In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good
cheer, I have overcome the world. —John 16:33
“The typical view of the Christian life is that it means
being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in
adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret
place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil
shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling…” (Psalm
91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.
If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter
adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the
world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the
world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” […] The strain of
life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no
strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot,
unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you
will immediately get the strength. […] God never gives us strength for
tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. […] a
saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities,
because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.” CHAMBERS
Sometimes I fear that a discussion of saints facing
tribulation may sound like an excuse rather than a fact. In other words, Saints should not have to face
trouble so we come up with a reason why they do. The Bible does not support that belief. The truth of the matter is that God has
chosen to leave us on this planet. To
live out our physical lives in a world that has rejected Him and His Son. We face hardships, sickness, heartache … the
very same things everyone else does. If God, the Father, would allow His Son to
suffer for the Father’s purpose, why do you suppose that He would not allow
hardship into our lives, the followers of that same Son and now children of the
Father. In the same way that Jesus was
lifted up in His sacrifice, the Saints are lifted up reflecting the Son in
theirs. It is not the tribulation that
is remarkable, it is our withstanding the tribulation by faith that is
remarkable, bring glory to the Father.
Becoming a Christian is not simply about staying out of Hell. We have a story to tell. 2 Corinthians
1:4 seems to be recurring in my mind these days. The God of all comfort, comforts us so we can
comfort others with the same comfort we have received. Our tribulation has a kingdom purpose, but
that purpose can only be fulfilled through our faithful response to it. Pastor Rick Warren said “God never wastes a
hurt”.
I can read Romans 12:1-2
about being a living sacrifice or Matthew
16:24 about denying ourselves and following Jesus to others, but unless I
have done it myself, it remains abstract, theoretical. Martie and I have
actually done those things. I share that
not for our glory or praise, but for God’s glory and His Kingdom, and to
testify to God’s providence and provision.
We have endured tribulation. We
have been maligned. We have faced
physical trauma. Relational heartache. Great disappointments and hardships. But in all of it, His strength was
sufficient. God calls us to do what
cannot be done, by us, apart from Him.
Living the Christian life requires that we exercise faith. (2
Corinthians 4:7-12) “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that
the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we
are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted,
but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the
body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in
our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for
Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death works in us, but life in you.”
That is the life we have entered in to.
That is the life you have ben called to live. That is the life you can only live by faith. CHARLEY
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