Compared to what Fixates

I have been reading in 1 Peter in my quiet time lately, and was particularly struck by three verses in chapter 1 as I was considering the context that Peter wrote into. The readers were suffering and dispersed because of their faith, so Peter wrote to give them some perspective to encourage them. In vv. 10-12, Peter mentions two groups of beings in order to build that perspective.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace meant for you sought and made careful inquiry, 11 investigating for what person or which time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he testified beforehand to the sufferings with reference to Christ and the glories after these things, 12 to whom it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you with reference to the same things which now have been announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels desire to look. 

First, the Old Testament prophets. They sought and made careful inquiry to understand more about this Messiah that they had prophesied about. In prayer, and perhaps be reading Scripture and asking the experts of their day, they went out of the way to understand what they could, because this Messiah figure was going to be so central, so important, so crucial to their entire life's work. They somehow realized that they were not serving their generation only, but also the generations to follow them hundreds of years later (the grace meant for you) - Peter's contemporaries of of the First Century Christians. By extension, they were also serving us (the Church). Their life's work was anchored in the central figure and message of the future Church, without any way to even conceive of the Church in their day.

Second, the angels. They desire to look into the affairs of the Gospel. The events centered on the message of the Church, the Good News of Jesus, is something they are intensely curious about. It's important to them, and it captivates their attention.

Two groups of very important beings, the prophets and the angels, are transfixed on Jesus, His Gospel, and all the affairs of the Gospel.

And this is how Peter intended to encourage these suffering readers in their circumstance. They were (and by extension, we are) living out the stuff that captivates prophets and angels! Therefore, any suffering we might have as a result of our faith is put in the perspective of what grabs their attention! This is so key, so pivotal, so intriguing to them that any suffering we might have relative to our faith suddenly has tremendous importance.

Mocked for your faith? The prophets and angels are eager to see how that plays out. Have fewer things than your neighbor because you financially support the work of the Gospel? The prophets and angels can't wait to see how that investment will bear fruit. Uncomfortable being the only one who can bring Truth into a situation? The prophets and angels are on the edge of their seats to see how you might lean into the lives of others.

Sometimes, we try to gain perspective on our suffering by comparing ourselves to the martyrs who suffered greatly and died for their faith. At least my situation isn't that bad. If they can do that big thing, then I can do this little thing. I don't find that kind of perspective to be effective for very long.

Peter takes a different angle. Instead of comparing sufferers to those who paid an even higher price, he focused them on the fantastic thing that captivates prophets and angels. That's how to gain perspective on suffering for the sake of the Gospel. Suffering may well be a necessary component to the storyline that prophets and angels are intensely eager to follow. It's that important.

Why Does God Allow Life to Stink?

Giorgia is a young woman who lives in a suburb of Rome who we've known since she was a little girl. She is as sweet as gelato. She has cystic fibrosis, and is waiting for a lung transplant. She will die a young woman without it. Her mother, a good friend and dear sister in Christ, died suddenly some years ago from an aneurism. Parts of Giorgia's life stink, although I think she would say her life overall doesn't stink.

This week, I visited David, and elderly, wonderful, godly man who is dying from cancer. He wept telling us how good God is. He's in constant, but managed, pain. Parts of David's life stink, but he'll tell you honestly that he's rejoicing.

I could add to this list. You could add to this list. We most likely have mutual friends who belong on this list. Wonderful people with profoundly unwonderful aspects of their lives.

There are some famous authors who address the suffering of decent people, some unhelpful (such as Kushner) and some quite helpful (such as Lewis). I won't try to improve on them. My point here is shorter and simpler.

Whatever reasons God has for allowing suffering, even among the most decent of people, one thing that happens through the suffering is the revelation of how much God is God.

We want to ask, "Where was God when Giorgia's mom had an aneurism or when the typhoon killed hundreds?" Perhaps we should ask instead, "If God is only around when life doesn't stink, how much of a God is He really?" If He's only the God of good times, then he's not a very extensive God.

The god-ness of God is not affected by man's circumstance. But man's perception of God often is. If there is any God of good times, then He must also be God of bad times, or He's not God at all. He is so much God that His reign remains secure even when life stinks. Suffering reveals the breadth of God's god-ness.

He is still with us being God in the bad times. He must in order to be God. Some people, like David, have keen enough insight to weep at His greatness even when ebbing away toward death. And He promises to one day restore all things through His Son.