Jeff Adams

Hola amigos! Es un gozo saludarles en el nombre de nuestro Señor. El miércoles es el día de nuestro estudio bíblico en español y pensé saludar a mis lectores que son hispanoparlantes. Trato de poner algo en español cada vez en cuando.

Esta noche iniciamos un estudio a fondo de Génesis. La semana pasada ofrecí una introducción al libro. Les menciono esto porque apenas estamos comenzando.  A veces algunos me escriben preguntando si tenemos grabaciones de estudios míos en español. Tenemos algo mejor. En cada momento tenemos un buen archivo de estudios en nuestro sitio web. Pensando en el hecho de que iniciamos el estudio de Génesis, aprovecho para animarles a que nos sigan cada semana en este estudio.

Si vas a http:/kcbt.org y haces click bajo Servicio de Adoración, más información, esto te lleva a la página que tiene varias semanas de estudios. Lo que vi esta noche es precisamente la introducción a Génesis. Lo que hice esta  noche, Génesis 1:1, aparecerá dentro de  poco.  Puedes ir aquí si quieres ir directamente a la página con los estudios en español.

All week I have been sharing some thoughts on human suffering. Some of my readers have contributed wonderful thoughts both here in comments or on FaceBook. Let me offer one more post on some of the possible causes of human illness and suffering.

Most people have no problem accepting that something is terribly wrong in the cosmos. Wars, evil, horrible sickness, poverty, injustice, pain and suffering surround us. Even Nature is convulsed by earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, fire and flood. Why is this? Why would God allow this?

The short answer is sin. Not necessarily your sins or mine, but the sin of human kind, the consequence of disobedience to God’s truth. Perhaps the most succinct statement of this is in Romans 8:22 where the Apostle Paul says that all creation is groaning and suffering together waiting for God’s final redemption and the restoration of of all things.

Why wait? 2Peter 3 addresses this issue saying that God’s long-suffering is meant to give us opportunity to repent, change, by responding to his gracious offer of transformation based on death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This is all good theology, but how does this help us when we or our loved ones are suffering devastating illness?

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (James 5:14-15)

Many focus on the anointing of oil as though there were some mysterious power in a ceremony. The word James uses for anoint, however, is one not normally used in ceremonial sense, but in practical application. Oils were a vital part of medicine in the first century, and it seems James speaks of making use of the best of medical science. Notice he then says it is the prayer of faith that saves the sick, not a ceremonial application of oil. There is nothing wrong, though, with a ceremonial application of oil accompanied by prayer as a symbolic reminder of the power of God’s Spirit, something I have done many times.

Here are six brief reasons I can come up with for God’s purposes in our illness. I don’t claim to have all the answers and sometimes it may be a combination of reasons, some of which we may never fully understand.

• Violation of natural law. Poor eating choices, for example, can wreak havoc on the human body.
• Sin. Sometimes illness might be the direct consequence of sinful disobedience (Exodus 15:26).
• Satanic attack. This is what Job experienced within the sovereignty and determined parameters of God (Job 2:7). This opens an area that often extends far beyond our comprehension. Other examples: Matthew 9:32; 12:22; Luke 9:37-41; 11:14; 13:11-16
• As an instrument of God’s love and purposes in our lives. Paul’s thorn in the flesh is one such example (2Corinthians 12:7).
• To bring glory to God, as in the case of the blind man in John 9:1-3
• To get those he loves to Heaven (Psalm 116:15).

These reasons have been a comfort to me through the years. I have learned, though, that we will never reduce God to a formula or “figure him out.” Ultimately, we love him because he first loved us (1John 4:19). This is the foundation of our trust in him despite adverse circumstances.

Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days. – John 11:6

This whole theme of hurting people continues to hold me captive.

You know the above verse, don’t you? Jesus had just received word that his friend was sick. You would think that he would hurry on his way to heal him. He did not. He stayed put for two whole days until Lazarus was good and dead. Why in the world would he do that!

