Imagine spending a whole year studying the problem of evil.
On the surface it sounds a bit morbid, right?
Rather ironically, one of my professors has dedicated his life to studying it…and I found what I’d hope that you find…that the more we realize the that the world’s narrative is messed up, the more beautiful God is. That’s exactly what I found…especially in this next thought.
Today I’m not going to solve that big problem in a short little Sunday reflection, but I want to share with you one little illustration he used that is one way the issue of suffering is kept in perspective. BUT…I’m not going to share it until I read this little devotional, again from the 19th century preacher and theologian Charles Spurgeon who spends a moment riffing on part of Hebrews 13:13:
Let us then go to him outside the camp —Hebrews 13:13a
Jesus, bearing his cross, went forth to suffer without the gate. The Christian’s reason for leaving the camp of the world’s sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but because Jesus did so; and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was “not of the world:” his life and his testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. There has never been such overflowing affection for men as you find in him; but still he was separate from sinners.
In like manner Christ’s people must “go to him.” They must take their position “outside the camp,” as witness-bearers for the truth. They must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and his truth next, and Christ and his truth beyond all the world. Jesus would have his people “go to him outside the camp” for their own sanctification.
You cannot grow in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety; and though the separated life may cost you many pangs, and make every day a battle, yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals himself so graciously, and gives such sweet refreshment, that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in their hours of rest. The highway of holiness is the highway of communion.
It is thus we shall hope to win the crown if we are enabled by divine grace faithfully to follow Christ “outside the camp.” The crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment’s shame will be well compensated with eternal honor; a little while of bearing witness will seem nothing when we are “forever with the Lord.”[1]
Did you catch that last idea… a little while of bearing witness will seem nothing when we are “forever with the Lord?” That’s basically the point my prof was making. Even if you had the worst life ever from the day you were born for 100 years, it pales in comparison to eternity.
Let me take this a little deeper, particularly if it’s been a bit since you read Hebrews or don’t immediately catch some of the deeper inference here.
The letter to the Hebrews speaks a lot about endurance. Toward the end there’s this great bit about all these people who’ve gone before, from Abraham and Sarah to nameless people who’ve been tortured who kept their eye on the prize, and then it closes with our own call to endurance. And in the last chapter the author makes a point that the Jewish culture at that time would have recognized…what happens to the temple sacrifices that were temporary atonement for sin.
Let me close by reading you the broader passage and leaving you with one exclamation point from what Spurgeon said. This is Hebrews 13:7-15.
7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited. 10 We have an altar from which those who worship at the tabernacle do not have a right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that he might sanctify the people by his own blood. 13 Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing his disgrace. 14 For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.[2]
Old sacrifice? Temporary. New sacrifice of Jesus who is eternal? Eternal.
And where do we find hope? Not in rules or spiritual disciplines or doing good works or philosophy. No, it’s in enduring the cost of being a Jesus follower, not being conformed to the temporary fallen world but by being transformed in offering up our own sacrifice of praise to Him who makes possible an eternal restoration with our Maker.
Going to Jesus “outside the camp” is exactly how we keep eternity in view as we live a day at a time.
He loves you. I love you.
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
[1] C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), Heb 13:7–15.