WHAT IS THE FATE OF OUR FAITH? FAITH AND SUFFERING (concluded) From the above it is crystal clear that in Christ Jesus, we do not only have a High Priest who can sympathize with our situations, agonies and weaknesses but we have one who was in all points tempted but without sin. (209) Hebrew 4:25. (210) Matthew 26:41. For Christ, our suffering servant was an epitome of suffering and in him we lay all our sorrows and problems. (211) Isaiah 52:13-14. Christ has already invited us to bring all our problems and sorrows to him with total fidelity. For He said: “Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest.” (212) Matthew 11:28-29. In other words, it is through the grace of God and the faith and confidence we have in Christ that makes us to boldly say, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (213) Philippians 4:15. (214) John 19:30. What this tells us is that, unless we focus our gaze at Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith, we may find it difficult to win the race of life and may end up like Peter who started drowning when he took his eyes off Jesus. (215) Matthew 14:29-30. (216) Hebrew 12:1 Again, despite the suffering which exists in our lives, there is an illumination which comes from the suffering through which Christ won salvation for us. It is this salvation that defeated sin and death and gave us a life of hope. This light of faith is what keeps a Christian going on in all his suffering. This light of faith is personified in the dialogue between Christ and His creature, Nicodemus. (217) John 3:2-21. It was an encounter where the gate of God’s agape love was opened to man. An endless love that keep on pouring down from heaven like manna even where sin and death has taken root. (218) Exodus 16:1-18. It was a love that struck at the root of suffering which is encapsulated in sin and death. It is the love of all love. (219) I John 3:16. (220) I John 4:9. (221) John 3:16. It is most likely that Apostle Paul must have studied John 3:16 before he asked the immutable question in his letter to the Romans: “What can separate us from the Love of Christ.” (222) Romans 8:35. The answer is simply nothing because neither trouble, nor hardship, nor persecution, nor hunger, nor poverty, nor danger, nor death can separate us from the Love of Christ. May we continue to put our faith and hope in God despite the sufferings we encounter on our journey of the Cross.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 07:56:07 +0000