RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-06-08	Is God Punishing Me For Sins I Committed In the Past?
		Many people think God is up in heaven and is angry with them for something they did in the past. God is punishing them today, they believe, for something they did in the past. They are convinced of this. You have a sense of guilt that you cannot let go. We must keep in mind that feelings can often be deceptive. Just because we feel like something might be true, does not mean that it is true. There are several possible reasons why you are going through whatever you are going through right now, which may or may not have anything to do with things in the past. 1. Our Suffering May be a Test of our Faith. Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, Jas 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Notice that James does not say anything about punishing you for something you did in the past. Two key concepts are “trials” and “patience.” Often God tests us to grow our faith. God knows where He wants to take us into the future, and what He wants to do in your life. And He knows the level of faith you will need in order for you to succeed. 2. Our Suffering May be From Poor Decisions. 1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. There is enough suffering in the world. Do not compound it by self-induced suffering by the decisions we make. We have to be careful that we do not confuse God's chastisement with the consequences of poor decisions. If I gamble all my money away, and I say God is punishing me because I am broke. That is not God punishing me, that is me making a poor decision, and now reaping the consequences for that decision. 3. Our Suffering May be to Help Someone Else. 2Co 1:4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. Paul is saying God is comforting us right now in our troubles so that later we will be able to comfort others that experience a similar suffering. 2Co 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 2Co 1:6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 4. Our Suffering May be From Our Fallen World. Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." We live in a world where bad things happen even to good people. This is part of being in a fallen world. Did I lose my job because I did not pay my tithe last month? This is a mindset where we connect dots that should not be connected. Often, we have no proof at all that the two situations are connected in any way. But because we have a feeling of guilt in our minds we connect unrelated ideas together. 5. Our Suffering May be to Put Our Faith on Display Joh 9:1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. Joh 9:2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. God may put you on display for the world to see faith in God while going through difficult situations. 6. Our Suffering May be the Discipline of God Heb 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM; Heb 12:6 FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." God may be allowing certain things in our life because He is disciplining us in love. There is a difference between discipline and punishment. Punishment insinuates that there is a level of anger that God has toward His children. God does not have those feelings for you. Any anger that God had He took out on His Son on the cross. So now God can relate to us in a spirit of love as a Father towards His children. We want the Lord to chastise us whenever we get out of line. Otherwise it proves we are not really His child (He.12:7-8). Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

23304 E Wellesley Ave. Otis Orchards, WA 99027 Church Office: 509.926.9552 Church Cell: 509.342.9145 Pastor Cell: 509.828.8843 tomelseroad@gmail.com