Despite the plain teaching of the gospel – “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48) – several standards of judgment exist. Driven by obstinacy and ignorance, men continually refuse the flawless standard of God’s word. Instead they pass judgment on themselves and others without a reliable standard.

Suffering is an age-old standard of judgment men have utilized. In response to Job’s adversity Eliphaz asked, “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?” (Job 4:7). Job must have sinned if he suffered thus. Men told Jesus about others whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices. Jesus responded, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no” (Luke 13:2-3). Jesus’ disciples asked Him about a blind man, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). He explained, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him” (v. 3).

Men assume prosperity is a manifestation of the fear of God. Contrariwise, they assume suffering must manifest a sinful man. This logic is evidence of ignorant, shallow, and carnal mindedness. God is impartial, and “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Solomon noted, “time and chance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Suffering is simply too ambiguous to be a reliable standard of judgment. Instead, “by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20).

Like “The Patternists” page on Facebook!