eBiblefellowship (@EBF)

Viktor Frankl, a Jewish psychologist and author who survived the Nazi death camps, pointed out that there were less suicides in the Auschwitz concentration camp than there were in what he called the pampered welfare state of Austria. We might think that it would be the other way around as Auschwitz was a horrendous place for the Jews placed there. And Austria, a modern wealthy nation. Frankl's point was that people can bear or suffer anything when they have purpose or meaning in their life. While many in the modern world have practically every need met-except for the main one-the need for meaning or purpose. God's elect people do have meaning and purpose to their lives. We do not live for ourselves. Our goal in life is not instant gratification or the pursuit of cheap pleasures. Our purpose is given to us by God at the moment He saved us. Obey My Word. Keep My commandments. Follow Me. And God tells us that as we do so we will indeed suffer for His sake: 1 Peter 4: 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. Our suffering is for Christ's/the Word's sake. We suffer in this world as a Christian. That's the good purpose we find in our lives. There is no good purpose in suffering for some sin's sake.