📖First Chapter: The Beauty of Tribulation by J.A. Cox #firstchapter

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Title: The Beauty of Tribulation

Author: J.A. Cox

Publisher: J.A. Cox

Publication Date: August 28, 2020

Pages: 98

Genre: Christian Nonfiction

The Beauty of Tribulation was written to provide answers based upon scripture to help us understand things such as:

The purpose of tribulation in the life of a believer.
Reasons why it is necessary.
How God uses it for our edification and his glory.
How God is not the author of our tribulation.

At the root of it, the greatest purpose is to depict the beauty of our painful, frustrating, and most hopeless moments when we allow God to complete the work he is trying to accomplish through them. As you turn the pages of this book you will be taken on a journey that will delve you deep into the tribulation process and come away with a firm understanding of it, perhaps like never before. Every premise is backed with scripture, focused on what the bible says rather than my own ideas.

J.A. Cox hopes that all who read will walk away with a greater appreciation and devotion toward the Lord in regard to this troublesome subject and inevitable part of our lives.

PRAISE:

“…I think The Beauty of Tribulation will be relevant for Christians seeking a deeper understanding of their faith, as well as for those grappling with questions about the presence of evil in the world and the nature of divine justice. Cox’s approach which blends insightful queries, scriptural citations, and logical explanations, facilitates a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. The book encourages a connection to the experiences of Jesus and offers a perspective on suffering as a path to dignity and honor, both in heaven and on earth. Its insightful and reflective nature makes it a valuable read for people looking to deepen their understanding of Christian theology and the human experience within it.” – The Literary Titan

You can pick up your copy at Amazon or Kobo.

First Chapter:

Tribulation is the most abundant commodity that everyone is looking to sell but no one is willing to buy. It is an experience so common to mankind that it transcends social, cultural and language barriers. It requires no introduction or explanation.

We commonly associate the following with it:

1. Suffering.

2. Adversity.

3. Trial.

4. Pain.

5. Temptation.

6. Infirmity.

It is safe to assume that the general perception of tribulation is not positive, and we desire to avoid it as much as possible. This places a Christian in a precarious position.

This is the case when we consider what God’s word exhorts:

1. To count it all joy, James 1:2,3.

2. To greatly rejoice in it, 1 Peter 1:6.

3. To not think of it as strange, 1 Peter 4:12.

4. That we glory in it, Romans 5:3.

5. Paul expressed exceeding joy in it, 2 Corinthians 7:4.

6. We must experience much to enter God’s kingdom, Acts 14:22.

In regard to such maybe you have thought the following:

1. Okay Paul, I know you were a great man of God and had endured much hardship but I’m having a difficult time finding joy in this.

2. Is there something wrong with me if I have no joy in suffering?

3. Why must we go through tribulation?

4. Why does God allow us to suffer?

5. Do we experience tribulation as a form of punishment?

6. Does tribulation mean that God has forsaken me?

I realize that these are thoughts believers scatter from as roaches do from the light. This is done out of a fear that entertaining such could give authority to them as well as make it a reality. While there is truth in that line of thought, the realization of that reality is on a conditional basis. In other words, those thoughts would not manifest without effort being put into making them so or a lack of effort to bring them about. There is also an equivalent level of danger in believing that a Christian is above such lines of thinking. It is also devastating to deny their reality. Those types of thoughts are a natural and unavoidable occurrence generated from our unconverted body. Also, another truth needs to be realized, your tribulation is not being orchestrated by God.

A Matter Of Perspective

Understand this, believers and people in general don’t always view tribulation in a negative light. This is true when it is painful, humiliating or even exhausting.

Hush my mouth, right. That must have been a Freudian slip.

Relax, it was deliberate. The reason this is so has everything to do with personal gain.

Do you like math?

I know that I am not fond of it, but we will use some basic greater than less than to convey a point.

The following involves tribulation in regard to personal gain:

1. When the view of the tribulation experience is considered greater than the view of personal gain this equals a rejection of the tribulation being experienced.

2. When the view of the tribulation experience is considered less than the view of personal gain this equals an acceptance of the tribulation being experienced.

Let’s first take a look at some instances that people accept the tribulation being experienced because the view of perceived gain is greater:

1. Our first example is a professional body builder. They are willing to endure agonizing soreness of muscles, perspire heavily, and undergo rigorous training for several hours to obtain their well sculpted body so that they can receive financial compensation, fame and trophies.

2. Next, we have the ambitious entrepreneur. They will exhaust the health of their mind and body and work long hours, even at the cost of depriving loved ones of needed time, to the extent of separation or infidelity. It doesn’t matter how obvious the deterioration of their physical health is, they will continue to burn the candle at both ends just to acquire that promotion, million-dollar deal or admiration they are seeking.

3. Let’s talk about Thrill seekers. They are willing to go on national television and face their worst fears, suffer public humiliation or even tempt fate attempting death defying feats all in the name of fame or fortune and many times both.

