There’s a land unseen by our mortal eyes, And its joys no tongue can tell;
Where in robes of white, in its vales of light, We shall meet, and forever dwell.
O Eden, dear Eden, Home bright and fair,
Soon our bark will land on thy golden stand, And our rest will be glorious there.
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Trouble, Trouble, Everywhere
Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble." Trouble is unavoidable, as I've begun to realise in greater measure. People I know are facing intense trials - death of loved ones, emotional problems, job problems, etc. It's easy not to empathize since these things are not happening to us. But when trouble knocks at our door, that's when we begin to learn pity, sympathy and empathy; and we begin to feel for people who are experiencing pain. Pain, when it happens to us, helps us identify with others who are going through pain. It teaches us compassion. Without it, we will never really understand what people go through, and will tend to "load heavy burdens on others without lifting a finger to help".
Jesus went through suffering. He was called "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief". Why did He have to come as a man and suffer as a man? Simply so that He can be a high priest that sympathizes with His people: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb 4:15).
By the way, the first verse quoted in this blog was only in part. The whole verse reads:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33)
Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble." Trouble is unavoidable, as I've begun to realise in greater measure. People I know are facing intense trials - death of loved ones, emotional problems, job problems, etc. It's easy not to empathize since these things are not happening to us. But when trouble knocks at our door, that's when we begin to learn pity, sympathy and empathy; and we begin to feel for people who are experiencing pain. Pain, when it happens to us, helps us identify with others who are going through pain. It teaches us compassion. Without it, we will never really understand what people go through, and will tend to "load heavy burdens on others without lifting a finger to help".
Jesus went through suffering. He was called "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief". Why did He have to come as a man and suffer as a man? Simply so that He can be a high priest that sympathizes with His people: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb 4:15).
By the way, the first verse quoted in this blog was only in part. The whole verse reads:
