherwise, You might just have more supply than there is demand.
Thankfully, God is not a real estate broker looking to unload
a new subdivision. He’s not so focused on the commission that He’ll say
anything and do anything just to get people to sign on the dotted line. It is
our own vanity that has reimagined the God of the universe, the Creator of all
that is seen and unseen, and made Him out to be some beggarly figure so
desperate for our attention that He’s willing to make any compromise to get a
little face time with us.
We’re told over and over again that this is our game, we make
the rules, and God is forced to play by them, otherwise we’ll take our ball and
go home. God’s so lonely up in heaven that He’ll have no choice but to make an
exception if He wants some company. Sorry to spoil the fantasy, but God isn’t
in heaven all by His lonesome looking for someone to play backgammon with. He
is neither lacking in companionship nor someone with whom to pass the time.
Love compelled Him to send Jesus; not lack of companionship!
Revelation 4:2-11, “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and
behold a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there
was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow
around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were
twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting,
clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from
the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire
were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the
throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne
and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in
back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature
like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth
living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having
six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or
night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to
come!” Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who
sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall
down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and
ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord,
to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your
will they exist and were created.”
These verses alone ought to suffice in shattering the
illusion that God is alone in a mansion up in the sky, twiddling His thumbs and
brushing His beard, in desperate need of someone to call a friend. Even without
getting into the great cloud of witnesses, or the souls of those who had been
slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held we understand that
heaven is a busy place, not lacking in occupants.
But sure, Aunty Paula, you keep trying to bargain with God.
You keep trying to convince Him that holiness is an unattainable feat, so He
should just give up on the idea. Sure, Jesus explicitly said we ought to deny
ourselves, pick up our crosses, and follow after Him, but you know, those
translations can be wonky at times. Jesus likely said the total opposite of
what the good book says. So what if there were generations upon generations who
entered through the narrow gate? So what if there were countless souls who were
martyred for the testimony which they held? I’m special, and I want a carveout.
I’m special, and I want a broader path to waddle upon because the only thing
narrow I’m willing to entertain is my view of an omniscient, omnipotent God.
Perhaps all the folks who went before didn’t possess the
necessary negotiation skills. They were afraid to make unreasonable demands of
the God of the universe, but not I, no sir, I’ve been fed a steady diet of
being told how special, exceptional, peerless, unequaled, remarkable, and
indispensable I am for all of my adult life, and God should know it too. I know
my worth! I’m a king, I’m a queen, I’m a crown jewel, the apple of God’s eye,
and He should be so lucky as to have me want to go to heaven.
Is it too much to ask that God be at my beck and call, fulfill every vain want or desire, have no say in how I live my life or spend my time, and make no demands on my flesh? All those preachers, teachers, and televangelists who insist this is the case and God has changed His tune when it comes to faithful, humble obedience couldn’t have been wrong, could they?
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea, Jr.
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