The young college student asked his mother, interview style, “Well, how does it feel to know that your life is more half over?” His mother was surprised at the question, “out of the blue.” She replied, “Well, I don’t know. I am so busy that I haven’t given it much thought.”

It wasn’t many days thereafter that both mother and son gave the question of life some serious reflection. Being Christians, they both understood the frailty of human existence in an “intellectual” way. But emotions were touched deeply when the young man’s life was jeopardized while fishing with friends in the Pacific Ocean. Suddenly, the boat began to take on water; subsequently it capsized. Sharks had been seen in the water earlier that day. Several had failed to wear life jackets. Perhaps it was the providence of God that there was another boat in the area. Thanksgiving ensued upon their rescue.

However, only six months later, the young man and his family were traumatized when he was seriously injured in a gun accident. He was visiting friends. His host wanted him to try target shooting with his “muzzle loader.” The gun exploded. Moments later he was laying on a gurney in tremendous pain waiting for major surgery to his face and head. Months of healing brought a great deal of reflection. He would never feel the same.

Every person will face some sort of challenge. Broken hearts, grief, broken limbs, cancer, heart disease, and all that goes with aging could be listed along with a myriad of other things. Suffering forces us to look to the Source of life for answers for complex questions.

Life Is Certain, Only In Its Uncertainty

Come now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that. But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil. To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin (James 4:13-17).

What was James saying? Even a cursory examination of these verses reveals that we are exhorted to stop assuming that we can completely control our fates. Any individual who has faced tragedies or heart-aches of one kind or another, ought to understand what folly such a disposition is. The brother of Jesus elaborates on the brevity and uncertainty of life. Our lives are like mist from a boiling teapot, which appears momentarily, and then disappears. Job understood this fact, “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle” (Job 7:6).

The transitoriness of life and the inevitability of death are familiar themes to all Bible students. Again and again the writers thereof have ? sought to impress us, with vivid figures, to this end. Life is by them compared to water spilled on the ground, to a flying shadow which flits across the sky and in whose shade the toiler rests briefly and looks up only to find that it has flown away; to a frail and fragile flower; to sleep, to a dream, to a handbreadth, to a shepherd’s tent which has been removed, to a tale that is told, to a long journey one is about to undertake (Guy N. Woods, A Commentary on the Book of James, Nashville, TN, Gospel Advocate Company, 1964, p. 249).

Since our lives are so uncertain, how can we face another day?

How can we cope with the sorrows we are sure to bear? The Lord will show us the way. Was not the Lord the “man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3)? How did he face each day and especially the days before the cross? Answering that question will help us face the days ahead and our own demise. The Lord suffered the opposition of religious leaders, separation from his Father, his loss of rank, and physical agony. Yet he endured because of the “joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2-3). Note James Burton Coffman’s comments:

“’The joy that was set before him’ was the joy of reversing, at last, the tragic defeat of humanity in the Paradise of Eden; the joy of knowing that Satan’s purpose of destroying man was foiled; the joy of ‘bringing many sons unto glory’ (2:10)?” (Commentary on Hebrews, Austin, TX, Firm Foundation Publishing House, 1971, p. 314).

In a website article, Wayne Jackson writes, “Can we fathom the depth of love that Jesus Christ had for lost humanity? The horrors of Golgotha paled into insignificance when the Savior contemplated the refreshing salvation that would be available for all who choose to obey him (Heb. 5:9). This is absolutely astounding. How utterly selfish our own level of dedication appears by comparison” (Christian Courier.com, For the Joy that Lay before Him, May 24, 2001, http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/read/for_the_joy_that_lay_before_him).

His joy was salvation for those he loves, the completion of the plan of redemption, and heaven as the home of the redeemed. If we do our best to emulate him, we can endure. We may suffer the hardships of this life, but we can hold on and not lose heart or faint (Hebrews 12:2-3).

