Sola Bootstrappa Striving
Adapted from Treasures of Faith
Sharon and Chuck Betters
Today’s Treasure
In the past, God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
Hebrews 1:1-2
Suffering drives believers to God but what is it that we want from Him? Do we settle for pat, simplistic, theologically correct answers, or do we hunger for a living knowledge of our heavenly Father? Do we demand tidy formulas that explain everything to our satisfaction, or do we submit ourselves to the One whose thoughts and ways or above ours? Do we simply want to feel better, or do we ask God to equip us to persevere with joy and to encourage and strengthen others in their struggles? Is it possible to experience joy when each new day brings another reminder that we live in a broken and suffering world?
In our own personal search for answers, we soon learned many of the Christian world's recipes for living and cliches dealing with pain were nothing more than man centered formulas rather than true biblical counsel. Instead of encouraging us to live “sola scriptura” (by Scripture alone) they promised “sola bootstrappa” striving. Such striving may give some momentary relief but eventually comes up empty unless it is driven by a vision of God's character in ultimate purposes. What we believe about God is what provides the basis for our worldview, the window through which we view every event in our lives and which determines their responses. Understanding God's ultimate purpose helps us see the trials in our lives, and the scorch marks they leave behind as one of His ways to separate us from our love affair with this world and focus our attention on His eternal perspective. It is not enough to know God's ultimate purpose, however. We must also know Him. Prior to our own painful experiences, we thought we did know God. For years we taught God is the healer of broken hearts and brings beauty from ashes. We faithfully taught if we did what was right and godly no matter how we felt, good feelings would follow. In the hours and months after our son's death, we doubted all of it. Our minds echoed with the self-incriminating scream, “Liar!” We were deaf to God's voice, and our eyes were blind to His gracious, unconditional love. Mark's death seemed to smash our life vision, and we no longer cared about what God's ultimate purpose is. We just wanted our son back.
Ever so slowly and gently God began to restore our spiritual hearing and eyesight through His word and through the testimony of those who came before us. In addition, we are observing this same tender and long-suffering God gently but firmly move our friends from misery to experiencing mercy and then toward ministering to others. Please know restoration does not mean we have a bounce in our steps when we visit the cemetery. God's grace is not an anesthetic. Sometimes God’s restoration simply means we are able to crawl to the bathroom to face the start of a new day. We are learning that is enough. Especially significant in our personal journey has been God's gentle but firm exhortation, written to discouraged Christians and recorded for us in the letter to the Hebrews. Because of their conversion from Judaism to Christianity, these new believers were ostracized and rejected by their families. Suddenly people accustomed to strong family roots had no familiar family structures and faced social, political, and economic persecution. They started their Christian journey with great joy, but serving God in their culture had become terribly difficult. The purpose of the letter to the Hebrews is to exhort these new believers to stay the course, to persevere, and minister to others as they traveled the path marked out for them by God.
In response to the Hebrews feeling God does not hear their prayers for relief, the writer reminds them that God speaks to their needs in a most personal way:
In the past, God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
Hebrews 1:1-2
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Without mentioning their specific sufferings the writer proclaims their Messiah, Jesus, is the” exact representation of God's glory and sustains all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3). His words imply a question, “If our Messiah sustains all things can he not sustain you?” Through his regular use of the Old Testament as his textbook and his steadfast reliance on the sufficiency of Christ, the author of Hebrews reminds new believers of the truth that stands in stark contrast to their feelings.
Their eyes are fixed on the darkness of the present period. In response, their teacher urges them to confidently cultivate intimacy with God. They must understand the sufficiency of what Christ accomplished on their behalf and the truth of God's promises so that He may unbolt them from the cares of this present world by focusing their eyes on their future with Him in eternity. Because of the finished work of Christ, he implores them to experience faith-based living rather than self-sufficient striving. Likewise, friends, God’s Word challenges us similarly to receive the grace gift of Scripture, each verse designed to strengthen our faith, to help turn our hearts toward Jesus.
PRAYER
Father, when our minds are cluttered with fear or confusion, remind us of the grace gift of Your Word. Remind us of how Your word:
…is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
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Sharon W. Betters is the author of Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, co-author of Treasures of Faith. and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture. She is Director of Resource Development and co-founder of MARKINC.org, a non-profit organization that offers help and hope to hurting people. Sharon enjoys quality time with her husband, children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.