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==148:5. THE PURPOSE OF AFFLICTION==

==148:5. THE PURPOSE OF AFFLICTION==

148:5.1 At another of these private interviews in the garden Nathaniel asked Jesus: " Master, though I am beginning to understand why you refuse to practice healing indiscriminately, I am still at a loss to understand why the loving Father in heaven permits so many of his children on earth to suffer so many afflictions. " The Master answered Nathaniel, saying:

148:5.1 At another of these [[private]] interviews in the [[garden]] [[Nathaniel]] asked [[Jesus]]: " Master, though I am beginning to [[understand]] why you refuse to [[practice]] [[healing]] indiscriminately, I am still at a loss to [[understand]] why the [[Universal Father|loving Father]] in heaven [[permit]]s so many of his [[children]] on [[earth]] to [[suffer]] so many afflictions. " [[The Master]] answered [[Nathaniel]], saying:

148:5.2 " Nathaniel, you and many others are thus perplexed because you do not comprehend how the natural order of this world has been so many times upset by the sinful adventures of certain rebellious traitors to the Father's will. And I have come to make a beginning of setting these things in order. But many ages will be required to restore this part of the universe to former paths and thus release the children of men from the extra burdens of sin and rebellion. The presence of evil alone is sufficient test for the ascension of man—sin is not essential to survival.

148:5.2 " [[Nathaniel]], you and many others are thus [[perplexed]] because you do not [[comprehend]] how the [[natural]] order of this world has been so many times upset by the [[sinful]] [[adventures]] of [[Lucifer Rebellion|certain rebellious traitors]] to [[the Father]]'s will. And I have come to make a beginning of setting these [[things]] in order. But many ages will be required to restore [[Satania|this part]] of the [[Nebadon|universe]] to former [[paths]] and thus release the [[children]] of men from the extra burdens of [[sin]] and [[rebellion]]. The [[presence]] of [[evil]] alone is sufficient test for the [[ascension]] of [[man]]—[[sin]] is not [[essential]] to [[survival]].

148:5.3 " But, my son, you should know that the Father does not purposely afflict his children. Man brings down upon himself unnecessary affliction as a result of his persistent refusal to walk in the better ways of the divine will. Affliction is potential in evil, but much of it has been produced by sin and iniquity. Many unusual events have transpired on this world, and it is not strange that all thinking men should be perplexed by the scenes of suffering and affliction which they witness. But of one thing you may be sure: The Father does not send affliction as an arbitrary punishment for wrongdoing. The imperfections and handicaps of evil are inherent; the penalties of sin are inevitable; the destroying consequences of iniquity are inexorable. Man should not blame God for those afflictions which are the natural result of the life which he chooses to live; neither should man complain of those experiences which are a part of life as it is lived on this world. It is the Father's will that mortal man should work persistently and consistently toward the betterment of his estate on earth. Intelligent application would enable man to overcome much of his earthly misery.

148:5.3 " But, my son, you should [[know]] that [[the Father]] does not [[purposely]] [[afflict]] his [[children]]. [[Man]] brings down upon himself unnecessary affliction as a result of his [[persistent]] refusal to walk in the better ways of the [[divine]] will. [[Affliction]] is [[potential]] in [[evil]], but much of it has been produced by [[sin]] and [[iniquity]]. Many [[unusual]] [[events]] have transpired on [[Urantia|this world]], and it is not strange that all [[thinking]] men should be [[perplexed]] by the scenes of [[suffering]] and affliction which they [[witness]]. But of one thing you may be sure: [[The Father]] does not send [[affliction]] as an [[arbitrary]] [[punishment]] for wrongdoing. The imperfections and [[handicaps]] of [[evil]] are [[inherent]]; the [[penalties]] of [[sin]] are [[inevitable]]; the destroying [[consequences]] of [[iniquity]] are inexorable. Man should not blame [[God]] for those afflictions which are the [[natural]] result of the life which he [[chooses]] to live; neither should man [[complain]] of those [[experiences]] which are a [[part]] of life as it is lived on this world. It is [[the Father]]'s will that [[mortal]] man should work [[persistently]] and consistently toward the betterment of his estate on [[earth]]. [[Intelligent]] [[application]] would enable man to overcome much of his earthly [[misery]].

