Uses of Affliction 06. 031914

Uses of Affliction 06

5.  Preventing sin.

Oh what a blessing such an affliction proves to be!  These are so dear that we might well call them blessed afflcitions.

How often does an afflcition prevent us from falling into or continuing in a sin?  We will never know this side of heaven.  What love, what mercy is this that is willing to test our faith for our protection and good?  Can we really complain?  Can we really withhold praise?  No.

Of course we must be mindful of Paul's "thorn in the flesh" which is perhaps the clearest example we can find of such a blessed affliction.  But we do not want to miss the point.  Certainly the affliction was to prevent Paul from being conceited BUT it also taught him that his strength was to be perfected through the afflcition.

Now, here's a question.  Are we willing to not just accept be even pray for afflcitions that will prevent our sinning?  Are we willing to ask God to afflict us that some unseen danger might be removed?  Are we willing to call upon our loving Father to do whatever He deems best for our security and wholesomeness -  our holiness?

In preventing afflcitions we can usually see a thwarting of our prideful wills.  We make our plans, we devise our schemes and then God inflicts some affliction that brings all our plans and schemes to nought.  Are we willing to accept, whether we see it or not, that this is His good provision for our good?  Are we willing to see the blessing in the afflcition?

I know this is hard!  I know this is work!  I know that this can be very confusing!  But until we are willing to learn and accept that all things work for the glory of God and until we are more (much more) focused on that end we will find ourselves wrestling with God and not in a good way.

I love John 9.  It is without a doubt my favorite story in the Bible.  I have read it almost too much if that is possible but in doing so I have seen the blessedness of affliction.  The man, being born blind, was prohibited from commiting some sins.  We see a humility and a yieldedness in him.  We see in his reaction to his healing a gratitude and commitment.  Would it have been the same had he not been born blind?  I don't KNOW but I suspect not.

How could we ever complain of anything that hinders the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life from blossoming in our lives?  Should we not rather, when under some afflcition, look closely for its preventative purpose (not just its corrective purpose)?  Should we not consider what God is keeping us from and how great a blessing that is.  Should not God's pro-activity be a casue for joy and gratitude - not to mention awe?

"Lead us not into temptation but deliver us...."  And if God chooses to use and afflcition to respond to this prayer are we willing to accept it and thank Him for it?  This is not easy - it goes against our abiding corruption and too often makes us mumur against God.

When Jesus says we should be willing to poke our an eye or cut of a hand is He not demonstrating the blessedness of those afflictions that keep us from sin?

In our current time of afflcition there are many things we can not do.  Most of all we can't engage in temporal pastimes and comforts.  Is there a puspose to this?  Yes and as we move through it we see what wrong choices we would make or at least be tempted to make were we not under this afflcition.   We also see how, where we comfortable and at ease, we would fall back into that apathetic faith in which we had previously walked.  Every plan/scheme we have considered had been demonstrated to be for naught - Every "hail Mary" interevention we have looked for has come to nothing.  And why?  Because He would have us depend upon Him in an unemcumbered, raw manner - God and God alone.

Let me encourage you - beg you - to look for the preventative blessing God brings with afflcition.  It is not a minor use but one of great value and lasting effect.