THE TEST

 

The other day I wrote a post about compassion and I claimed that we are not here to ‘learn and to grow’ but rather to be tried and proven as per the scriptures (Abraham 3:25). One sister thankfully commented: “yet didn’t Christ learn by the things He suffered?”. I immediately recalled the scripture which had not up to now provided a proper understanding for me.

The scripture states: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). I had read this scripture many times and always wondered what the Saviour had to learn when His obedience was perfect even before He came here and then all of a sudden it began to make sense for the first time.

Earthly suffering has the power to create animosity towards God and foster the attitude of disobedience (Job 2:4,5). Many people turn away from God because they cannot accept that He allows bad things to happen to good people.

Over the years I have learnt a lot about the Plan of Salvation but there was always a piece of the puzzle missing for me about suffering. I couldn’t understand why it was so necessary for our eventual rise to godhood. I felt the core reason for it was missing for me. Then two years ago I entered a stage of physical suffering that unbeknownst to me was trying to teach me what I wanted to know.

I still stand by my understanding that we came here to be tried and tested but this time I can see the connection between suffering and this test. The connection is obedience. The test is to prove we will be obedient when it is the hardest to be so. If we can be obedient in our extremities, we have arrived.

I think of that perfect baby in the manger. He who was perfect in His obedience before He was born yet He too had to prove Himself. I think of His earthly life and how that proving ground led Him to HIS extremity – His greatest suffering which forged the example of obedience for all mankind when He uttered: Thy will be done. That’s obedience.

And here is the greatest act of mercy on Father’s behalf. His ability to send us to temporary affliction shows His utmost trust in the process of the Atonement, knowing full well that because of it we would survive the test. Our trust in this most miraculous and supernal gift also would have been supreme when we voted for it. No sane person would accept a painful plan with risk of being lost, without a sure way of eventual escape. It would be like entering a tunnel knowing there is no exist at the end. But because of that babe in the manger there is an exit.

This Christmas I am reflecting not only on His birth but His life of suffering as I accept my  own. And I will give thanks for all He has to teach me…..

The baby in the stable

So innocent and sweet,

On the altar of sacrifice

Lay at Father’s feet.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Heavenly Peace by Eileen Whitehead)