THE PENALTY BOX |
The World, the Word & You!
Broadcast
Commentary by Dennis L. Finnan
“HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING GOOD, OR AT
THE LEAST NOTHING BAD AND FOUND OUT IT NEGATIVELY COST YOU DEARLY?"
I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about this seemingly negative life experiences and the place God has for them in your life…
… Just recently I had the joy of preaching a sermon to some of our nations most precious folks. I was participating in serving our area's elderly by hosting an afternoon services on Sunday there. My message to them was delivered with the hopes of encouraging them in their difficult years as they faced eternity to come. My text was Deut. 11:11 where God spoke through Moses to the people of Israel as they contemplated entering the PROMISED LAND. God said:
Deu 11:11 (NNAS) “”But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven,”
That last part arrested my attention, for in strikingly similar ways this is not on the geography of the land of Canaan, but surprisingly the Christian life too! Yes, when one becomes a Christian the path to glory will be one of “hills and valleys.” Now precisely on this theme, I feel compelled to speak to my radio audience today. Perhaps someone out there may be deep in some valley of discouragement, or depression, and may even despair of life. I want to encourage you today, by uplifting Jesus Christ and His sovereign work in the lives of those who truly follow Him. So let's pause right now for another beautiful musical moment and following that I’ll begin today's message for your hope and comfort…
…You're listening to the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and speaking today is your host & commentator, Dennis Finnan. My message is entitled, the PENALTY BOX.
You know., as we go through life, most of us will agree it has some strange twists and turns, regardless of who you are. For uncounted ages, men have pondered the problem of pain, suffering, and despair that often grips us along life's way, and for no seeming reason. Even more, Christians battle with the phenomena of life's penalty box. What I mean is how often, a twist or turn, or even a wholesome righteous action can land us in life's “penalty box.” Perhaps you feel your there today? Or perhaps you've been there before?
With our nation's fragile economic state many folks have suffered financial crises they simply couldn't avoid, or perhaps health problems have robbed you of your dreams for life? Or perhaps a tragic error in your past, an immoral relationship, an act of dishonesty landed you in the position where you feel you will have sit out the rest of your life in the proverbial “PENALTY BOX?” Well, permit me to encourage you today, for God has a plan for everyone's life and indeed PENALTY BOXES are in that plan for every true believer in Jesus Christ.
Now penalty boxes are not just for hockey players, they are God's unique tool to forge and mold His children into the perfection of His own character. Today I want to talk about a man who was forced into a PENALTY BOX in life, that he didn't deserve. How did he fair? I believe God has given us this account so we might take some lessons and know that in every situation, God has a plan to use these hard places to build in us a character and purpose which is priceless and precious.
Today we go to the Book of Genesis where we'll study a man named JOSEPH. The Bible tells us he was the eleventh son of Jacob and first of Rachel. Rachel & Jacob named this promising boy with this name, “Jacob,” to fulfill their hopes and dreams. You see, the name Joseph means "INCREASER." Surely he was to increase their joy and happiness as time marched on. To that we can say he did! He became his father's favorite, over and above the other eleven sons born to Jacob. Joseph grew in wisdom as he was endowed with remarkable intelligence. The Bible says Jacob “LOVED JACOB MORE THAN ALL HIS CHILDREN". Yes, it seemed Joseph was destined for great things. Now the story reveals a day came when Joseph had a strange dream. This dream showed in figure that Joseph was going to one day, take the position of a powerful ruler. Why even his eleven brothers and even his father, one day would bow down to him. The Bible says this dream angered Joseph's brothers who already hated him, and even annoyed his father Jacob. Well the story continues that friction between Joseph and his brothers grew to the point of explosion. They all wanted to do away with him. However, after much discussion, they settled for throwing him in a pit and selling him as a slave to the Egyptians. How tragic! Joseph, a teenager with promise, soon suffered an early “PENALTY BOX” of life, and worse - it was not his direct fault. Well the Bible tells us off to Egypt went Joseph, and his brothers returned home and lied to their father that Joseph was killed by a wild beast. Was this the end? Not according to God. Now Joseph, we're told, was a believer in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, and as such he trusted that through this awful experience, God somehow would make things right. As a slave, all Joseph could do was make the best of things and begin to establish a life of honesty and integrity amidst the circumstances God allowed him to live.
