The Temporal Nature of Suffering

Scripture has a lot to say about suffering, especially in relation to its temporal nature. When the term suffer is used in the New Testament, it comes from the Greek word pasco (πάσχω), which describes the idea of endurance.[1] In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term nassa (‏נָשָׂא‎ )is used, which means, “to carry.”[2] To suffer is not just to be in pain, but also to endure despite a “heavy weight” or load that one carries that may be caused by pain or discomfort.

Scripture makes it clear that suffering is inevitable, but it is not eternal. Suffering is a part of the plan of God for His people to suffer for a period of time. God’s people can be encouraged while going through suffering because suffering is being produced by God’s plan and is not incidental. Suffering is not haphazard. The pain of suffering is evidence of the working of God’s plans. Suffering is certainty that God is at work. Additionally, God’s past faithfulness gives full assurance that present pain will be relieved. The promise for God’s people is that just as God has intended, so it will be. Just as he has planned, so it will happen.[3] When God’s people suffer, they must rest in God’s sovereignty. God is calling them to trust Him no matter the outcome, but God’s promises for the future provides hope for those who trust Him and endure.

Suffering in the Old Testament

Briefly, we can see that God has never expected his people to suffer (to endure) without providing a finish line to cross. In Genesis 3:15, God had cursed the earth. He had disciplined Adam and Eve for their sin. The consequences had been set and the pattern for suffering began. Yet, in Genesis 3:15, Scripture gives us the protoevangelion, the first “good news.” While disaster loomed in the consequence of sin, hope abounded all the more. God had chosen not to make mankind suffer forever. Instead, he provided the way for redemption and wholeness that would free man from his enduring state of suffering.

In the days of Noah, those who were faithful to Yahweh suffered in a world filled with wicked and violent people.[4] Yet, when God promised to destroy the earth, and when Noah and his family would suffer in the Ark, God still confirmed his covenant with Noah and his family. Noah did all that God had commanded and trusted God despite enduring the pain at his present moment. His future hope gave strength for his present pain.

Abraham also endured great suffering for a future cause. In a time when it was unheard of for families to move, Abraham gathered his family and belongings in quest of divine blessing (Gen 12:2). On this journey, Abraham’s wife was taken to the household of Pharaoh because of her beauty. How must Abraham have felt? But God delivered Abraham’s wife. Abraham also experienced the horror of a family member, Lot, being abducted by rebels. Also, when Abraham faced infertility problems, he surely waded through the murky trenches of emotions: inadequacy, frustration, anger, denial, guilt, blame, self-pity. Not only that, the dread must have been exceedingly great as Abraham trusted God’s future grace when he led his son Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him. Yet, Abraham’s suffering would not last for eternity.

The nation of Israel suffered, especially those who were faithful and lived in the midst of unfaithful contemporaries and unfaithful rulers. Even when God gave the Law to his people through Moses, God promised in his covenant with Israel that there would be a future suffering in a time of their rebellion. Yet, with that promise came another promise that God would reverse such suffering and restore his people.[5] Generations of faithful citizens of God suffered under the rule of wicked kings, but they were living for the hope of the future promise that they would one day be a great nation in a great land filled with prosperity.

Suffering in the New Testament

If God’s people suffered in the Old Testament period, then it should be no surprise that his people would suffer in the New Testament period. Of all who suffered, the Suffering Servant, Jesus Christ, suffered the most. Jesus suffered for the sake of what was to come: to be the first to rise from the dead and to proclaim light to the Jews and Gentiles.[6] Hebrews 12:2 indicates that Jesus in his humanity suffered for the sake of the joyful glory in his deity. Christ’s suffering was not eternal, though he still suffers for the sake of the world and for the sake of His glory. He is patient with us, not willing that any would perish but that all would come to repentance.[7]

If Christ suffered, then why should God’s people not suffer? If Christ endured, then why should God’s people not endure? The apostle Paul, who suffered as greatly as any Christian in history understood this as he encouraged the believers in the midst of their persecution that it has been granted to them not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for him.[8] John Piper puts it this way, “…. Suffering…[is]…preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond death, and he is working out his infallible purposes to gather all the elect from the nations of the world and bring in the consummation of his kingdom.”[9] Thus, as James instructed, we believers are to wait patiently (suffer patiently) for the Lord’s return in the same way that a farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground.[10]

