A Choice of Suffering

 

 

 

I find this so intriguing

The salmon up the waterfall,

It is a determined sufferer

And this is its natural call.

 

Most creatures go with the flow

But the determined salmon does not

Instead it swims up the waterfall

For that is its destined lot.

 

What suffering it endures!

Just to perpetuate,

That is its way of life

Mostly for its young ones’ sake.

 

To view a similar situation

Pull up 1Peter 4: verses 15 and 16

Where the Apostle Peter directs us

To a very salmon-like scene.

 

Every born again believer

Will encounter some suffering,

It will come in some form or fashion

So there is no use denying.

 

Notwithstanding what we sing

Suffering will still come our way

But do note that we have a choice,

Check what these verses say.

 

Do not suffer as a murderer

Do not suffer as a thief,

The constant practice of evil doing

Is not the Christian’s belief.

 

But instead suffer as a Christian

And do not ever be ashamed,

Such suffering glorifies the Father

As we do so in Jesus’ name.

 

Even as Jesus also suffered

We can expect some suffering too,

Suffering for righteousness sake

Depicts a faith that is true.

 

  

“I will not suffer,” we sing

And “I will not beg for bread,”

And we have the audacity to say

“That’s what the Bible said.”

 

Perhaps we need to re-examine

The theology that we sing

For when compared to 1Peter,

It is not the same thing.

 

Peter says that we will suffer

So how can we sing we will not?

He makes it clear to you and me

That suffering is the Christian’s lot.

 

But there is yet a consolation

And that is, we have a choice,

We do not suffer as the evildoer

That listens to the devil’s voice.

 

Instead we suffer for Christ’s sake

He, having suffered for us,

And in partaking of his suffering,

We identify with Jesus.

 

The Apostle Peter urges us

To live a God-honouring life

So that God receives the glory

In the midst of the daily strife.

 

As a soldier of Jesus Christ

Expect to suffer for his sake

But let not that suffering become

The result of trouble you make.

 

Heed the words of Peter

As you make the best of choice

In choosing suffering that comes

As you obey the Saviour’s voice.

 

Stewart Russell © August 2019

 

My Closeup View

There was a difference about him

Even as he hung there,

In spite of His discomfort

He still seemed to say, I care.

How could it be possible

That a man in such pain and anguish

Could think of anything other

Than a selfish wish?

A wish to be set free

Even if that escape route was death,

To be freed from this anguish

And enter the folds of sweet rest.

That was certainly my wish

And the wish of the other

But this man, O he was different,

His was another matter.

We were concerned with the now

But he looked to the future,

We were concerned with the me

But he saw a bigger picture.

His agony was obvious

But his words seemed unrelated,

It was though he were free

And his tormentors incarcerated.

“Father, forgive them,” he cried,

This got home to me,

This man was truly different

That I could definitely see.

He would have to be

To have uttered such a cry,

He was in a different frame of mind

Though we all were destined to die.

  

All around they mocked him

Even the other malefactor,

This man had done nothing wrong

But we both were transgressors.

Suddenly I saw my opportunity

And I grasped it with both hands,

I called out, not in desperation,

But in accordance with his plan.

I rebuked the other malefactor

Then confessed we had sinned,

Then I focused right on Jesus

And I said these words to him.

“Lord, remember me,” I cried,

“When you come into your kingdom.”

That day I was promised paradise

By God’s begotten Son.

Shortly after, all was dark

But I beheld a glorious light,

It was the light of sins forgiven

That instant my heart was right.

I heard the centurion confess

He was a righteous man,

I could not agree with him more

He was the sacrificial Lamb.

For a crime he did not die

But for a wretched soul like me,

It was I who had done him wrong

But yet he sealed my destiny.

Not death, the wages of my sin,

But life he freely gave,

In the closing moments of my life

He saved this worthless knave.

Mine was a closeup view

Just like those beneath his cross,

So was my fellow scoundrel

But yet he ended up lost.

To have been that close to Jesus

And yet reject his call

Is like having everything in life

And then to lose it all.

This need not be your lot today,

He beckons with outstretched arms

Bidding all to come to him

In the midst of their alarms.

So, follow my example,

I am one of the malefactors,

Run to Jesus this very moment,

Invite him to be your Saviour.

Stewart Russell © April 2020