In my early days I spent a considerable
In my early days I spent a considerable amount of time looking into this problem of suf fering, but because my knowledge of the Lord was superficial, I was only able to draw these conclusions from my studies: (1) Man is prone to error; therefore, suffering is necessary for his correction. (2) Suffering is needful if we are to comfort others, for only they who themselves have suffered can truly help other people. (3) The discipline of suffering is essential if we are to acquire endurance, for, as Romans 5:3 says, "Trib ulation produces endurance." (4) Suffering is in evitable if we are to be molded into vessels that will be of use to God.
I admit that these four conclusions that I came to in my youth are all correct, but they come short of the mark. The ultimate object of all suf fering is the accomplishment of God's eternal purpose. That purpose has been revealed to us through the Scriptures, but it can be realized in us only through suffering. And its realization involves an experiential knowledge of God not only as the living God but also as the God of resurrection.
The experience of every saved person pro vides at least some evidence that God is the living God, but comparatively few of the saved realize