Those faithful to the Lord must carry their load, and they must endure so that they will reign with Christ. After all the toiling, there is a promise of a harvest that will far outweigh the pain of planting. From the beginning until the present time, God has never asked or expected his people to endlessly endure a broken road that leads to nowhere. God promises a glorious inheritance where pain and suffering will forever be vanquished. Jesus cried on the cross. His people have cried throughout the centuries. But there is no tear that has been shed on account of His name that will not be wiped away. There is no mourning that will not be comforted. There is no child of His who died thirsty that will not be raised from the dead to a new life that is fully satisfied. God asks his people to suffer, but he only asks them to carry such a load for a time.

Today I am in Romans 12:3-8. In light of some recent conflict and how my personality played a role in the conflict, this was an interesting passage to reflect on. I was reminded that we are all uniquely gifted, and we should use our gifts to their full potential. However, we need to be careful to remain humble as we use our gifts since they are merely tools entrusted to us by Christ. We are equipped, not entitled.

What I mean is that God has uniquely shaped each person, and sometimes we can ignore how we treat others because of our personality shape. For example, I am a visionary. When someone talks, I immediately start evaluating what is being presented and think about how I could make the idea even better. My gears start grinding, and my thoughts jump leap years ahead. However, this particular gifting can also be used selfishly to simultaneously make others feel like their ideas are being ignored, discounted, discredited or flat out rejected. I became aware of this problem lately, and I learned that I must learn to communicate well since this gift is naturally exhibited. However, I am not entitled to allow my natural shape and personality to hurt others or make them feel inadequate.

The same is true for other gifts. Some people have strong personalities and they can dominate conversations and decisions. Other people are analytical and can make a visionary feel stupid. Some people are reserved and can make others feel like they are uninterested. But no matter how God has uniquely formed us, we must be aware of how our personalities and gifts naturally flow out of our lives. We must learn to use them to their fullest capacity while at the same time making sure that we are being constructive and encouraging.

Paul said to, “not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.” The word faith can be translated trust. The gifts we have are from God and he is trusting us with them so that we will use them to build up others- not discourage or discredit them. When we learn who we are and what makes us tick and the things we are good at, and when we can know all that and still walk humbly, then we are being sober minded- because we realize that who we are is from God and that there is nothing we did in any situation where we can claim any glory for ourselves. To do otherwise would be a lie, and it would also be dimwitted.

Socrates is attributed with saying, “Above all, know thyself.” Do you know who you are and how you are uniquely wired? What makes you tick? And are you aware of how these qualities radiate in your everyday life? Do you know how your gifts are affecting others, and are you being in your right mind by understanding that these gifts are from the Lord?

Well, I haven’t blogged in a while. School has kept me busy, and one of my chief joys in life has been set aside for a while. I love writing and reflecting on things that I am learning, and this morning I realized that I haven’t done that in a while. As a matter of fact, I have allowed busyness to squelch a lot of my passions lately. So, I am going to make a greater attempt to reengage in some of my passions- even while I continue with my studies. It is called setting priorities.

This morning I was walking around and wondering what I should do. My heart was yearning and unsatisfied. It took me about 10-15 minutes of thinking about prayer before I actually engaged in it. Actually, I was resisting doing anything spiritual since I was still waking up and felt tired. But I started praying, and as I prayed something happened that I haven’t experienced in a while: spiritual transformation.

As I prayed, I began confessing sins- the areas of life where I am falling short of God’s expectations. Jonathan Edwards said that confession is like detergent for the soul. He’s right. As I was praying and confessing and asking God to make me into the man he wants me to be, I was reminded that I am responsible for my own spiritual transformation. I don’t transform my own heart- God does! But I must do my part to engage with him. He has already taken initiative with me- through his life, death and resurrection; through community of friends; through his written word; through his Holy Spirit.

