Tags

, , ,

20140125-120144.jpg
Question: Does God restrain evil in your life?
————
Acts 21
30 And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.
31 Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
———–
Abagus’ prophecies were beginning to come true. The Jews had seized Paul, and they were ready to kill him. But providentially, word of this gets to the Roman commander who came down and saved Paul. V32 And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

This verse reminds me how God allows bad things to happen, but at the same time He restrains the bad things from being completely destructive.

Adam and Eve should’ve immediately spiritually and physically died from God’s presence when they sinned, yet God showed grace. God covered them in animal skins and they continued to live but with curses.

When the earth was so deep into sin, God judged it with a flood, but He saved eight souls in the ark.

Satan needed permission to give Job his troubles. God allowed Satan to take away his property, his children, and even his health, but God said do not take his life.

God restrained Abraham from sacrificing Isaac.

Israel and his sons were spared from starvation by Joseph in Egypt.

God spared the Israelites from slavery by Moses.

Those Israelites who looked to the bronze serpent were spared from death.

Even when the whole world was plunged into sin, some will be saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

God had more to do with Paul, more suffering in prison, more writing of the epistles, more testifying of Christ. Paul was spared. Through God’s providence, the Roman commander saved him from being beaten to death.

If we examine our trials and our discipline from God, we will see that it could have been so much worse, but God restrains evil and gives us grace. He makes away to escape.

When his purposes are complete in us, our relief and escape will be death itself. But not a scary death, but the Bible calls it a sleep. And who doesn’t like a good sleep. Though our bodies will sleep, our soul’s eyes will see that we are in his bright and loving presence.

Are you in a deep trial or affliction? Trust Him. A relief or escape will come. However, It may not be a perfect relief or escape in this life. Adam was saved from immediate death for his sin, but he endured the curse of laboring in thorns. Isaac was saved, but still had other trials in his future. Noah was saved, but had much labor left and the cursing of his son, Ham. Israel and his sons were saved from starvation in Egypt, but then there was a new Pharaoh who knew not Joseph. God used Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, but then they endured the wilderness for 40 years. The Israelites who looked at the bronze serpent were saved, but they still had many trials left in coming and taking the promised land. Paul here was saved from the beating, but then he was held in captivity. We are saved through Christ, but we are still in a sin-fallen world. Endure till the end and you will be saved. Endure hardness as a good soldier.

In those long trials, He is patient to relieve us, and the suffering will be long. He will bring us right to the brink, but then He will give relief.

And then one day
I’ll cross the river
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain
And then as death
Gives way to victory
I’ll see the lights
Of glory and
I’ll know he lives

God bless, Bob.

http://www.twitter.com/smallgroupbible
http://www.facebook.com/smallgroupbible