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Suffering Affliction

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Sep 5, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 36.

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Suffering Affliction

By O. B. Kuhn

O. B. KUHN
“In all their affliction he was afflicted.”
In the church of Jesus Christ to-day almost every member is suffering affliction. Many are weakened and handicapped because of diseased bodies and racking pains; some are blind, deaf, lame, or crippled; others may be afflicted in business or social life; and in almost every case the affliction is considered a barrier to spiritual as well as temporal progress. It appears so to the natural eye, and the human heart is caused to cry out, “All these things are against me.”
Often in prayer- or social-meeting the church is requested to unite in prayer for the miraculous healing of some brother or sister. Ministers are appealed to, and the divine power of God invoked to remove the affliction. If it pleases God not to answer their prayers according to their desires, some are cast into discouragement. Satan besets them with unbelief, and causes them to doubt the love, mercy, and divine protection of our Heavenly Father. But God loves us too well and too wisely to answer our prayers always in the way we wish and designate.
In most cases of physical suffering, violation of natural law either ignorantly, deliberately, or indulgently, is the direct cause of the trouble; and should God heal us and we continue the same evil practices and sinful habits, it would be but a little while until we should be as bad as, if not worse than, we were before the healing.
There is a surer way. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” God therefore sends us light; and through the acquisition of knowledge and its intelligent use, we are able to live in harmony with the laws that govern our being. As we thus walk in the light and faithfully live the principles of health reform, our health improves, our strength increases, our powers develop, and our affliction is gradually removed. This process of healing, though slow, teaches us valuable lessons; we acquire knowledge of our physical being and its laws, and become intelligent in regard to disease,—our affliction,—its causes, and its relation to life and health.
“Would you live for Jesus, and be always pure and good? Would you walk with him within the narrow road? Would you have him bear your burden, carry all your load? Let him have his way with thee.
“Would you have him make you free, and follow at his call? Would you know the peace that comes by giving all? Would you have him save you, so that you need never fall? Let him have his way with thee.
“Would you in his kingdom find a place of perfect rest? Would you prove him true in providential test? Would you in his service labor always at your best? Let him have his way with thee.
“His power can make you what you ought to be; His blood can cleanse your heart, and make you free; His love can fill your soul, and you will see ’Twas best for him to have his way with thee.”
Those who think their lot is harder than others’, and believe that they have been especially singled out to be surrounded by evil circumstances and unfavorable conditions, may know “that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world;” for “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 of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” “The Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” “For we have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find their own pleasure in times of prosperity, and it is only through adversity that they will seek the Lord. “When he slew them, then they sought him.” “In their affliction they will seek me early.”
Brethren, let us encourage ourselves in the Lord; “for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Soon Jesus will come and “change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.” Gleams of the golden morning are evidence that the glory of the eternal day is about to burst upon us. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” “And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.”
“And there shall be no more curse:” for “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” “He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.” O, hasten, glad day! “Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”