The apostle Paul also discusses hardships. From prison, he wrote, “I can do all things, through Him that strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). In context Paul was discussing provisions of daily needs. Some days he did not even have the basics of food and warmth. Yet, he says, “I have learned in whatever situation I am in, to be content” (vs. 11).

James further instructs us, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing the testing of your faith produces patience.” (1:2). It is in those situations of sorrow and troubles that we can find opportunities to grow. We may become irritated with ourselves when we aren’t joyful during trials. But we can count it joy as we discover the good that can come from the trials that we face. When we endure with faith, we can learn to be content, in spite of our plight. If Paul had to learn to be content, surely we must also.

Jesus taught, “He who is faithful in very little is faithful also in much, and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much” (Luke 16:10). Though that context has to do with stewardship of money, that principle applies to various “disciplines.” If we learn from the “smaller” hardships in life with the disposition that we ought, we will be training to endure those more difficult times that lay ahead. Those times of testing prepare us for winning the next battle that we will have with Satan, who seeks to break us down.

Those boastful brethren that James rebuked were the types of people who wanted to be known for what they had done, for what they were going to accomplish or for how much money they made on their own. They were self-centered and self-serving. They neither considered the Lord’s will nor the uncertainty of life.

Should we be busy trying to accomplish things? Absolutely! Should we lay out plans to work in an organized fashion? More should! But life is one of transition. Plans can be changed in a moment by a death or some urgency. Okay then. What do we do? How do we cope? How do we plan?

“Fix our eyes on Jesus!”

Again the Hebrew writer tells us: “looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (12:2). (cf. A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament, http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/RobertsonsWordPictures/rwp.cgi?book=heb&chapter=012&verse=002&next=003&prev=001). Christ is held up as an example of determination and steadfastness. He was not deterred from his goal. Looking to the Lord as our Mentor and our Savior will help us endure, and set in our conviction that we will receive the promises of God.

Let us focus upon the glory and rest that awaits us if we stay the course (cf. Colossians 3:1-4). We have a high calling in Jesus to live righteously though we may suffer (Philippians 3:7-14). The faithful Christian is seeking to grow in contentment and righteousness. This contentment is not the giggly foolishness of the empty headed. And it can be had though tears may be running down our cheeks. Rather it is an abiding knowledge and satisfaction that this life is not all there is. Heaven will be realized eventually.

Many brethren have been great examples through severe hardships. Brother Dan Winkler recently spoke at the Freed-Hardeman University lectureship. His family has endured the tragic loss of his son. He referenced this loss in his lesson “Preserving a Godly Trust.” That powerful lesson touched the hearts of many. In spite of the tremendous sorrow, the Winkler family has remained steadfast. How? They have held on through their confidence in the Lord. You are encouraged to listen to that lesson. (http://web.fhu.edu/lectures/lect_20070208_0730pm.mp3 . Note: It may be slow to download. Or you can order an audiotape for $3.65 plus shipping http://web.fhu.edu/rs%5Fstore/default.aspx).

Preparation for the “evil days” must be made before they come. And they will come, if they haven’t already. Unless our hearts are saturated with the word of God, unless our hearts are tenderized with the knowledge that God is trustworthy, we will not remain faithful. Have we prepared? We must. Not by laying great plans of our own. But by being “enlightened” through learning about “the hope of his calling” and the “richness of the glory of his inheritance” (Ephesians 1:17-18) and living the words, “If the Lord wills we will live, and do this or that” (James 4:15).

Suggested Reading

Jason Jackson, A Prayer of the Afflicted, A Study of Psalm 102http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/read/a_prayer_of_the_afflicted_a_study_of_psalm_102

Wayne Jackson, Is Suicide the Answer http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/read/is_suicide_the_answer

Wayne Jackson, The Value of Human Suffering http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/read/the_value_of_human_suffering

Wayne Jackson, Is Jesus the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53? http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/read/was_jesus_the_suffering_servant_of_isaiah_53