Not the life you were hoping for?

"For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just." Romans 3:7-8

Paul continues in Romans chapter 3 offering questions (that perhaps someone in oppostion would pose) regarding the point of God fulfilling promises and taking vengeance.

Paul asks in verse 7, "For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?" Paul's asking what the problem is, if all sin does is magnify God's glory? Why would he have to go through most of what he goes through in 2 Corinthians 11? "...in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one." 2 Corinthians 11:23-24

He even speaks sarcastically concerning "my lie", meaning, "I seem to be indirectly increasing his glory via....my lie." (which really was no lie at all). This reminds me of Joseph back in Genesis. There are many parallels, although it was by far not the same situation.

"And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." Genesis 37:8-9

Joseph, (like Paul) was God's man on the scene at that time, and God gave him the truth (via dreams) to dispense to his audience. Was Joseph "judged as a sinner"? "Slandered"? For speaking the truth that God gave to him? Of course, and by his own brethren. So we see with Paul as well.

Being God's man on the scene may not be the life you were hoping for when you first got saved. You may have trusted the gospel hoping for a life of supernatural healing, a ministry to reach the thousands concerning the book of Matthew, or the book of Romans, or the book of Revelation....and now you find your own family can't stand your doctrinal positions and your friends from school can't take your calls anymore. Not the life you were hoping for when you got saved? Perhaps it's not what Joseph wanted, nor Paul, but they were God's men on the scene at that time, and as we follow Paul today, now we're the men on the scene.

Which means...(as we continue with Romans 3:8) you could very well be 1) slanderously reported....and 2) some (as in...more than one person) could affirm that YOU go around saying things which you never actually said. Just like Paul. I have yet to hear of anyone end up like Joseph, but if you end up being sold to the Ishmeelites, and end up in Egypt...send us an Email. "And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content." Genesis 37:26-27

Our point, is while Joseph is an interesting spiritual lesson only, and the Apostle Paul is our pattern, see how his life is. It's not one of Joel Osteen or Benny Hinn. Paul is accused, in labours, in stripes, in prisons, judged as a sinner, and the list goes on. And he's our pattern.

Paul said to the Colossians "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:" Colossians 1:24 Paul's preaching Christ crucified to a world that doesn't want to hear it. And while he suffers now, he knows there are rewards later. Let's keep going knowing the same thing can be there for us, even if it's not the life we were hoping for when we first trusted the gospel.

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