[From my introduction to the student notes for ATT Session 7, on the Incommunicable Attributes of God]
There is an important lesson waiting
for us in Scripture, and it has to do with knowing God. The
lesson is this: the true knowledge of God, when wholeheartedly
embraced, is in itself sufficient to enable us to meet
life's suffering and disappointments.
We humans get this backwards. In our
minds, what is necessary to meet the need of human suffering is
human comfort. It certainly is important to care and express human
sympathy, support, and compassion. And it is quite right and loving
to do so.
But the Book of Job has something to
contribute to this discussion of the sufficiency of the knowledge of
God. Job suffered as few have. He lost his children, his wealth, and
his health. All in a single day. His wife's helpful advice was,
"Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9).
Job had three outstanding friends who
sought to comfort him, investing a huge amount of time with him,
grieving silently with him for seven straight days and nights. Then
they sought to help him by bringing some perspective to his
suffering. It is easy to blame Job's friends, but you must admit that
they had earned a hearing by their obvious care for him. But their
attempts at comfort fell short. They blamed Job for sin he had not
committed, and Job retreated into self-righteousness, ultimately
intimating that God was unfair.
But it was God who brought resolution
and comfort to the situation. God sent a young man by the name of
Elihu to set the stage by defending God's sovereign righteousness.
God Himself then finally appeared and spoke to Job. What God said to
Job is jarring to our perception of how a suffering
person should be comforted. God essentially said, "Job! Look at
me! Are you as great as I am? Can you do what I can do?"
When God was finished, Job repented of
his self-righteousness and became satisfied in his God. Did you get
that? Job was comforted when he gazed on the greatness of his
God!
Think of the Letters to the Seven
Churches in Revelation chapters two and three. Each of the churches
was suffering some form of persecution. They each were facing certain
dangers. But God opens each letter by describing Himself,
and closes each by giving them a promise.
What I am saying is this: we are so
designed, so created, so wrought that we find our greatest comfort,
satisfaction and delight in knowing truly our God. At the end of the
day, your proper knowledge of theology is comforting and
sustaining. The Catholic Church has a name for this: they call it the
Beatific Vision. The Beatific Vision is said to be the eternal and
direct perception of God enjoyed by those who are in Heaven,
imparting supreme happiness or blessedness [wikipedia]. But we have the beatific vision now,
in a sense, as we see our God through His Son and His Word. And it
does indeed impart supreme happiness and blessedness--and comfort in the midst of suffering.
Is there a
better reason to study theology?
I think one of the reasons people ask the question "Is theology practical?" is because some theology professors and even pastors have presented it in a dry, strictly scholastic manner. I had two theology professors in Bible college. When the first one was done, I was glad the ordeal was over. The second one was totally different. He would teach us the doctrines, but then he would take the time to show how these truths can transform our lives when we take them to heart. God used Him to challenge me to know God and to share what I learned with others. Ultimately, this resulted in me becoming a pastor.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Bill. Well said.
ReplyDelete