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| Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. |
What was to be done?
It had all seemed so harmless and even justified. But now, a completely unexpected turn of events had landed into the present state of affairs, leaving only regret and turmoil in its wake. What had begun as a routine strategy was now becoming a major tragedy.
The seer had just delivered a message of heart-rending proportions. His words were neither flowery nor minced. The king’s political secret had been uncovered, his error exposed. Now a difficult choice lay ahead of him.
He had to decide between three calamities. He knew each item on the prophet's list would leave behind disastrous results. The elevated position of authority he held meant his decisions had widespread consequences.
His decision to take a census and number God’s chosen people was now leading to a series of complex events.
Caught in the dilemma of a kingdom whose future was now hanging on the scales, hedged within and without by a crushing sense of remorse, grief and despair, there was no escape for him in the natural. At the height of his desperation, he cried out in the presence of the prophet, “I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man.” (1 Chronicles 21:13).
Out of the same ground that a seed of error had been sown, a sobering harvest of repercussions was to be reaped. Why was this principle of sowing and reaping active in the life of a man after God’s own heart? Why is it still active in your life and mine?
Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal. (Job 5:17-18)
Discipline or chastening is not merely a narrative theme in the Old Testament. It is a New Testament reality. True, the death of Christ on the cross removed our transgressions by paying the ransom required to cancel our sin debt and make grace available. However, the right definition of grace is not positive outcomes, feelings, or even favor which is undeserved.
Correction is a part of true grace. In fact, to believe in grace without preparing oneself for discipline, is a contradiction in terms. True grace will inevitably bring about discipline. Every form of correction the Lord brings our way, no matter how severe, is a doorway extended into the knowledge of His ways. The relationship we share with Him is such that we are neither orphans nor stepsons and stepdaughters. Since we are His own offspring, He does not distance Himself from the character and lifestyle issues in our daily walk. To the contrary, He is interested in our motives, intentions, thoughts and situational responses.
And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:5-11)
The Lord knows each of us better than we can possibly know ourselves. Therefore He perfectly understands what is needed in our lives to bring about the fruit of obedience and yieldedness to His will. As a caring Father concerned with our future, He will not deny us that which He knows can bring us to that place of surrender. And surrender is what we require if we are to enter into the fulfillment and heritage of the Kingdom. Moreover, the Bible reminds us blows that hurt cleanse away evil (Proverbs 20:30) and also he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin (1 Peter 4:1-2). We do not need to have lived long to realize that hardship has a way of conveying lessons to us that few other methods can.
Chastening is not sweet. In fact, it can sometimes be quite sour. But this is grace. One who has been through this experience walks in a deepened understanding of the character, nature and ways of the Father. Remember the Lord is not merely building a network of partners, a family of friends or even just a community of churches. What He is building is a Kingdom. This royal purpose implies that there is a structure of authority which requires those who hold office to show themselves responsible with everything that has been entrusted to them. This includes their time, resources and opportunities on earth.
However, when we recognize that the hands of correction over our lives are also the hands of healing, we will not turn away from His presence. We will seek Him with renewed fervor. David realized that despite all what was allowed to happen to him, his only hope depended on his life being completely in the hands of the Almighty and nowhere else.
The discipline we receive from Him refines our motives and builds within us the resolve to walk, not away from Him, but toward Him, for only His presence can sustain us during our season of molding and refining, till we have crossed over to the other side. We emerge then, not sidetracked by the world or ourselves, but more firmly grounded in His truth and imbued with His likeness.