148:5.4 " Nathaniel, it is our mission to help men solve their spiritual problems and in this way to quicken their minds so that they may be the better prepared and inspired to go about solving their manifold material problems. I know of your confusion as you have read the Scriptures. All too often there has prevailed a tendency to ascribe to God the responsibility for everything which ignorant man fails to understand. The Father is not personally responsible for all you may fail to comprehend. Do not doubt the love of the Father just because some just and wise law of his ordaining chances to afflict you because you have innocently or deliberately transgressed such a divine ordinance.

148:5.4 " [[Nathaniel]], it is our [[mission]] to help men solve their [[spiritual]] [[problems]] and in this way to quicken their [[minds]] so that they may be the better [[prepared]] and [[inspired]] to go about solving their manifold [[material]] [[problems]]. I know of your [[confusion]] as you have read the [[Scriptures]]. All too often there has prevailed a [[tendency]] to ascribe to [[God]] the [[responsibility]] for [[everything]] which [[ignorant]] man fails to [[understand]]. [[The Father]] is not personally [[responsible]] for all you may fail to [[comprehend]]. Do not [[doubt]] the [[love]] of [[the Father]] just because some just and [[wise]] [[law]] of his [[ordaining]] [[chances]] to [[afflict]] you because you have [[innocently]] or deliberately [[transgressed]] such a [[divine]] ordinance.

148:5.5 " But, Nathaniel, there is much in the Scriptures which would have instructed you if you had only read with discernment. Do you not remember that it is written: `My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction, for whom the Lord loves he corrects, even as the father corrects the son in whom he takes delight.' `The Lord does not afflict willingly.' `Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now do I keep the law. Affliction was good for me that I might thereby learn the divine statutes.' `I know your sorrows. The eternal God is your refuge, while underneath are the everlasting arms.' `The Lord also is a refuge for the oppressed, a haven of rest in times of trouble.' `The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of affliction; the Lord will not forget the sick.' `As a father shows compassion for his children, so is the Lord compassionate to those who fear him. He knows your body; he remembers that you are dust.' `He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.' `He is the hope of the poor, the strength of the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, and a shadow from the devastating heat.' `He gives power to the faint, and to them who have no might he increases strength.' `A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax he will not quench.' `When you pass through the waters of affliction, I will be with you, and when the rivers of adversity overflow you, I will not forsake you.' `He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to comfort all who mourn.' `There is correction in suffering; affliction does not spring forth from the dust.' "

148:5.5 " But, [[Nathaniel]], there is much in the [[Scriptures]] which would have instructed you if you had only [[read]] with [[discernment]]. Do you not remember that it is written: `My son, despise not the [[chastening]] of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction, for whom the Lord [[loves]] he corrects, even as the [[father]] corrects the son in whom he takes delight.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Proverbs#Proverb_.3] `The Lord does not afflict willingly.' `Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now do I keep the [[law]]. Affliction was [[good]] for me that I might thereby [[learn]] the [[divine]] statutes.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Psalms#Psalm_119] `I know your [[sorrows]].[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Exodus#Chapter_.3] The [[eternal]] [[God]] is your [[refuge]], while underneath are the everlasting arms.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy#Chapter_.33] `The Lord also is a refuge for the oppressed, a haven of rest in times of trouble.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Psalms#Psalm_9] `The Lord will [[strengthen]] him upon the bed of [[affliction]]; the Lord will not [[forget]] the sick.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Psalms#Psalm_41] `As a [[father]] shows [[compassion]] for his children, so is the Lord [[compassionate]] to those who fear him. He knows your [[body]]; he remembers that you are dust.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Psalms#Psalm_103] `He [[heals]] the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Psalms#Psalm_147] `He is the [[hope]] of the [[poor]], the [[strength]] of the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, and a shadow from the devastating heat.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.25] `He gives [[power]] to the faint, and to them who have no might he increases [[strength]].'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.40] `A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax he will not quench.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.42] `When you pass through the waters of [[affliction]], I will be with you, and when the [[rivers]] of [[adversity]] overflow you, I will not forsake you.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.43] `He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to [[proclaim]] [[liberty]] to the [[captives]], and to [[comfort]] all who [[mourn]].'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.61] `There is correction in [[suffering]]; affliction does not spring forth from the dust.' "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Job#Chapter_.5]

==148:6. THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF SUFFERING—DISCOURSE ON JOB==

==148:6. THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF SUFFERING—DISCOURSE ON JOB==