Page 38 - Evidence of Things Unseen

would ooh and ahh when they walked into the room. God in His wisdom knows just how
to discipline His children, and this child of His was not permitted to enjoy the fruits of
disobedience. All my labor went to another man to enjoy. When God had me sell my pick-up
truck, and then my Tracker, this pattern was continued. Those things purchased through
debt and disobedience He would not allow me to keep and enjoy.
Even though God’s hand of discipline was upon me at this time, so too was His hand
of mercy and grace. Although I had to sell the house I had fixed up, He had another house
prepared for us, and He provided just the amount of money we needed to move in. With His
grace came some discipline, and the vehicle I loved was part of the price.
I was learning lessons through all these things, and I was seeing how important were
both faith and obedience. When God wanted to lead us into some new thing He would
require faith on our part. For every act of disobedience He would also administer His
discipline. How wise a Father He is. He does not allow His children to run around
uncontrolled without disciplining them. As Paul wrote:

Hebrews 12:8-10
But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are
illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline
us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of
spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but
He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

Is it not a great manifestation of unbelief that so many Christians call God their
“Father,” but they do not believe He disciplines them? What kind of a Father would He be
if He did not discipline His children? What would we think of a man who let his children
run around like a bunch of hellions without ever correcting them? We would not think very
well of such a man. It does not speak well of many Christians’ conception of God when they
do not recognize, or admit, His hand of discipline in their lives.
One thing I was to learn clearly in upcoming months and years was that, even when
God disciplines us, He does not abandon us. I would not be a very good father if I told my
children that they would no longer be given food, clothing, or a place to sleep while they
were under my discipline for some infraction. No! I might put them on restriction, or give
them a paddling, or ask them to make some type of restitution for their transgressions, but
I would not withhold from them that which is necessary for them to live. Neither has God
ever withheld any necessary thing from us during the times of our discipline.
Saints, I want to encourage you all to consider this. God is a much better Father than
we are, yet Satan loves to torment us with thoughts that God has totally forsaken us due to
some transgression. This is pure balderdash. There is not a thread of truth in it, yet I myself
have spent many a worrisome day wondering whether God was still with me, filled with
concern as to whether He would provide the necessities of life for my family and I. Listen
to the words of Scripture:

Romans 8:15-16
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have
received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit
Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God...