even though I knew that might be dangerous. But what a thrill it would have been to possess the divine power to yank him off his bike and drop him in the countryside where he would be forced to walk home!
If we could be God, we would probably reward goodness and punish evil. But under that system, how could one ever be truly good? If being good were always to our advantage, could we ever really act unselfishly? Could we ever really sacrifice solely for the sake of others?
Good is neither always immediately rewarded nor evil always resisted or conquered.
Today, God is still in charge. Yet there is still suffering, even undeserved suffering. How then do we understand God's role? Is God the instrument of pain or the instrument of comfort? Paul gives a partial answer to this question in his letter to the church at Corinth: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God" (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
I suggest along with Paul that God is not the cause of suffering, but its healer. God is not the creator of pain, but rather the one who hears our cries and offers the presence of the Holy Spirit. God is not constantly slapping our hands, but lovingly offering to walk with us. God is not forever giving out rewards, but instead offers us his guidance through the Spirit and the Word.
By now, surely we have realized that life is not fair. It does not ensure equality. There is no exact justice. Good is neither always immediately rewarded nor evil always resisted or conquered.
Our God comes not to give us pain but to be with us in our pain. God comes as our comforter and invites us to be a part of the healing process. We can comfort others as God comforts them. We can offer our prayers, our cards, our food, our help, our presence. We cannot take the pain away, but we can help others to bear it.
Christians are not ones who are protected from all pain. Rather, Christians are given an antidote. We are given the presence of God, a presence that can offer us power, spiritual healing, and peace.
In my ministry, I have witnessed people in the midst of pain and suffering who have received God's healing presence even in the face of death. I know that these spiritual healings happen. The God I worship is not one who brings suffering to us. Instead, the God I worship offers us loving presence. My understanding of God is like the one Paul describes in 2 Corinthians.
He comes not to punish. He comes to comfort those who suffer. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God" (2 Cor. 1:3-4). So may we all be comforted! So may we all give comfort!
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