Does God Desert Us?

[C. Matthew McMahon]

I'm starting a new series of tract-like articles that are short, simple and for new converts, or potential converts.

Here is one:

Does God Desert Us? (Part of the "Tract Series")
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon

 

[Herald]

Matthew - I was blessed by your article. It will be a helpful read for those saints who struggle with the issue of assurance. Thank you for writing this edifying and comforting piece.

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

http://www.monergismbooks.com/deserted6912.html

Deserted by God by Sinclair Ferguson is a Great book. Read it years ago along with Behind a Frowning Providence by John Murray.

http://www.monergismbooks.com/frowning572x.html

 

[Ivan]

"Desertions are not the interruptions of God's love, but the acts of His love."

Amen!

Wonderful tract, Matthew. Good meaty stuff.

 

[shackleton]

Suffering

I guess this is similiar to where the WCF says, "5:5 The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season His own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption, and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled and, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support unto Himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends."

Are you saying that God causes us to suffer due to our sin, sort of like punishment? Or are you just saying that if we commit sin we are bound to suffer the consequences?

What did you mean by this? "Christ comes, and if we are not ready for Him, He turns and goes to another house to knock. We may search and seek for days, weeks, months, maybe even years, and still not find Him. The Shulamite was not ready, and so He left and was not found by her. But Christ is always ready to receive a soul that seeks Him in earnest."

Maybe suffering is a part of the sanctification process. We are caused to suffer and as a result we become a better person, maybe even being able to comfort someone in similiar circumstances. Suffering produces character and with this character we are able to better resist sin. During times of suffering we draw closer to God for comfort, deriving our strength from Him rather than from sin where we are accustomed to deriving our comfort.

 

[MrMerlin777]

Good stuff.

 

[C. Matthew McMahon]

Here are a few more:


Free Will

The Glory of Heaven

Graven Images

Hell's Terror

The Hidden God

John 3 and Regeneration

Keeping the Law

The Difference Between Legalism and Obedience

Taking the Name of God in Vain

You Shall Have No Other "gods"

The Christian's Feast

Total Depravity

Why Do You Go To Church?

 

[ChristopherPaul]

If these are tracts, then where are the pictures?