I had some things on my mind lately, regarding the: 'Hardness' (and mercy) of God.
It might not mean much to anyone else, but I just wanted to share in the off-chance it did...
Some people undergoing trial - rage against God...
"Why are you doing this to me!?"
"What purpose will this trial/illness (etc) bring me?! - I can't even move/talk/do this/that! IT'S POINTLESS I TELL YOU"
"You have the power to EASILY stop my pain... It would be nothing for you to CURE me! - You wouldn't even have to snap your finger!!!... YET YOU DON'T! - What's wrong with you!?"
"You must just want to torture me! - That's the only explanation!!!"
Etc.
I was thinking the other day how when at school I had a maths teacher who was a pushover.
This maths teacher was a rebellious teenagers' dream!
Needless to say - this rebellious teen did poorly in his class.
The teacher would shout :eek: and I would giggle. :laugh:
One day (as a one-off); the headmaster took over the maths class (in the regular teacher's absence).
...This man wasn't a pushover. - He was every rebellious teens' NIGHTMARE.
He was disgusted at how poor my maths skills were, and he stood me in front of the class - correcting me in front of all, until I managed the sums he had put up on the board.
(I was there for about 30 minutes - embarassingly struggling with the most basic of sums as the rest of the class laughed at me). :LH: :declare: :mock: :laughing7: :rolllol: The truth was out and I was exposed as the 'dunce' I was. :doh:
...I learned more maths in that 30 minutes than I had the past three years under the regular teachers guidance.
But (being foolish at the time); I hated the headmaster for what he had done!
I was so happy when my regular (useless/pushover) teacher (who I could walk all over) came back.
Yet now... Through the eyes of someone older (and more spiritually-aware) - I look back...
... And I love the headmaster for what he did.
I respect him for what he did.
IF he had been my teacher... I never would have ended up with the worst grade possible for maths... That's for sure.
What of the other (my regular (maths)) teacher?
...I liked him as a person - but he wasn't cut out to teach... He was too soft to get through to most of us, and that's not worthy of respect... Because as a: 'teacher' HE was supposed to be in control.
If he couldn't control a classroom - he shouldn't have been teaching - simple as that.
("Not many should teach") James 3:1
These days when I see how God took (and still yet takes) a firm hand with me at times... I think about those two teachers, and I respect and I love God for what He is doing.
Because still... I'm the (rebellious) student and He is the 'Greatest' Teacher of all.
I know that He teaches me for my own good. - He is exposing those whom he is fond of and disciplining them... (Just like the headmaster did to me). (Rev 3:19).
"For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he corrects each one he accepts as his child".
With God's (sometimes harsh) correction - if we obey - we can pass our trials here on earth... Becoming qualified to enter His Paradise-Kingdom.
If we had a: 'pushover' teacher who let us do everything we wanted to do... We wouldn't get very far.
I just wanted to write this as a reminder for anyone struggling to keep going, and not to doubt God and what He is doing... To accept that you are the student and He is the Teacher.
Again... The end of an un-qualifed teacher 'teaching' us is:- dishonor, defeat, disrespect, weakness, ridicule, pain, regret... (And having to sit the test again)...
Whereas; the end of a qualified teacher teaching us is:- honor and glory, overcoming, respect, power, praise, joy, contentment and peace... Forever. - Made: 'pillars' in His house - never needing to go out no more.
No wonder the scriptures tell us to: 'welcome' trials and count them: 'ALL JOY'! - To REJOICE in them! :laugh: :banana:
Amen! :Pray:
REJOICE I SAY!
God will not leave anyone in an unsaved/carnal (unspiritual) (dunce?) state forever! :laugh:
How He loves us... Doing what we would NEVER choose to do of ourselves... DISCIPLINING us, and thus making us something of worth.
Praise God, Who is creating all of us in HIS glorious IMAGE.
"When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish... He will be satisfied". - (Isaiah 53:11).
God is not: 'willingly' afflicting us. - It's necessary (because IN Him we exist, and He does walk in us).
Being then; offspring of God - bear in mind that it's His work, yet also our work for our benefit... The travail of our soul... Our wages... :HeartThrob:
I just thought of another example of a: 'good' teacher (who seemed like a 'bad' teacher at the time!) (Due to his harshness!).
I stayed off school one day... Got caught in town... Got taken into headmasters' office... Got screamed at for ages by the headmaster (and some of his crew!).
Later though... In one of my classes - a teacher (whom I barley knew) had heard of my: 'skiving' and went CRAZY on me... Screaming and shouting... Scaring me into ever doing it again.
In my childish folly I thought that teacher was my ENEMY! Yet; looking back I see how all that screaming must have hurt his throat, and how he had done it because of how much he cared. - He maybe saved lives by doing such things.
But again... It's curious how we can get it totally wrong... Seeing good as bad and bad as good...
...Got to be aware of people telling us what our: 'itching' ears want to hear in our folly eh?!
It seems that God gives us what we NEED, rather than what we want... (At least at present)... Until we reach maturity and want the same things He wants.
Thus (again) did the disciples seek chastening more than fine gold.