Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:36-38, NKJV).
Chains keep you from acting in your full capacity while being among the company of others. Think stocks and pillory. Prison keeps you from that, as well, but also isolates you from the company of others. Combined, chains and imprisonment are doubly inhibiting, depriving you of virtually all freedom of action and choice.
Christians, especially those referenced above, of whom the world was not worthy, have experienced these deprivations physically in horrid circumstances without recourse or hope of release or escape. In certain parts of the world today, men, women and even children are incarcerated for no other reason than that their faith is considered dangerous, or criminal, or blasphemous.
Jail and worse than jail occur ALL the time to devout believers in lands less "democratic" throughout the planet. Christian martyrdom is, indeed, NOT a thing of the past. Unconscionable persecution, forced familial separation, torture and death are common while also being unheralded in the media. Few are aware of, or take the time to think about, how precious is the West's freedom of religion.
Yet, know this: God is in control. Does that mean He causes these persecutions to happen? It is clear from Scripture that such inhumane treatment of His children is forewarned repeatedly. Jesus taught that persecutions will come, that those who endure with godliness and faith are "blessed" and will receive a "crown of life", and that in this world as believers we are promised tribulation. There is no escape.
And while the more physical manifestations of these trials are often thankfully rare in some societies, their mental-emotional-spiritual counterparts are not.
Whether imprisoned in jail or by chronic disease, bound by physical chains or emotional ones, no true child of God will go without experiencing these torments. Without doubt, these are part of a life of faith.
So then, is God responsible?
The answer can be none other than, yes. But note that "responsible" is not the same as "causing". The Living Lord of the Universe is incapable of causing evil. That is solely the purview of man and fallen angel. When God cursed, rather than destroyed Creation in response to Adam's sin and Lucifer's rebellion, evil entered into existence and was allowed to thrive.
Thus one very real explanation for all the troubles of this life is God's mercy.
One day, that mercy will be exhausted and judgment will be executed, and evil will be done away with forever, but until then, sin and evil must abound, else no flesh would be allowed to live.
Now, these same evils happen to unbelievers, too. But for them, if they persist in unbelief to death, these tribulations serve no purpose. I can think of nothing more tragic then knowing that the horrors of this life, for those who reject Christ's free offer of salvation through faith, are merely a brief prelude to an eternal torment.
But for believers, all such evil does have one or more of three purposes: refinement, correction, and/or empathetic identification.
Being refined in the fire of tribulation is what strengthens faith, character, and Christ-likeness, in preparing us for our true citizenship in Heaven. The dross of our old natures must be burned away in order for us to be purified as fine gold. It is no surprise that repeatedly in the Psalms and Proverbs we see the uncompromising declaration that in suffering, we are drawn closer to God.
In addition, as a loving Father, God must correct His children so that if they no longer hear that small voice within, more undeniable corrective measures must be taken. In the very next chapter of this marvelous epistle we will see that if we are without divine chastening, we are illegitimate and not sons (or daughters).
Finally, in order to comfort others in the way that we are comforted by God, we must know the depths of the same suffering. This is God's design for the church, so sometimes when you are suffering it is because He wants you to be able to empathically identify with another's loss or pain or sorrow.
These three purposes are clearly outlined in Scripture, and we can take great comfort, encouragement and strength, even, or perhaps especially, in the midst of our greatest trials. No such mitigation is possible for those who have rejected Christ.
Know this, beloved of God, no matter how inexplicable, painful, or devastating your chains and imprisonment, because you are His, these are working towards a far greater weight of glory than you can possibly imagine.
By faith we know this to be true, and the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us are ample testimony. Hebrews was written so that we would know… and believe.