You know life's penalty boxes are often the place where God wants to bring out, in His children,, some of their finest qualities. I guess an old expression in the Christian faith applies to these periods in life. Someone has well said: As believers we are to BLOOM WHERE WE ARE PLANTED! Joseph did just that. His faithfulness in his situation of life drew positive attention. While the rest of the slaves murmured, complained and maintained a bitter spirit, Joseph trusted that God had not abandoned Him, so he patiently waited for God's light and purpose to be revealed. He would not charge God for this terrible quirk of fate in his life.
Now, the Bible says a great military leader in Egypt saw the potential in Joseph and bought him to serve as his personal household slave. His name was Pontiphar, and soon he even elevated Joseph to be head steward of his whole house.
In Genesis chapter thirty-seven, we are told that Joseph met yet another trial. The wife of Pontiphar, while he was away on military duty, attempted to seduce Joseph. This presented a real problem. Though he had been stripped of his right to grow up in a loving household, though his inheritance from his father's home was lost to him now, though his freedom to enjoy life as he pleased had vanished like the morning dew - the Bible says Joseph prospered in all that he did because Pontiphar trusted him. I see a principle here. In whatever life situation God allows us to be, if we act honestly and righteously to it, if we make the best of it to bring God glory - God will prosper us in and through it.
Well, the wife of Pontiphar was determined to have Joseph for her immoral needs. But the Bible says Joseph was loyal to his master and when confronted, he fled the immoral temptation. Now you would think God would honor Joseph for his faithfulness to God and his master here. Surely, the story would turn out rosy. No, in anger at being rebuffed, and fearing being found out, Pontiphar's wife lied and told Pontiphar when he returned that Joseph tried to seduce and rape her. Upon hearing this awful thing, her husband had Joseph thrown in jail. There in the dirty dungeon of life's penalty box, things became as bad as they could be! Ah, but as a result we find that Joseph never charged God foolishly, never complained about his situation. He saw God's hand of love, and waited for God in His time to reveal the purposes for these penalty boxes so cruelly imposed upon this innocent young man.
Well time will not permit the fullness of the story, but the Bible tells that through the sovereignty controlled circumstances of life, Joseph was freed by helping the Pharaoh interpret a troubling dream. His interpretation helped Eqypt avoid a terrible famine to come and for that act, Pharaoh elevated Joseph to second in command of the entire nation! What a path! From life's penalty boxes to become a ruler of Egypt! Now, Joseph was in a position to eventually help his family in their time of famine, and to encounter his brothers once again. The Bible makes clear, rather than getting revenge, Joseph spoke to his repentant brothers these marvelous words of love and faith.
Gen 50:20 (NNAS) “”As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
Yes, life's penalty box brought out some deep character development in Joseph which actually equipped him for greater service later in life. Joseph manifested great godly wisdom, brotherly love, filial devotion and utter submission to God. Indeed, he was prepared through life's tragic and painful negative experiences, to become one of God's finest servants of his day. Now why does God sometimes allow theses “valleys in life,” these “penalty boxes?” I believe the answer is to first of all teach us the needed lesson of servanthood. You see, one cannot reign or rule until one truly learns to be a servant first. By comparison, Joseph is a type of Christ. Jesus came to “serve” mankind, for it was appropriate before He would rule and reign for eternity as a man, He was to be tested by the negative experiences of life. Jesus entered many of life's valleys, but he turned them all into great valleys of blessing! Yet, “ servanthood” wasn't all Joseph learned. Secondly he learned to trust His God in spite of the circumstances and consequences of life. Joseph learned that even when life was slow and oft times negative, God was still working on his behalf. Now don’t ever misjudge here! Silence from Heaven for the believer, is not a sign of abandonment. God is fully aware of all that is happening in your life and mine. In fact, if you are a true believer, the Bible says,
Rom 8:28 (NNAS) “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Joseph’s faith grew deep in the days of darkness, in the days he spent in the “penalty box” of life. But now there's a third lesson Joseph learned and we can too. Joseph learned to obey God's Word, regardless of the situations of life around him. On the contrary, many believers today adjust their standard of conduct by a group's attitude and actions. May I leave you with a phrase that you should commit to heart? Listen to it ¾ "IT'S NEVER RIGHT TO DO WRONG!" That's right, even if the whole world justifies sin, disobedience and carnality of life and living, God's laws and precepts stand for you and me. Joseph learned OBEDIENCE, regardless of all things! So through these purging fires of Joseph's trials, they made him a different, and better man. Oh yes, he had been crushed, hurt, abandoned, cheated, falsely accused. Joseph suffered many things that simply were not his fault. Yet he learned obedience! This is the point to which God wants to bring us all. And, it can best be achieved when God allows us to land in the “penalty boxes” of life, where God can prune us, mold us, crush us, and refashion us into the lovely image of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, many of us are aware of the laws of fruitage which teach ¾ it's the branches that get the pruning knife, that alone bring forth the abundance of fruit.