My heart was saddened because for months I have been studying God’s word, but in the last several months, I have failed to let His word transform my heart. Recently, I started an exegetical study of the Epistle to the Romans, written by the Apostle Paul. It begins with, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus…” The term doulos means slave or servant and implies the complete and utter adoption and commitment to executing a master’s plans, and this absolutely requires the abandoning of one’s internal passions that would direct him to do something otherwise!

I suddenly realized that lately I have not been a servant of Christ. Had I been writing an Epistle, if I were to be honest, I would need to write, “Jeremiah, a servant of himself.” Or, “Jeremiah, a slave to his own desires.” I have been serving my own appetite. Discipleship is the process of spiritual transformation where we are awakened and freed from our self-serving appetite so that we would glorify God by living for Him through the means of His son’s propitiating death on the Cross and his resurrection from the dead and by the power of the Holy Spirit as God’s word and people minister to our lives. It looks like this is the path that I will be walking down.

I find that abandoning my own passions is something that I will not naturally do. It is hard to go against my internal impulse. But so far, just like this morning, I learned that sometimes it starts with prayer and confession. 1 John 1:9 teaches that confession is correlative to us finding God’s forgiveness and being liberated from the shame and guilt of sin. So, principle #1: Confession is the first tool for abandoning our internal passions that keep us from executing our master’s plans.

Does anyone else have any other ideas?

The Dung Gate at the outer wall of Jerusalem

Malachi 1-4

Focus: Malachi 2:2-3, “If you do not listen and take seriously the need to honor my name,” says the LORD who rules over all, “I will send judgment on you and turn your blessings into curses–indeed, I have already done so because you are not taking it to heart. I am about to discipline your children and will spread offal on your faces, the very offal produced at your festivals, and you will be carried away along with it.

Falling in love is easy to do. Remaining in love over time can prove to be quite difficult. Israel was a nation called by the name of God. When God identified them by His name (Deut. 28:9-10), it signified the joining of the two in very close unity. God made a covenant with His people, and it was filled with abundant blessings- designed to bring life and peace (Malachi 2:5)- for Israel if they lived according to His ways. God had Israel’s best intentions for her. Yet, over time, Israel’s only consistent pattern was her inconsistent love for Yahweh.

When the prophet Malachi wrote, it was over 100 years after God had returned Israel back to the Land after their exile to Assyria, Babylon and Persia. And as time faded, so also did Israel’s love for the Lord. They violated the Law of God by offering blemished sacrifices and kept the best animals for themselves; they were disloyal to God; and they committed unspeakable sins. Israel did not take seriously the need to honor God’s name. This had serious consequences.

God was warning Israel through Malachi. He would not tolerate the defiling of His name. God cares when His people offer Him second best. He cares when His people fail to honor Him with their treasures because they are keeping the prized possessions for themselves. God cares when His people approach Him wrongly in their sacrifices. God cares when His people’s love for Him fades. He cares about their disloyalty. He cares so much that he would bring ultimate shame on His people if they won’t turn back to Him.

God said that he was about ready to spread offal on the priest’s faces- the faces of those were supposed to be “holiest” in Israel. This would be the utmost shaming of a person. The offal was the internal organs of sacrifices, feces and all, that was discarded and taken out the Dung Gate to the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna, AKA known as Hell in the NT). At the Valley of Hinnom there was a constant fire that would burn up and consume anything deemed unclean. The dead bodies of criminals were also taken here. So it is no minor infraction that Israel has committed. God said that he would smear “poop” in their face and that they would be carried away (out the Dung Gate) with it. God cares that His people honor His name! He cares when the love of the hearts of His people grows cold toward Him.

We can all learn from this. I am also guilty of letting my heart grow cold at times. It is a frustrating thing, but that is why the Lord asks us to repent. To repent just means to return to the Lord. God wants us to return back to our first love for Him. When we have done this, then we will no longer offer him the “seconds” of our lives. We will give Him the first portion of our time, talents and treasures. How is your heart? How is that reflected in the sacrifice you give to the Lord throughout the week- and not just on Sunday?

