2 Corinthians 6:9-10 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Psalm 118:18 The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.
A friend of mine told me about an experience that one of his friends had:
Let’s call this friend Ms Anita. She is a good Christian who loves the Lord. Anita was booked for a flight that evening. Everything was set; her ticket, luggage, passport and visas, etc. On the afternoon of her departure, as she was descended the stairs, she slipped and fell, and twisted her ankle and fractured some part of her leg bone. She was in severe pain and was rushed to the hospital. Due to the severity of her injury, Anita couldn’t make her flight to her dismay and disappointment. That evening while still receiving treatment on her leg, she saw in the news that the airplane she was supposed to travel on had crushed and most people on board had died. It was a moment of shock and confusion for Anita, as she didn’t know whether to be thankful to God for her twisted leg or not.
So my friend asked me, “Pastor, was it God who made her twist and fracture her leg, in order to save her from the impending plane crush?” I cannot answer that definitely, as I do not know the specifics of that incidence. But would God allow you to have a minor pain in order to save you from a greater one? Put it another way, “As a parent, will you beat your child with cane and give him pain if it will correct him and save him from a bad attitude that could ruin his life tomorrow?” I bet you would. When instructions and situations do not succeed in correcting the child, the Lord uses pain/beatings to correct his children.
It’s possible that the Lord had been speaking to Anita not to go on that journey but she will not hear; there might have been situations to have her abort her flight, but she did everything to still go. Out of love, a father who wants to save his daughter in that instance could apply beatings or pain, in order to save her from a further damage. Or would you rather spare the pain and let her to die? Selah!
GRACEFUL MORNING
