Friday, July 1, 2022

TRIALS, TESTS, AND TROUBLES?

 

Trials, Tests, and Troubles? #1

Why do we have them?

The big "Terrible Three T's" as some call the above words. Who
has not been faced with batting against at least one of them at
some point in their life?  The balls they throw are not only fast
but varied.  Many have often been struck out by these t's. 
Christians are called up from the dug-out to face them.  For what
reasons?  God does give us some answers.  His word tells us why
there are troubles, tests, and trials in this physical life.

                                                   by

                                             Keith Hunt

     As a single man up to the age of twenty five, if someone had
asked me if I had been bothered by the "terrible three" - trials,
tests, and troubles - I would have probably looked at them with
puzzlement and said: What are you talking about?

     Looking back on my life to the age of mid-twenties and
single, I can honestly say it was very smooth and trouble free.
My parents were of middle income class, and had provided me with
all the basic essentials during my school years.  They had sent
me to a Church of England school where the Bible was the first
class of the day.  I had attended a neighborhood Sunday-school
for years without hardly missing the weekly class and loved it
all.
     I was not the brightest in the early years of my schooling,
but made up for it when I hit the teenage mark.  I was gifted in
sports and athletics - music and singing was not far behind.  I
took speech classes and joined an amateur theatrical group.
Yes, I had my share of cuts, knocks and bruises during those
years in active sports, but also plenty of glory days for our
team games and victories in individual events on the track and
field.  Through all those activities in and out of school, I
never broke one single bone of my body.
     I finished high school in good.....physical and mental
shape.  My religious views had kept me out of much trouble.  I
had never spent a night in the hospital, and my interest in
health was giving me a great start to face adult life.

     Probably the most trouble I had faced during those school
years was "tooth-ache" for not drinking enough milk and too many
candies - I tended to have a very sweet tooth, but being raised
in England that was very normal, the English have got to be the
"sweatiest" people on earth - sugar stuff that is..

     I was not the "college" or "university" type (which many
today would find hard to believe) so had no interest in such
institutions.  The "wild west" was it for me, so either Canada or
the USA and the wide open spaces was my goal.  Having no
relatives in the USA, western Canada was easy to immigrate to, so
at the age of eighteen I was going west young man.

     I decided to come over the expanse of the Atlantic ocean by
ship. It was May 1961 and what a great seven days travel.  The
sea was as smooth as a baby's bottom, and the sky clear blue all
the way.  No storms, no "abandon ship - into life boats," no sea
sickness, just a delightful week.
     Arriving in Montreal I was soon through immigration and
aboard the trans-continental train to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 
It was the first time I had ever been on a train more than one
day - a wonderful experience.  No train robbers, no washed out
bridges, no bad weather.
     It was in the 90's (old scale for you Canadians) when I
disembarked in Saskatoon.  I was met by the local immigration
representatives who had arranged "board and room" for me with a
family in town.  Ah, all was just going great and within 4 days I
had employment with the Hudson Bay Co. As a single guy I was
making more money than I had ever seen in my 18 years of life.
That particular year on the Canadian prairies was a blistering
hot drought year.  The locals said the snow started to melt in
January and just got hotter and hotter as the year went by.
Some USA tourists passing through town had some troubles, but not
me, the most trouble I had was keeping cool.  I arrived home(the
same place I had from the time I arrived in western Canada) after
work one day and soon the call came from the landlord that it was
supper time.  There was a few other fellows boarding there
besides me, two young men from Germany and a few Canadians - we
all gathered around the table for the evening meal.
     "Well fellows" said the landlord, "have I got something to
tell you about today.  I was down town this afternoon in that 98
degree heat and a USA car pulls up along side me.  I noticed
there were snow skis tied on top of the roof.  The window rolls
down and a voice comes from within asking me this question,'How
far do we have to go north before we find snow?'"
     Well you can imagine our laughter.  I guess those people
from the USA expected that as soon as they hit the Canadian
boarder they would run into snow, even if it was July and a heat
wave.
     I had no trials, tests, or troubles BUT THEY SURE DID!  Can
you imagine the trouble they were in?  They had left behind the
heat of the USA prairies to go skiing in the snow of Canada, only
to find western Canada had no snow in July and was enduring heat
and dust like they had not seen since the 30's.

     In the fall of 1961 I tuned in to the World-Tomorrow Radio
broadcast, two years later at the age of 21 I was baptized and
became a member of the then Radio Church of God.
     About the same time I accepted a job as an apprentice
Orthopaedic Shoemaker(making footwear for people with crippled
feet).  I learned everything about that skill from A to Z over 4
years of training.
     At the age of 25 I had still never really experienced any
large trials, tests, or troubles.

     That was the first half of my life, relatively trouble free.

But the second half was not to be the same.  I have had my share
of troubles, tests, and trials, over the last 28 years of my
life(to the date of the writing of this article - August 1995).

     I have known people who had their trials, tests, and
troubles, the first 25 years, and less after.  Then some have
their trials and troubles in the middle of their life, others
during the later years of life, some have their troubles spread
evenly over their life time, and a few make it through their life
without hardly any troubles, maybe a few minor ones here and
there.

     I know one Christian couple who had a few secular job
problems when they were young, but after that bridge was crossed,
the rest of their lives(they are 71 and 70 today, as I write this
in 1995) was smooth sailing, without any real problems.  The man
has had his job for nearly 50 years now (now part time), both him
and his wife are in great health, they raised two children who
gave them not one day of trouble, both are upstanding Christians.

Looking back I am sure they would tell you that life was very
good to them, with practically no trials, tests, or troubles.