Zechariah 10-14

Focus: Zech. 13:7-9 “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my associate,” says the LORD who rules over all. Strike the shepherd that the flock may be scattered; I will turn my hand against the insignificant ones. It will happen in all the land, says the LORD that two-thirds of the people in it will be cut off and die, but one-third will be left in it. Then I will bring the remaining third into the fire; I will refine them like silver is refined and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer; I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

In these prophetic words to Zechariah concerning God’s Shepherd, we can learn about what it means to be a faithful servant. Jesus Christ was the Shepherd alluded to in this prophecy. He was sinless, blameless and did everything right. There is nobody else who has ever been as faithful to the Lord as Jesus was during his ministry on earth. Yet we know of his suffering. Zechariah foretells that God would strike his faithful servant. Jesus’ faithfulness led him to suffer on the cross and die a criminal’s death on account of the sins of mankind.

Next, in this prophetic passage, we can see what happened to those who faithfully followed the Shepherd. God turned his hand against them, and they scattered. The disciples of Jesus Christ had their hero murdered right in front of their very eyes. Not only that, but they were forced to flee for fear of their lives since they were associated with Jesus. When Roman officials killed insurrectionists, they also took down any co-conspirators. The backside of God’s hand was against those who were most faithful to Christ. This indicates God’s removal of protection and blessing.

Additionally, the text says that two-thirds of the people in the Land will be cut off and die, and the remaining third will be refined and tested. God would weed out those who follow Him for their own selfish desires, and he would gather unto Himself those who come forth as pure silver and gold. When they are through with their testing and suffering, their lives will still remain loyal to Yahweh. These are the people that God will identify as His.

Faithfulness to God is a commitment to suffer. It is a commitment to be used by God for His purposes. There are many health, wealth and prosperity preachers out there who teach that sickness and suffering is the result of unconfessed sin. They teach that if we give our money to their ministry, then God will bless us and make us wealthy and heal us of our sickness. If you turn on TBN, you will see a lot of these guys on there (But to be clear, not all the ministry presented on TBN is false. A lot of it is spiritual hogwash though).

These ministries use the name of Jesus to sell religious relics that promise blessing and healing. That is a false gospel! The Gospel begins with Christ. Look at Jesus- God struck his Shepherd! Look at the most faithful-they ran in fear, many dying martyrs deaths! When you follow Christ, it is a commitment to suffer and to be used however God desires. Are you willing to be tested, and will you still say, “The Lord is my God?”

Zechariah 5-9

Focus: Zechariah 8:20-23, The LORD who rules over all says, ‘It will someday come to pass that people–residents of many cities–will come. The inhabitants of one will go to another and say, “Let’s go up at once to ask the favor of the LORD, to seek the LORD who rules over all. Indeed, I’ll go with you.” Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD who rules over all and to ask his favor. The LORD who rules over all says, ‘In those days ten people from all languages and nations will grasp hold of–indeed, grab–the robe of one Jew and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

I remember having various theological debates in college. Most of the time I would observe and listen, while others I would get dragged in to the discussion. It seems like the topic would often be about election, God’s sovereignty, and free will. These ideas are too big to get our minds around. But one thing I am quite sure of is that most of the time when Scripture is referring to election, God’s people Israel were involved. It is clear that God had a special love and a unique purpose for His people. After the fall of man in the garden when God implemented his plan to save humanity, through the promise and seed of Abraham, Israel became his chosen vessel for global reconciliation.

In this particular vision, Zechariah foresees a period of time when there would be international revival and repentance. This prophetic image was realized in part during the Pentecost when the Church was initially established. In Acts 2:5-11 we see a universal and overwhelming attraction of the nations to Israel’s God. However, the best is still yet to come. The fullness of this prophecy will be reached during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ as His presence and power is enunciated here on earth with a greater fullness than has been witnessed since His resurrection. At that time, people from all over the earth will be compelled and drawn by the fame of Jesus Christ.

What is just as amazing is how the Jesus glory will be manifested directly in His people because of His sovereign commitment to them. People will seek out the Jews, the people of God, because the Lord’s favor will be with them, and they will be the instruments to lead others to Jesus the Messiah who will be physically present in Jerusalem. What an awesome time that will be! At that time, the Lord’s people will be the chosen instruments for global reconciliation.

