TRIAL AND PUNISHMENT
I Peter 1:6,7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 10:29,30 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Pains are both torturer and strengthener. These pains and their affect usually speak to the cause. Pain in joint and muscle from working out indicates a body tearing down insufficiency and rebuilding sufficiency. Pain in the stomach after half a cake and two glasses of milk indicates bad judgment and justifiable discomfort. How does the saint know the difference between the two? When God works in our lives to strengthen how do we know we’re not being punished?
Most often we are aware of short-fallings. If punishment is ensuing we can usually identify the related misdeed. To alleviate guilt we usually conjure delusions in our mind of persecution to supplant our punishment as a way to make the pain nobler and less convicting. God is the author of punishment and permits the world to be a source of persecution. Through truthful examination of our pain and tracing the course of its occurrence we can deduce in which hand of God we lie. We can examine whether we’ve fallen into the hand of punishment or have been lifted into the hand of trial. Either way we should be thankful and give God the glory for it.
Early and infrequent punishment is meant as a form of discipline for correction. Prisoners under sentence of ten or less years may consider themselves fortunate to have an opportunity to continue a life after release. Short or light punishment is meant as a warning and admonition to correct wrong behavior. Late and frequent punishment is reserved for the stubborn, irresolute, and apathetic. A sentence of twenty-five to Life carries a message of separation and removal of the familiar. Twenty-five years is well into a generation. Consider the changes between 1975 and 1995. How much can society change in a quarter-century? Sentences of this nature remove the familiar and force the individual into adapting to a new environment with different behavior. Long and severe punishment is reserved for those who have become a menace and danger to society. And, the sentence of Life falls to the incorrigible. God can and does make such decisions against and for us. There is hope in God’s punishment. A lesser sentence can be given for “good behavior”, or for admitting the responsibility of error, repenting, and asking forgiveness. We should rejoice in God’s benevolence and behave obediently.
Trial is not always hoped for, welcomed, or embraced. Yet, trial is an indication we are walking closer to God. Trial can be seen as a tune-up for our walk. (Like a car that runs, moves, and acts as it should, but is inefficient, dirty, and going in the wrong direction.) Trials beset us as a way for God to make little corrections in an encouraging and uplifting manner. This is the pain which brings strength and focus. Unlike punishment, trial begins severe and tapers off to light; from course correction to fine correction. It’s like the tuning of a dial on an old fashioned radio. These radios had two knobs, one to move the dial fast to a point, and another to move with greater control about that point in order to “home-in” on the best signal. God does the same in our lives. He moves quick and hard to place us in proximity of purpose, attitude, and service, ending with slow and light touches of fine adjustment to bring us on the mark.
In the end, God has the authority to do whatever, whichever, and however He likes. But love so great it can’t be fathomed controls the pressure and manipulation of His hands in our lives.
If we err, we should hope for the hand of justice from a merciful God.
But, we should live for the loving hand of a gentle touch and the slight pressures of quiet assurance.
