Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.  ~Genesis 3:7

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.  ~Romans 5:12

Scripture makes it very clear that all of us are guilty of sin, and so death and suffering follow. It is a universal truth that where sin is, suffering is there as well. What does that mean for the Christian? How does the surety of suffering figure into the daily walk of a born again believer? Consider God’s servant Job.

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.  ~Job 13:15a

Suffering is a sure thing for both the saved and unsaved alike. What should be different for the Christian is the assurance we have in knowing the God in whose sovereign hands we rest. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” With that assurance in God Almighty there is an element of suffering the believer does not have to experience; the futility of it all. It is the futility and senselessness that gives suffering its sting. The loss of a child, long drawn out struggles with disease ending in death, natural disasters with untold death and destruction, it is the seeming uselessness and futility of all these circumstances that adds a bitter sting to suffering.

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.  ~1 Peter 4:12,13

Since suffering is certain and inevitable, we should not be surprised when it suddenly overtakes us. As for Christians, there will be the additional suffering inflicted because of our faith. While it is true some will be called by God to suffer more than others (even to death), it is also true that all Christians will suffer some persecution in one form or another, Jesus said “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). When that tribulation and suffering comes, and it will, let us endeavor to commit ourselves to a merciful Savior and give Him the glory.

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.  ~1 Peter 4:19

Previous Series Links:
The Sovereignty of God on the Damascus Road: Introduction
The Sovereignty of God on the Damascus Road: Saul's Past
The Sovereignty of God on the Damascus Road: Saul's Prey Part 1

The Martyr Stephen

Previously in this series, we found who Saul hated so much that he woke up every morning breathing threats and murder. Saul hated Christians. To answer why anyone could hate a Christian so much I thought we should look at the Christian who set Saul off in the first place. The threats and murderous intentions Saul was intending to unleash on the Christians of Damascus was nothing new. He had taken part in the murder of Christians before; there was of course the martyr Stephen.

So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’  ~Acts 22:19,20

He spoke also of Isaac and Jacob, and of Joseph’s sojourn in Egypt which ultimately led to 430 years of slavery for the Hebrew people (Acts 7:9-16). Stephen explained how God called Moses and through him delivered the Israelites from bondage, but the people were stiff-necked and rebelled against God. Stephen would then draw a parallel between their rebellious ancestors and their own stiff necks in rejecting God’s Messiah.

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”  ~Acts 7:51-53

When Stephen unmasked their self righteousness they responded by stoning him to death (Acts 7:54-60) and Saul, after consenting to the murder, watched over the coats and robes of those who would take up the stones so they would not be bloodied. This ferocious and vicious murder is the result of self righteousness being revealed. That is why Saul and others hated Christians so. The disciples of the Lord represent the One who exposed the dark and futile hope of a form of righteousness apart from God’s own righteousness. Saul would later write a letter to the Christians in Rome explaining the plight of these Jews.  

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  ~Romans 10:1-4

A true disciple of the Lord Jesus is one who exposes the false hope of self righteousness by correctly and lovingly, using the Word of God to reveal the total inability of man to do anything to earn, or warrant salvation. Are we as faithful to the Great Commission as Stephen was? Are we willing to risk even our lives to share the Gospel? The next installment we will see how the fragile and damning facade of self righteousness must be propped up with religious legitimacy.

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  ~Acts 9:1,2