Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 225, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1917 — Way of Suffering [ARTICLE]

Way of Suffering

By REV. DR. E. P. WEST

Baptist Pastor Houston. Texas

“And as he passed by, he saw a man blind frdm his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind? Jesus answered: Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” —John 9 :l-3. The supreme doctrine of Christianity is undoubtedly the infinite love and divine compassion of God as revealed in his dear Son. Now, Christian thinkers feel the painfulness of pain and recognize the seeming contradiction to universal benevolences in human suffering, quite as frankly and poignantly as the most cynical skeptic. Moreover, the Christian faces the problems involved with knowledge and candor, admitting the mystery, acknowledging the absence of dogmatic answers to the questions raised by suffering, and yet urging an interpretationas scientific, philosophical and satisfying as unbelief has ever displayed. Since God is the divine father, the sufferings of his children are not to be regarded as penal. AH the guilt and penalty of sin was laid upon Jesus and he put them away forever. We may talk about chastisement, or- correction, for our father deals with us as with sons; or we may speak of reaping the results of'mlstakes and sins dropped as seeds in life’s furrow in former years; or we may have to bear the consequences of the sins, of others, but do not talk of God punishing his children. If God should punish us for our sins, If _ wbulß”seem“that the sufferings of Christ were Incomplete and the healing of his stripes Inadequate for our "peace; God Revealed Through Pain. The inmost, utmost things of God are revealed through pain. Affliction is the breath of the finer spirit of life. How does God manifest his finest work in patience? He takes a young life, full of hope and promise, and. shuts it in a small room to linger through a long battle with ravaging disease, and makes that room a shrine where earth’s sorrowing hearts find consolation through a great, rich, joyous, uncomplaining, transfigured life of holy character. How does God manifest his works of human tenderness? He breathes the dream of parenthood Into two hearts that beat as one. The child comes to gladden all their days, but alas, she goes—and leaves grief’s fiery footprints behind. Then the Crittenden rescue homes spring up to girdle the earth with the glory of human compassion. How does God manifest his great work in service? He draws the curtain and reveals the sordidness of sin and the blight of ignorance, crushing out the higher capabilities of a human race, to the eyes of a passionate Scotsman. David Livingstone lives, loves and suffers in Africa —but his grave becomes the cornerstone upon which rests the temple of hope for a benighted people. How does God manifest his august work of sacrifice? He lifts a cross on a lonely hill and heaven and earth stand still in awe and reverence, while his dear Son climbs its summit and pours out his life as an offering for peace. And who doubts that in this awful present hour God is pointing America to the cross of sacrifice? We must learn to bear the national cross before we are worthy to wear the crown of national honor. Unspeakable is the sacrifice we are called upon to make now in the worldstruggle for justice, equality, liberty and peace, but the making of such sacrifice marks our people as worthy of the trust of power that God has given us. Through the darkness of terrible affliction we, are sure to pass, but the jubilee of triumph shall finally be our song.

My friends, God is not interested in giving us easy and comfortable lives, individually or nationally. He is concerned to make us large apd comprehensive souls. Affliction is heaven’s challenge to us to try the resources of our spirit, even while we give God his chance to manifest finer works than are seen in the starry firmament or the marvels of mountains. Draw not back, therefore, from the darkness, for— The dark hath many dear avails; The dark is rich with nightingales. With dreams, and with the heavenly muse.