Caerwent Evangelical Baptist Chapel

NEWSLETTER

April 2002

Dear Sufferers, I began to write on another subject but then redirected my thoughts, because there is so much sadness and suffering in and around the village at the moment. Within the Chapel some of our most faithful people have had some horrible experiences and I know that they are by no means unique. Almost everyone you meet has a sad tale to tell of illness, suffering and death. Most of you will have seen something of the recent terrorist attack with hand grenades on a church in Pakistan. I understand that the man leading that church, and who was amongst those injured, belongs to a family well known in this country. His father was at one time pastor to some people from this village living in Wrexham. There is a great mystery in suffering. Some of the most wicked people on earth seem to be full of health and free to do all manner of evil in the world. At the same time some of the most godly, kind and Christian people suffer all manner of ills and often repeatedly so. One of the oldest stories in the Bible is about a man called Job (pronounced 'robe' not 'rob'!). He evidently suffered because he was good and godly. The story tells how the enemy of our souls attacked him in many devastating ways, but also how God gave him permission to launch his attack - Satan was allowed to ruin the life of Job. Job has become known for his patience and after the most severe testing his faith triumphed, God was glorified and many of his former blessings were restored to him. The point is that in the lives of those whose faith is in the living God there is always purpose and meaning underlying everything. This is not at all evident to our less than all-seeing eyes. Sometimes it is true that "time will tell", but often time refuses to tell. Some things only eternity will reveal. Jesus suffered. He suffered and died upon a Roman cross. He died for us. One thing we need not suffer for is our own sin. We believe that Jesus gave himself to suffer in our place that we might be free from the burden of sin and its punishment forever. But Jesus did not only die, he rose again from the dead, he conquered sin and death and hell. Jesus lives. He lives to comfort those who mourn. He lives to strengthen those who are weak. He lives to encourage those who trust. He lives within the believing heart. If you are a Christian - nobody is nearer to you than Jesus Himself (Luke 24:15) If you are not a Christian - the door is open -come and welcome to Jesus Christ. He lives to receive those returning from sin. He lives still to pardon and cleanse us within. He lives to humble those who are strong. He lives to challenge those who are wrong. He lives to strengthen the souls that are weak. He lives to be found by the sinners who seek. The path of suffering may be a mystery - The way of Salvation is not! With our prayers Eddie Jones Pastor

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