But what about now? Jesus’ disciples have already been strengthened with the glory of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in them. Jesus has told us, “I will be with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). We have the commitment of the Lord in us now, and we reflect His glorious presence as our life becomes reconciled with Him. When Jesus reigns in our life, we are healed from life’s hurts, habits and hang-ups. Then others who do not know Jesus will take notice and will also say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” Especially in this respect, the Lord’s disciples are his “plan A” to be His instruments of justice, mercy and righteous in a way that brings Him glory. There is no plan B. He has elected us for such a purpose.

How is the Lord’s commitment to you bringing Him fame to those around you who do not yet know Him?

Focus: 1:3-4, “Therefore say to the people: The LORD who rules over all says, “Turn to me,” says the LORD who rules over all, “and I will turn to you,” says the LORD who rules over all. “Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets called out, saying, ‘The LORD who rules over all says, “Turn now from your evil wickedness, “’ but they would by no means obey me,” says the LORD.”

God’s love for His people is unlike any other love that I have ever witnessed in my life. Throughout the message of the prophets, we can see God practically begging His people to return to Him- not in a desperate sort of way, but in a way that demonstrates deep concern and yearning for their well being. God’s love for His people is truly remarkable.

In 1:3, the Lord said to His people, “Turn to me.” God wanted his people to return to Him with their whole heart. As I read this, echoes of Yahweh’s covenant with Israel ring throughout my ears. In Deuteronomy 30:1-3 the Lord promises Israel that when His people are taken into captivity in far away lands because of their disobedience, if they turn to the Lord and obey him with their entire mind and being, then He will have pity on His people and reverse their captivity! In other words, God said that if His people were ever found lost and lead to captivity in distant lands, then the only way back was to do a spiritual U-turn.

When Zechariah prophesied, Israel was far removed from the Land and God’s covenant protection. Centuries, kilometers and a broken relationship separated Israel from the Lord of the Covenant who had practically divorced them. Yet, Yahweh gives Zechariah a message to the decedents of His faithful followers who received the Covenant as they were about ready to set foot in the Promised Land. The message was, “return to me.”

While the more recent ancestors of Zechariah’s contemporaries had hardened their hearts against God and walked away from Him like an adulteress woman, God was reminding Zechariah’s audience of His promise to return to His people if they come back. Even while those present to hear Zechariah’s message may have only had an intellectual knowledge of the Promise, they were again being implored to return to the Lord with their whole hearts so that they could return to the Land and enjoy the freedom and fruit of the Covenant. God says, “Turn back!”

This teaches us a couple things. First, God has always initiated relationship with His people. We must only respond accordingly. Second, repentance never begins with a heart that is transformed. Repentance is the U-turn for the heart that is lost in captivity from sin. Therefore, no matter how screwed up our life gets or how far removed from God we try to run, we have the opportunity to be reconciled back to right relationship. God’s promise always remains for any remnant of people who trust in Him, even if they suffer because of the rebellion of others. So our hearts should not be discouraged if others will not turn back to the Lord when we do. God is faithful and will save those who love Him.

Focus: Daniel 9:17-19, “So now, our God, accept the prayer and requests of your servant, and show favor to your devastated sanctuary for your own sake. Listen attentively, my God, and hear! Open your eyes and look on our desolated ruins and the city called by your name. For it is not because of our own righteous deeds that we are praying to you, but because your compassion is abundant. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, pay attention, and act! Don’t delay, for your own sake, O my God! For your city and your people are called by your name.”

My wife and I have recently started attending a Celebrate Recovery program at Watermark Church here in Dallas. It has been an eye opening experience to say the least. So far I have learned that there are others out there who are as screwed up as me. There are many who are struggling with far more difficult things than I am, but one thing is true of everyone. We have all hurt people, and we have all been hurt by people. Celebrate Recovery is about making amends and finding healing from all the junk that hurts and hinders us in this broken world.

The reason I mention all this is because as I have been reading through Daniel, I have come to realize that this brokenness has extended throughout the ages, and so has the amends process. Daniel gives us a great taste of what part of the reconciliation process looks like.

