Friday 28 February 2014

DO PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY SINNED OR ARE CURSED?

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:1 – 5).

From this event in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Disciples, we can learn some important lessons:

(1.) If a person is handicapped, diseased or going through some seemingly solution-defying life problems or challenges, it does not always mean that he or she is a sinner, a bad person or an evil person. It does not mean that he comes from an accursed lineage. It does not mean that his or her parents are bad or terrible people. Neither does it mean that his or her family is accursed or that their parents have sinned. Although, there are people who are afflicted for these reasons mentioned above; but we cannot judge them (indeed we have no right to, for what do we know?) because for all we know, it could actually be “that the works of GOD should be made manifest through him or her!” Even when they have really sinned or if they are truly accursed, it is still for the purpose that the works of GOD should be made manifest through them! No problem defies GOD’s Power – such people would be saved and delivered if they could but sincerely and wholeheartedly surrender their lives to Christ. People usually assume that anyone who is going through an inexplicable challenge must be accursed by man or that such a person is being punished by GOD for one reason or the other! 

“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1 – 5)

It is easy to point fingers and to forget that the whole of the human race was accursed by the error of disobedience and rebellion perpetrated by our foremost parents, Adam and Eve; but for Christ Jesus, of whom it was recorded:

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:13 – 17)

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

(2.) When people are afflicted in any way, it is an opportunity for them to draw closer to GOD. It is a fact that most people would never even give GOD the time of the day in their minds, not to talk of lives if He does not allow them to be afflicted one way or the other! However, we have to know two things clearly:

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:12 – 17) 

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” (I Corinthians 10:12 – 14)

So, are you one of those people who always mock, scorn, disdain, deride, condemn or criticise other people when you see them passing through their lives’ challenges? Some people have one opinion or the other about what other people are passing through; always ready to imagine the worst and jump to the most seemingly obvious conclusions which are often wrong! They even do worse: they gossip same to other people, thereby tarnishing the image of such people and destroying their reputations (or what is left of its tatters!) before other people! Please stop doing so! 

“Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! When thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.” (Isaiah 33:1)

The root cause of some people’s problems in life is their mouth! They cannot mind their business; they cannot desist from giving their opinions or advice when they are not sought. They take unholy delight in running down other people and they get a weird satisfaction in murdering people with the blades and tip of their tongue-sword! Later, they would start wondering where their own challenges emanated from! 

Please take time to read 2 Samuel 1:1 – 17. You will find there, the story of a man who went to tell David that he had killed King Saul, who had been seeking to take David’s life for a long time. The man thought David would reward him if he claimed he had killed Saul when actually 
he had not! The reward he got was the loss of his own life because David believed him, and he accused him of not being afraid to lay his hands on the Lord’s anointed?

Mind your life; face your own business and challenges! Do not utter profane or evil words that would bring swift judgement upon you or your children! Your own life’s issues and challenges should be sufficient for you without you adding those of other people to it!

For instance, when some people see a lady who is advanced in years yet unmarried, they would instantly say: “Oh, she has spurned all the suitors who approached her when she was younger!” When some see a woman who has been married for many years without children, they would conclude: “Oh, she has aborted all the children in her womb!” Some people, when they see an old man or woman, labouring in old age when they should be resting or enjoying the care of their 
descendants, they would say: “Ah, when his mates were working, he was busy playing in his younger years!” How did you know? Were you there? “Enu re o ni ko ba o!” Your mouth nor go put you for trouble!

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:1 – 5)