I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
When Jesus said we would not get through this life without experiencing pain in a variety of different forms, He meant what He said. Yet, inasmuch as we experience pain on our way into glory, we will not be marked by stain. C. S. Lewis put this biblical truth in this most profound way:
“God, who foresaw your tribulation has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.”
Notice how Lewis tells us how God has armed us to go through our trials and tribulations. He did not say God would steer us over, under, or around it. Rather, God takes us through it to grow and mature us in our faith and in so doing, He is conforming us to the image and likeness of our Lord Jesus. Perhaps our first prayer should not be, “Lord, please take this trial away!” but rather, “Lord, as you take me through this trial, thank you for making me more like Jesus.”
In the Old Testament story of Jacob and his twelve sons, we learn how Joseph was favored by his father and hated by his brothers. One day Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him, but instead decided to sell him into slavery. Joseph was taken down into Egypt and served as a slave and a prisoner for 13 years. After God used him to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams of seven years of plenty and seven years of famine, he was elevated into the second position of authority in Egypt. During the famine, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Here they encounter their brother Joseph without knowing it. Eventually Joseph reveals himself to them and said these life-changing words, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is not being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).
Clearly Joseph experienced much pain throughout those thirteen years, but this statement makes it clear his pain was without stain. He saw God’s sovereign hand in all of it and knew that God was in complete control of everything. Joseph knew there was purpose in his pain and God’s purpose would not leave a stain. Let that truth set us all free to say along with the apostle Paul, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
This is the gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 