Lazarus’ sister Martha articulated the emotion we have all experienced. “Lord, if you would have come, my brother wouldn’t have died.” Martha was probably questioning Jesus’ love for her brother. The real issue was not a lack of love, but the completion of God’s purposes.

How many times have we said or felt like saying something similar?

Os Hillman comments on this passage.

God often has to delay His work in us in order to accomplish something for His purposes that can be achieved only in the delay. Jesus had to let Lazarus die in order for the miracle that was about to take place to have its full effect. If Jesus had simply healed a sick man, the impact of the miracle would not have been as newsworthy as resurrecting a man who had been dead for four days. This is Jesus’ greatest “public relations act” of His whole ministry. What many do not realize is that the key to the whole story is in the next chapter.

Many people, because they had heard that He had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet Him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!” (John 12:18-19)

If Jesus had not raised Lazarus from the dead, there would have been no crowds to cheer the Lord when He came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

God often sets the stage so that His glory is revealed through the events that He orchestrates. He did this with Moses and Pharaoh, allowing delay after delay for release of the Israelites from Egypt. He did this with Abraham and Sarah for the promised child, Isaac. God granted Sarah a baby past the age of childbearing in order to demonstrate His power.

I have many questions without answers. Why does God heal this one but not that one? Why did this one have to die? Why now? Did it have to be this way?

The reality is that God alone has all the answers and he owes me none. So, I suppose I’m right back to Zak’s concluding statement in his video testimony – “If God chooses to heal me, God is still God and God is still good. If God chooses not to heal me … then God is still God and God is still good.”

I slept in a couple of hours yesterday and it felt really good. Getting caught up on sleep after a busy week is nice when possible. Today, it was back to an early wake up to teach my mission class in Shepherd School.

For months we prayed along with the Student Mission Council that The Summit would not be just a conference, but the beginning of engagement in God’s mission for many people as they enter the story of God’s Kingdom. Each night during The Summit in my role as the closer, I pointed out specific ways to enter the story. Whether praying, giving, or going, there are practical steps for anyone to take.

There was a time when I thought I would take tomorrow morning (Sunday) as a time to reflect on what God has done at The Summit. However, as I looked over the passage in Nehemiah that corresponds to our series, I decided to stay the course, as the passage really does make for a nice follow up.  The Jewish inhabitants of Nehemiah’s day were rebuilding the foundations of Hebrew society and stepping up to own responsibility in God’s mission. Only two obstacles could keep them from fulfilling the mission. I’m calling this study “Two Buts and a Sure Bet.”

You read that right. Our final service of The Summit 2010 was this evening, but the reality of all we heard and experienced begins now. From the beginning we have prayed for much more than a conference.

Starting tomorrow, teams of people begin to Live Out Loud by engaging in ministries right here in our own city with the goal of continuing their involvement into the future. Some will minister through our outstanding City Union Mission. Some who are skilled in carpentry and other useful skills will be helping out a City Linc. Saturday a group will be doing evangelism and another group will be helping to get the ball fields ready for our largest evangelistic outreach – Youth League. Some are working as mentors with Middle Eastern refugees. Still others will be working with valuable ministries such as Veronica’s Voice.

God was stirring the hearts of many tonight, and I am convinced that over the course of this next year we will see others taking part in brief one or two week trips to interact and minister in opportunities on 5 continents. Actually, some of these opportunities are already full and there is a waiting list. Others will be taking a huge step of faith and stepping out for six months to a year or more taking on various types of missionary opportunities.  The fruit of the conference will only be known in the months and years ahead. We are just beginning.  But, wow! What a week!

One more mention of Chile – I got an email this morning that provided some very encouraging information about friends and contacts in Concepción. A couple of pastors have lost homes and churches, but for the moment it appears that there was no loss of life among them. I did hear from one friend who had lost  a friend and another friend lost his grandmother. One church where I was in August was spared extreme damage and had a well that they had not been using. Now that well is providing water for the entire area around them. Amidst all the damage, loss and suffering, some wonderful stories of heroism and witness are beginning to emerge. I’ll let you know if we have any direct pathways to help.