4. Last, we have the expecting mother. Not many women after cuddling with that newborn bundle of joy would not be willing to say the weight gain, dislocated organs, emotional roller coaster and so on was not worth it or that they are not willing to do it all over again for the joy set before them.

Now let’s look at some instances in which people reject the tribulation being experienced because the view of perceived gain is less:

1. Let’s say that things have been hard financially, and you get a raise, bonus, or just come into a large sum of money and then all of a sudden, a major repair is needed on the house or vehicle. Why is it that this scenario seems to be tied to financial gain so often right?

2. Perhaps you made plans to meet up with a special someone or go let off some steam with a buddy and as you happily dart out of the house you just so happen to notice that one of your tires are flat or maybe you locked your keys in the vehicle and you don’t have a spare.

3. Maybe you are excited to go see family you have not seen in quite some time and the plane tickets are already purchased but you suddenly get urgent news that one of your family members are in ICU and you are asked to get there as soon as possible.

4. Possibly you have been suffering with an infirmity for years and no matter how much you or others have prayed God does not take it away.

In the instances mentioned above, when an individual perceives a much higher personal gain for what they must endure to obtain it tribulation is viewed in a positive light. This is indicative of our human nature for sinner and saint alike, to view tribulation in such a light. Under normal circumstances there is no error in doing so because it is natural. The problem is when we only perceive tribulation in this manner. This is especially so for a Christian in light of what the scriptures that have been shared have to say about tribulation. The question that needs to be addressed is why is it when we don’t perceive our gain of reward to be significant enough that we reject the tribulation being experienced?

Let’s address some things that distort the believers view of tribulation:

1. We fail to realize that tribulation is not God motivated but a result of the presence of sin in this world.

2. Because of sin: the world is cursed, things must be gained by much labor, disease exists, there is death, there is sorrow, we suffer, we are divided, and natural disasters occur.

3. Even though God initiated the curse, man was warned of the results of his disobedience but rebelled anyway and God by his righteous nature kept true to his word.

4. We have a misinterpretation that just because God blesses our obedience that for some reason we are excluded from further tribulation, God is love after all right.

The greatest problem with Christians in general is just as the ancient Israelites from the fourth plague of flies to the ninth of darkness, we desire to remain in the safety of Goshen while Egypt is destroyed. Here is the news flash, God never intended to leave them in Egypt nor its vicinity, which is why he passed over all the land with that final deadly plague. Also, when we look at Matthew 5:45, we come to understand that the rain falls on both the just and unjust alike. Also, in Matthew 7:25 – 27, we see that both the house of the foolish and wise man was subjected to the rain, floods, and wind. One may respond and say that we are exhorted by God’s word that fervent faith based prayer avails much, read James 5: 15,16. We are also provided with the example of Elijah praying for the rain to cease and then later on for it to begin again. God makes it clear that he answers prayers and that is not being spoken against. Scripture clearly tells us to seek, ask and knock as found in Matthew 7:7 and to pray and not faint as it says in Luke 18:1 and that God will avenge those who cry unto him such as stated in Luke 18:7.

However, let’s consider this:

1. Just because he answers prayer it doesn’t mean the rain will be stopped immediately. The rest of Luke 18:7 says that God will avenge though he bears long with his children.

2. In Matthew 7:7 it does not say after you seek, knock or ask a specified number of times that you will then receive.

3. In the account with Elijah it was not until after the seventh time that his servant checked that he saw the little rain cloud.

4. Paul sought earnestly for the thorn in his flesh to be removed but it was not.

It is clear that God answers prayer. It is also clear that even when he delays or doesn’t that we must remember as Isaiah 55:9 says, his ways are higher than ours and 1 Corinthians 2:16 who hath known his mind. In other words, whether we like it or not or understand it or not, things are the way they are because he has a plan that he is working. An essential part of that plan lies in us enduring the tribulation instead of it being resolved. You will come to understand a reason for this as well as gain meaningful answers and conjecture to the negative thoughts and questions surrounding tribulation as we make our way through this book.

About the Author:

J.A. Cox is a husband, father and disabled veteran. He is passionate about Jesus Christ and has a desire to allow God to use his writing to bring glory to his name and reach others for him. His other passions lie in: 1) Empowering people by teaching about things that he is knowledgeable in in a simple and fun as well as interesting manner. 2)Inspiring others that they may realize how the true potential to overcome their perceived dilemma lies right between their ears and how they allow it to manipulate what their eyes behold. 3) Helping people to realize that being healthy truly begins with realizing how important it is for them to be intimately acquainted with their own body in order for others to help them resolve its maladies that beset it. Along with those, he enjoys entertaining with fiction based on the concept that fact is stranger than fiction and then stretching it just a tad to create some memorable page turning moments that you will likely recall for some time to come.

Author Links

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