Why do people suffer and live with affliction on the earth? Why do born-again Christians suffer and experience affliction and torment after they have accepted the blood to atone for their sins? Hopefully you are about to find out the reason and the cause for these earthly maladies that seemed to plague all humanity. First off, there are certain religions that teach one must punish themselves as it were, to atone for their sins; this is not what this study has found in the Bible. In the beginning Adam and Eve were given a choice to obey God or not to obey, they chose the latter. They made this choice to rebel through their free-will. As such, GOD had to institute a plan to deliver His creation from corruption. Thus we read in Genesis chapter three,
"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." Genesis 3:16-19
I want you to start to see the cause for this curse of applied suffering that was spoken upon the man and the woman. The cause was that the free-will by design, was able to separate mankind for their Creator. It was able to choose it's own path in life, its own eternal destiny. I have often said that "the soul is one of the most frightening things on earth; it alone has the ability to choose life and death. It alone has the ability to choose God or Satan. It alone will place one in Heaven or in Hell according to the choices one makes on this earth to obey GOD'S Word or not.
Now let us understand GOD'S reasoning behind this ingrained curse that was placed upon the flesh. As previously stated, some religions teach one must atone for their own sins through physical scourging or some form of carnally derived chastisement that will never be able to truly deliver them from their sinful natures. To begin to understand the difference between the suffering GOD has ordained to deliver the soul from its inherent corruption, and what man imagines he must do to appease God, let us start in the Word of GOD.
"Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." Isaiah 48:10
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 1 Peter 5:10
"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." 1 Peter 4:1-2
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:16-18
Be it known, there is a suffering that can come upon us for just being Christians. A persecution that the world puts upon Christians because the people of the world hate GOD and anyone that follows His Word. However, the suffering and affliction that I'm trying to address in this study, is the suffering and affliction that we basically bring upon ourselves. It's the suffering, affliction, and torment that comes because we walk in disobedience to GOD'S known will. In the spiritual realm this disobedience opens doorways for the enemy to come in and afflict us and torment us and bring about a suffering that God allows so we would choose the good and reject the evil. GOD alo uses suffering to humble us so He can bless us.
Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
Psalms 119:21
"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." James 4:6
"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
There are Christians that will seek out faith healers or those with the gift of healing to try and deliver them from their afflictions, and yet this affliction is the very thing that will ultimately deliver their souls for eternity from the power of darkness. There was a brother named Dumitru Duduman who was sent from GOD to America back in the 80s and 90s to warn the people and the Christians of the coming destruction of America because America had and has turned its back on GOD. Dumitru's grandson now operates a website and a ministry where you can search out the many dreams and visions Dimitri was given while he was alive (see link). Dumitru was given a dream back in 1994 in which an angel was describing some of the judgments that would befall America. Then the angel began to speak this to him:
"After saying these words, he [the angel] took out a scroll which began to unroll very quickly. It was so long that I could not see it's end. On this first scroll of paper were written all kinds of names. Beside each name was listed either "punish," a type of disease, (all kinds were listed), "trial," or "torment." Those named will have to go through what is listed by their name, in order to be cleansed and be able to stand." Excerpt from The Three Scrolls July 1st 1994.
Now even though this dream was not taken from the Bible, this principle concerning personal suffering of all types, is found all throughout its pages. We also know the LORD told us He would be giving dreams and visions to brethren in the end times. Just think brethren, how many of us came to accept the LORD through some hardship or fiery trial. When things are going good people have no need for God, sinner or Christian alike. It seems many have backslid because of the prosperity and the abundance that they're surrounded with. Many Christians in America will not be able to withstand the test that is coming upon the land because of the weakness of their faith and the condition of their indulged souls. Complacency is truly the kryptonite of the Christian's bane.
"And his [the Antichrist] power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Daniel 8:24-25
"Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech. Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins." Isaiah 32:9-11
"And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." Luke 12:19
In closing brethren I would just like to say that suffering affliction, physical pain, disease, mental anguish, etc., etc., are just some of the tools the LORD has chosen to purify our souls that we would truly become like Christ. No one truly enjoys suffering or would dare to ask for affliction to come upon them, our heavenly Father knows that. Thus, He allows, and or brings it to serve a purpose. Once that purpose is accomplished, it will not be needed, at least hopefully not as much has some have experienced it in the past. If you're sick, if you're suffering right now, turn to the Father and give Him all of your heart, and all of your soul, and all of your mind. The Father will not despise an offering like that. Cry out to Him with weeping and fasting and the LORD will deliver you from that which He first allowed to bring you closer to Him.