It matters not who you are, or where you live, how old you are, how young you are, how rich, how poor, we all face challenges. That’s really not a new thought, but it especially hits home at some point or another.
The past weeks, months, and years have been trying for each one in some way or another, and we have the promise that there will be more tests ahead. Wait! Don’t shrink back in despair; God has a plan and purpose for us. He has help available for us. He is not surprised by what is happening, or by what is going to happen. He is prepared! Are we?
I have explained many, many times to people going through trials that these are our ‘faith exercises’, our ‘spiritual work-out sessions’. The Lord in His mercy is seeking to help us to be strengthened, to be strong and to trust Him no matter what the circumstances are around us. The events ahead will call for a faith that cannot be lessened.
One of my favourite stories is a vision written down over a hundred years ago. It is the story of a large group of people heading to a better land. They begin the journey with all of their precious stuff loaded on wagons pulled by horses and onward they go. But the way gets steeper, the path gets narrower, the wagons are too large, the stuff too heavy and the load must be lightened.
As the path continues to climb, the ones who didn’t give up already are down to bare feet and the clothing on their back. How can they continue through the hardship, through the pain, through the trials of the way up? Cords are let down the side of the steep cliff on one side to hold onto so that they do not fall down the steep cliff on the other side of the very narrow path. They grab the cords and as they continue to climb, more and more weight, more trust is placed on the cords, which surprisingly grow larger in proportion. Eventually, the travelers reach the end of the path. A large crevice is between them and the better land. There is only one way to cross it. They must hang onto the cords and swing across, bearing their whole weight upon them. They do! They arrive! The warfare, the trials, the troubles are over. Blessed peace!
What were the cords?
I believe that they are the precious promises of God, those links that we can hold on to and be connected to the One who lets them come down to Earth, those promises that grow larger and are able to hold the weight we place upon them, those promises which can carry us through all of the trials and lead us to our Heavenly home.
Let’s take a quick look at some Bible passages to confirm us in the faith. First, we can see that the faithful of old had to deal with trials. Secondly, there were promises for them, and for us, even as there are intimations that trials await the faithful in the future too.
Acts 14:21, 22 “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and [to] Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Isaiah 41:10-14 “Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, [even] them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”
2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
John 15:20, 21 “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.”
2 Corinthians 4:6-9 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. [We are] troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”
1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].”
Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
Abraham, the father of the faithful, was such an example for us. He left everything; he followed; he made some mistakes, but he persevered and is set on record as one of God’s chosen. In the book Patriarchs & Prophets we can read how God dealt with His child, and learn lessons for ourselves.
“The Lord in His providence had brought trials upon Abraham to teach him lessons of submission, patience, and faith—lessons that were to be placed on record for the benefit of all who should afterward be called to endure affliction. God leads His children by a way that they know not, but He does not forget or cast off those who put their trust in Him. He permitted affliction to come upon Job, but He did not forsake him. He allowed the beloved John to be exiled to lonely Patmos, but the Son of God met him there, and his vision was filled with scenes of immortal glory. God permits trials to assail His people, that by their constancy and obedience they themselves may be spiritually enriched, and that their example may be a source of strength to others. "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil." Jeremiah 29:11. The very trials that task our faith most severely and make it seem that God has forsaken us, are to lead us closer to Christ, that we may lay all our burdens at His feet and experience the peace He will give us in exchange.” {PP 129.2}
“God has always tried His people in the furnace of affliction. It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross is separated from the true gold of the Christian character. Jesus watches the test; He knows what is needed to purify the precious metal, that it may reflect the radiance of His love. It is by close, testing trials that God disciplines His servants. He sees that some have powers that may be used in the advancement of His work, and He puts these persons upon trial; in His providence He brings them into positions that test their character and reveal defects and weaknesses that have been hidden from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. He shows them their own weakness, and teaches them to lean upon Him; for He is their only help and safeguard. Thus His object is attained. They are educated, trained, and disciplined, prepared to fulfill the grand purpose for which their powers were given them. When God calls them to action, they are ready, and heavenly angels can unite with them in the work to be accomplished on the earth.” {PP 129.3}
A friend reminded me of another wonderful example of God’s working. You will find it in 2 Chronicles. When enemies threatened the children of Israel, when their hearts were tempted with fear, when circumstances surrounded them with bodings of evil, they cried out to God.
"O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” 2 Chronicles 20:12
They chose to respond by keeping their eyes upon God. Will you? Will I?
Then there is the story of the death of Lazarus. Life looked bad and sad. Lazarus had been sick, even unto death. We are often in the same situation. There is stress, sleepless nights, sorrow, tears, and we wonder where God is in the whole situation. Lazarus finally dies, and his sisters are struggling with doubts and despair. Then Jesus arrives on the scene. Martha runs to the One that she loves and trusts and notices her words.
"But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." John 11:22
Martha said that "even now" in the face of her brother being dead for 3 days, EVEN NOW Jesus could help them. So, is my problem/situation/issue really that hard for God? No one has been dead for 3 days, and if I will but keep my eyes on Jesus, EVEN NOW, He will handle it.
Praise God that we can learn from others. Praise God that we can choose to keep our focus, our attention, our hearts upon Jesus, our Lord, Saviour, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of all things.
Will we make that decision, that no matter what we are facing, that: Even now I will keep my eyes upon Jesus!
I want to have that attitude, to make that choice. I want to encourage you as well, my brother or sister in Christ, to be encouraged and to encourage. The battle is almost over, and we know who is the victor. Press on!
“Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.” 1 Peter 1:3
God bless you.