Well, lastly in our lesson today, may I say this. In all illustrations from the Bible, life's penalty boxes are temporary! You see, Joseph was released from it in time, Moses was released from his in time, Daniel was released, and in the New Testament, Paul the great apostle was released and you my friend, if you are in one of life’s penalty boxes, one day you will be released too! Therefore, let's get our lives in this positive perspective of God. As a Christian, often we'll find that the valleys in our lives are only there, so we might one day enjoy the glorious hills and mountaintops too.
Remember, if you are a child of God, all things are working in life for you, and never against you! You have God's solemn word on that. But, if you are not a child of God, well then, life's penalty boxes may never end, nor may they ever be used for your good and eternal well-being. Today, why not allow whatever circumstance you find yourself in, to bring you closer to Jesus Christ? Remember, the Bible says He is the one who keeps the score, He is the one who's rules we must play life by, and if we are on His side - well then, we can bear life's load, and we can allow the hills and valleys to produce in us a glory and purpose that will glorify our God and Lord. Friend, don't let Satan use these trials in life to destroy you. If you've suffered and as a result maintained a bitter spirit, a complaining, withdrawing attitude- then confess it to Christ, and call upon Him, first of all, to save you from your sins, or if you are a true believer, to forgive you for not trusting that all things are working out for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.
Yes, the PENALTY BOXES of life. You know, if you handle yours right - it may not be that at all; rather, the training ground and school for a greater work and ministry for God's glory and grace t come. Remember as the Bible says, God makes everything beautiful in its time. May God give you faith to trust this in your time of need…
… Perhaps the most beautiful thing we can ever see in life, is how Jesus Christ responded to His trials and suffering. We know He lived a perfect sinless life. He ministered ceaselessly to people, showing them His love and compassion at all times. He spiritually healed the lost and dying; he physically healed the suffering ones, and brought hope and comfort to the confused. Yet He suffered wrongly at the hands of those who should have loved him. The Bible says,
Phil 2:5-8 (NNAS) “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Yes as Jesus himself knew, if you are in the will of God, no matter how dark your situation, remember God is there with you. David the great King of Israel experienced many penalty boxes of life, but it equipped him to write "YEA THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR THOU ART WITH ME. (Psalm 23:4). Let us today take heed to God's choice illustrations to teach us to balance the Christian life. Christianity was never meant to be a life of mountaintops, but hills and valleys, and at times with those unfortunate PENALTY BOXES. May God grant you grace as you experience them, and may they also be divinely used to bring souls to seek the Lord while He may be found. Today, if you've never received Christ, take Him through a prayer of faith, as your Savior and Lord. Trust Him today to save you, keep you and cleanse you from all your sin. Remember, there is no sin, or sins God cannot forgive - if you just call upon Him through Christ to save you from life's sins He will do it! May God add His blessings to these words for Jesus sake, Amen.
· Radio talk #2601
· Broadcast date: July 01, 2001
· Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator
· Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast
· Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 21 years, and serves as General Director.
These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.
For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(dennis@wwy.org),or visit our webpage at http://www.wwy.org/