I have taught in Sunday school for all of my adult life. I have learned a lot.
KirklandOn a recent Sunday, I taught myself as much as I did the class members. It should always be this way.
My text was 1 Peter 1:3-7.
Enduring faithfully to the end despite today’s troubles was on my mind. I know it was on the minds of the class.
In the Scripture, the apostle Peter speaks of the new birth in Christ and the living hope that is ours because of the resurrection. He speaks of an inheritance for believers that “can never perish, spoil or fade.” This assurance, Peter writes to beleaguered Christians, is kept in heaven for those who, through faith, “are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
In all of this, he writes they (we) may “greatly rejoice” — but let me finish the sentence, “though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
The great apostle makes it abundantly clear that the purpose of the trials is that faith refined by testing may be proved to be genuine, resulting in “praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
The word endure in its best sense means to suffer firmly (faithfully) and patiently. It was no easy task for first century Christians. It is no less easy these days.
The Scripture passage gives good reason for both our endurance and our success in bearing the troubles and trials of our day.
There is the inheritance of heaven. A place for you and me. A home with God.
I can only imagine the despair of those who suffer endlessly with no hope of anything beyond this life. From our vantage point as human beings, we can see the horizon. There is more. It’s just that the horizon is as far as we can see with our limited vision. By faith, we can see beyond the horizon.
There also is the promise that there is purpose in suffering. It is intended to strengthen, not weaken, our faith. To test it, but not cause it to fail.
A Bible passage that my dad turned to many times was Romans 8:28. He objected to the translation that “all things work for good …” “No, son,” he would tell me. “Things don’t work for our good, God works in all things for our good.” And so it is. Everything that happens in our lives somehow, in God’s providence, fits into a pattern for good in the lives of believers. Our Lord does not cause the troubles we face, but he uses them for our advantage.
In the Bible passage mentioned earlier, Peter writes that believers suffer “all kinds of trials.” Later, in 4:10, he says that God’s grace exists “in various forms.” The apostle used the same Greek word in his descriptions of trials and grace. The word means “many-colored.” Our trials come in different hues, shades and tones. So does grace. There is a grace to match every trial. There is no trial without grace.
The Christians I know are eager to hear our Lord’s “Well done, good and faithful servant” when life on earth is over.
There is a passage in the book of Acts that describes something unique in Scripture. The stoning of Stephen in chapter seven is familiar to all of us, I’m sure. But have you thought about or even noticed that Stephen, as he is dying, says to those who are killing him, “Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
The Bible typically offers the image of Jesus as seated at the right hand of God. Acts 7:56 is the only verse that pictures Jesus as standing.
Why? Read this portion of a sermon delivered recently by my friend Chris George, who grew up in Taylors First Baptist Church and now is pastor of First Baptist in Mobile, Ala.: “Some scholars suggest that the act of standing indicates a readiness to speak on behalf of someone, as if Jesus himself almost intercedes … . Others think Jesus rises as a reminder and first step toward his second coming. Still others claim it was a posture assumed to welcome the soon-to-die martyr into his heavenly home. Or, perhaps, Jesus’ standing was God’s silent salute to this suffering saint. Jesus’ standing was a powerful sign of divine respect bestowed upon a faithful servant enduring agony.”
God is aware of every faithful servant enduring agony now. And we long for his “Welcome home.”
I love the words to an old gospel song that says, “We’ll soon be done with troubles and trials in that home on the other side.”
Soon? Perhaps not. Probably not. But until then … endure, fellow Christians.
You make up the largest Sunday school class I have ever taught. Offering this lesson for a second time has taught me even more. I pray that it helps all who bear the troubles and trials of life with dignity and courage. And those who are tempted at times to lose hope. Or who question the love and faithfulness of God.
I always end my Sunday school classes with prayer. Will you join me? Father, Grant us wisdom and courage for the living of these days. Offer each of us grace for every trial. May our faith mature and grow stronger under your watchful and merciful testing. And may each of us help another in this walk of faith that leads us home. Amen.