Sorrow – How to use it!

“For my iniquities are gone over mine head; like an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.”
“The walls of the world’s sorrow is heard all around us.” (COL 417). “Sorrow comes to all, and awaits Christians all along the way to heaven.” (MH 247; 4BC 1146). In fact, real life on this earth has its sorrow. “We see many careworn, sorrowful faces in our daily ministrations.” (CH 211). “Sorrow is awaiting the world that no human balm can heal.” (PK 277).

Yet, it’s a characteristic, or feature of the Christian religion, that sorrows and misfortunes are not the lightning and thunder of an angry God, but the fatherly (paternal) corrections of a Father chastening His children.

The ancient Greeks, it is true, understood the beneficent effects of affliction in shaping and developing character, and their “proverb”, “pathemata, mathemata”, gives us a perfect translation in that verse, “knowledge, by suffering entereth.”

But, they, the Greeks then always ascribed the causes of calamity to the direful wrath of their god, Zeus; the chief of the Olympian gods, god of the elements; the thunderbolt is his sign and the rainbow his messenger; also, Zeus was their god of moral law and order.

The old Jewish theology seemed to be moved and vitalized by the same spirit. Longer life, respect and honour, wealth and wisdom are promised to the righteous, while sudden death and every worldly woe are threatened (or fall on), against the ungodly. Thus, with Jew and Greek, earthly good, doing good is the (touchstone) criterion or test for divine approval or favour.

But it was left for a new generation of believers that followed, that a divine lesson in teaching mankind, that their “light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Cor. 4:17).

Sorrow and suffering are, by all the teachings of the Gospel, divine in their origin, holy in their ministry, beneficial in their results. But, how could sorrow and suffering do this?! This torturing grief, sadness, trouble, affliction, anguish, woe, misery… the pain of mind caused by deep disappointment in life… a fruitful longing for something that’s not here or there?? This ever-present distress, misfortune, mourning, wretchedness!? We shall see, for “there is no sorrow, as a result of these, for which God has not provided a remedy.” (MH 249). How, then can we use it?

SORROW AND SUFFERING PURIFIES

We need their “purifying” influence to make us one with Christ. They change… supernaturally change our life, reconcile us (bring us back in harmony), to duty. They cause the soul to slough off or discard earthly affections; the beginning of that mysterious process by which mortality shall put on immortality.

SORROW AND SUFFERING HUMANIZES

It makes us human. By nature man is selfish and unsympathizing. His first impulse is to care for self-alone… ego. It is not until his mind and heart have been influenced by grace or interest, that he yields his personal self and claims. In order to sympathize with.someone else fully, or another person, you must have had personal experiences yourself. You might as well expect a picture of a gorgeous summer sunset from a blind man, or Bach’s symphonies or Luther’s hymns from a mute, as true sympathy in affliction from one who never knew sorrow or grief. Sorrow, however, “softens and subdues men.” (4T 143).

SORROW AND SUFFERING “CHRISTIANIZED” US

Often before this rich experience, Christ is a root out of dry ground, without form or comeliness; the Bible, a mere collection of old tales, or fables; heaven and Sheol, words of very doubtful significance; while this great present world fills our vision and receives all our attention.

How this all changes by a simple touch of God’s finger! Christ then becomes the chiefest among ten thousand, clothed with every beauty and grace; the word of God is made the lamp unto our feet; the future life becomes real, and the present life a dream, a story tale.

A few years ago two friends were visiting Niagara Falls, the majestic waterfall of the Niagara River, between New York and Ontario, Canada. While there, one went out on a frail, narrow bridge that connects Goat Island with the Tower Rock, where the torrent falls fearfully down. There he stood on the edge of life, gazing spell-bound into the jaws of death, ready to receive him! Deafened by the incessant roar, half blinded by the spray, rainbows flashing out like evil hands beckoning him to leap into the raging waters, his brain suddenly began to whirl, his mind and sense grew dim, and his body slowly moved to and fro over the yawning gulf!

His friend from the shore saw his peril. He shouted to him in vain; his voice swallowed up in the rush of the tremendous cataract. He jumped onto the frail bridge, seized his friend by the arm, and the dazed man was saved from certain death.

There is another .human soul, also, somewhere, like this friend at Niagara Falls, standing “unconsciously” on the brink or edge of ruin and disaster. Around him are the rushing torrents of life. He has still a foothold on the rock of early religious teachings, or perhaps a pious mother’s saving prayers, but his spiritual senses are deadened by the ceaseless roar and rushing of the world. He is warned of his danger; friends entreat earnestly, and appeal to him, beg him, God even calls him… three times! (Job 33:14); but, the still small voice is not heard in the tumult, surging, swelling, uproar. The minds and feelings are agitated. When suddenly, for the safety and salvation of the soul God comes along and touches him – it may be in the tenderest, weakest point – but, who shall say that it’s nothing but – love.

SORROW AND SUFFERING SANCTIFIES

It sanctifies us. It is by that “spiritual culture”; refinement, development, improvement of mind, by which Christ makes a branch, already fruitful that brings forth more fruit; a process by which we are made holy unto the Lord. And oh; for that poor crushed child of affliction, sorrowing, suffering here today, while in the Gethsemane of sorrow, you ask, “why this bitter cup”… and no answer comes. Remember, that which you don’t know now, or understand now, you will one day know in the “hereafter,” when the tumultuous falls are quieted.

You will then find, as you look back on your sorrowing and suffering journeys and pilgrimages of life experiences; that these places which seemed like the “valleys of the shadow of death,” (Ps. 23:4) in the glorious light of retrospect, in looking back are the very mountain tops of God’s providence, where you were nearer to heaven than at any other period in your journey.

Yes, where the anguishing shadows of the Almighty God fell the darkest and saddest on you, according to the Psalmist you were dwelling in the “secret places of the Most High.” (Ps. 91:1)… in “Heavenly Places”— Our Exalted Privilege (Eph. 2:4-6). And then, finally…

SORROW AND SUFFERING GLORIFIES

We shall soon be glorified. Although we can expect sorrow, suffering, and tribulation in this present age (John 16:33; Acts 14:22), we will come out of the great tribulation. (Rev. 7:14-17). “There will be no sorrow in the new earth and the world to come and no wail of sorrow in the New Jerusalem.” (MB 365; Ed 303; 9T 287).
AMEN