In this passage Daniel is petitioning the Lord to answer his prayer. Daniel’s prayer focuses on the current broken state of the sanctuary (the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 722 B.C.) and the massive destruction to Jerusalem and its walls. Israel’s hurts and hang-ups were severe. Her sin of rebellion against God and committing idolatry and adultery with pagan gods were a breach of Covenant. The consequence was removal from the land, loss of blessing, and forfeiture of protection that was provided in the Covenant.

Just like in step 1 of the 12 steps of CR, Daniel was admitting on Israel’s behalf their inability to control their addictions and compulsions. Their lives had become unmanageable and desperately wicked. Romans 7:18 says, “For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want!” Israel’s sins were too much for her to handle and they are what got her into trouble.

Like step 2 in CR, Daniel was recognizing Yahweh as the power greater than himself that could restore Israel. Philippians 2:13 says, “for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God.” Even while the Covenant brought cursing and discipline for disobedience, it also brought the opportunity for reconciliation. Deuteronomy 30:1-6 teaches us that God would be the one who would cleanse his people’s hearts and would himself restore them back to their land. Thus Daniel prays pleading on account of God’s compassion and not according to any righteous deeds.

In recognizing his own inabilities and those of Israel, Daniel was also making a decision to turn his life and will over to the care of God. (This is step 3 of CR, which is based off of Romans 12:1). His prayer was directed to Yahweh. Consequently, Daniel humbled himself (step 6 based off of James 4:10) and made a searching and fearless moral inventory (Daniel 9:15, 16 & 17) (step 4, based off of Lamentations 3:40), and he confessed them before God and publically before others in his writing. Step 5 of CR is to admit to God, to yourself, and to others the exact nature of your wrongs! James 5:16 says to confess your sins one to another so that you may be healed.”

There are 6 more steps in the Celebrate Recovery process, and each one of them can be highlighted in some way by Daniel’s prayer. Reconciliation is a process that is necessary because we live in a depraved world that is full of sin and deceit. We all have hurts, habits and hang-ups. We have all been hurt, and we have all hurt people. In Daniel’s case, just like all of us, his offense was against God. Daniel appealed to God knowing that there was opportunity for reconciliation built into the Covenant. We too have the opportunity to be reconciled with each other and with the Lord through Christ’s work on the Cross. I have to ask, where do I need to make amends with others in my life? How about you? Who do you need to reconcile with today?

Daniel 1-6

Focus: Daniel 2:44-45, “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever. You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.”

Recently, my wife and I started going to Celebrate Recovery, a Christian 12-step reconciliation program for those who want to work through their hurts, habits, and hang-ups that have come as coping mechanisms to life’s pains. The problem of evil and the problem of pain are unfortunate realities in our broken world, but it has been encouraging to watch others find recovery and healing.

Daniel was a prophet who certainly had to deal with hurts and hang-ups. He was taken into captivity into Babylon. His family may have been killed or taken as slaves. He was displaced from his home. In Babylon, he was assigned to the royal service where he would enjoy the best foods and the luxury of palace living. That part sounds nice, but the trade-off to living in the palace meant becoming a eunuch in an era where there was no anesthesia. (They did this to protect the women living in the palace from foreigners.)

God used Daniel, a man who had been through a lot of pain- spiritually, emotionally, and physically- to foretell of one of life’s greatest events. Dreams carried huge weight in the day of Daniel, and it just so happens that King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and needed someone to interpret. God chose Daniel to be the man. Daniel 2:44-45 is the interpretation that God gave to Daniel and it tells of a kingdom that will overcome every earthly power. It is a kingdom not ruled by the broken leadership of people and one that will last forever. It was the prophecy of the Kingdom of Christ.

God is in the process of building His Kingdom. It is one that will last forever, a Kingdom where the pain of sin and death will not be. In this Kingdom, all of Christ’s faithful followers will find complete reconciliation and healing from their hurts, habits and hang-ups. This is the Christian hope. This is what our faith in Christ is about. While we may claim to have the faith to trust that He died on the Cross and rose again to save us from our sins, will we have the faith to trust His promises that He is preparing a place for those who follow Him? The faith rooted in the events at the Cross is foundational, but faith that trusts Christ’s promise of the everlasting Kingdom is functional. It is what moves us from this life to the next and is what proves our very faith in Christ on the Cross. Do we really trust that God will bring complete healing and restoration?