     Now granted, there are not very many people like the couple
I just mentioned.  But there are a few here and there. Most of us
will face many trials, tests, and troubles, during our lives. 
Some will be much harder and tougher troubles and trials
than others, but most of us will have them sooner or later.
I know speaking personally that my trials, tests, and troubles,
have been relatively mild compared to what some have faced and
endured through.
     When I watch the local and national news, when I watch some
of the programs like 20/20; 60 Minutes; Prime Time; Date Line,
and see the situations in life that many must pass through, I
realize my troubles are pretty small in comparison.

     When it comes to trials, tests, and troubles, life can be a
mixture, MANY facets are involved as to how, when, where, and
why.

     We shall start to look at this subject by answering the
question:
     "WHERE do trials, tests and troubles come from - WHO is
ultimately behind them all?"

THE WHO OF TRIALS

     When God first made man and woman, and placed them in the
garden of Eden, all was "good." They had been created perfect
physically speaking, and with a wonderful garden o fruits,
vegetables, and animals to enjoy.  All was their's......all....
except....well one little tree that the Lord said was "off
limits" to them, troubles would surely come if they ate of the
fruit of that tree.
     One day both the man and his wife (Adam and Eve) were
strolling
around the garden, may be close to the tree and the fruit they
were not to touch or eat.  Then the one we now know as Satan the
Devil comes sweetly up to the woman, oh, was he about to butter
her up with deceptive words that would appeal to her vanity and
emotions.  We can read all about it in the first verses of
chapter three in the book of Genesis in the Bible.

     Did Satan turn on the charm?  You bet he did!  He soon had
Eve believing God was a liar, big time liar, and just not really
that generous, for God was holding back from them the wonderful
fruit that if eaten would make them like God, to know everything,
and what could be better than to know everything Satan told the
woman.
     Now Eve was created not as a robot for God to play with, but
as a free agent, able to make choices, to listen, to meditate, to
be influenced.  She was created with emotions and desires of the
natural fleshly mind.
     When all these natural abilities of the mind were
manipulated and influenced by the Devil, the woman was deceived
and took of the forbidden fruit, gave to her husband and they
both did eat. WAM BANG - SPLASH FLASH - BOOOOOM!  Their eyes were
opened to SIN!  They had encountered their first trial, test, and
trouble, and had fell headlong down into the pit.

     When God finally found them after they had run off to hide
from Him, He asked them questions that soon told Him the results
of the trial and test.  Oh, they were quick to "pass the buck" -
put the blame on everybody but themselves.  Now the truth was
that they had some responsibility in falling into sin and
disobeying the commandment of the Lord.  But I am not focusing on
that in this article.
     I want us to notice in this specific instance WHO started
this trial and tests for Adam and Eve.
     It was SATAN the Devil!
     We see from this first example of the Bible that the
Adversary can test and trouble us through our human mind,
emotions, and desires.

     There was a man in the land of Uz, his name was Job.  He was
perfect and upright, a man that feared the Lord, and avoided
evil.
     This man Job was so righteous that even God said to Satan
one day:  "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is
none like him in all the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one
that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" (Job 1:8).
     Ah, the Devil was not slow in answering God when he said: 
"Doth Job fear God for nought?  Hast thou not made a hedge about
him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every
side? But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath,
and he will curse thee to thy face" (verses 9-11).

     The Lord then told Satan that all except the physical body
of Job was under his control (verse 12).

     And boy,, did Satan go to town on the things which belonged
to Job, including his sons and daughters.  Much of what Job had
was taken away from him, yet he did not sin or curse God (verses
21,22).

     Then it all happened again, Satan came before the Lord and
the Lord commended Job for his uprightness, but this time the
Devil wanted Job's skin, he wanted to nail Job to the wall we
might say.  And the Lord said okay, this time Satan would be
allowed to plague the very skin of Job (chapter 2 verses 1-7).
It is hard for me to imagine what it must have been like for Job
by the time Satan was done with him.

     Here in this example we can see that the Adversary can do
physical things against us, trials, tests, and troubles on the
physical level.

     The apostle Peter wrote: "Be sober, be vigilant because,
your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions (trials, tests, troubles) are
accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" 
(1 Pet.5:8-9).

     Christians are not automatically immune from the attacks of
Satan, just as those in the world are subject to his wrath.
Mentally, the whole world has been deceived by the Devil
(Rev.12:9). He is basically in charge of and the ruler of the
nations of this earth, and will not be removed and chained until
Christ Jesus returns to usher in the Kingdom of God (Mat.4:1-10;
2 Cor.4:4; Eph.2:2; Rev.20:1-3).

     We see then that the Bible does clearly show that trials,
tests, and troubles, can come from our arch enemy - Satan the
Devil. And because Christians know that plain truth, some get
completely "demon eyed" not "starry eyed" but demon eyed. 
Everything that happens to them they think "the devils after me"
or "the demons are on my tail." I have known some people who
think when they trip over their feet, it was "the devil made me
do it" as the comedian Flip Wilson used to say.  Banging their
toe, or cutting their finger, running out of gas in their car,
and every other ill in life is due to the devil or demons, so
they assert.

     True, our Adversary and his helpers in the spirit world, are
often doing their damage in the lives of the physical humans on
this earth, but those who think trials, tests, and troubles, come
ONLY from the unseen world are woefully lacking in the knowledge
of the word of the Lord regarding this topic.  There is MUCH more
to this subject than merely Satan the devil.

     When you were reading (I hope you did) the first chapters of
the book of Job, all that was going on between Satan and the
Lord, I hope you picked up on another very important truth
contained there.  That truth is that God is MORE POWERFUL
than Satan!  The Devil has never ever been as powerful as the
Lord.  He may have wanted to be, he may have tried to unseat the
Lord from His throne at one time and become the most powerful in
the universe, but he did not succeed.  The Lord has ALWAYS been
more powerful than Satan.  The Devil can not do one thing unless
the Lord permits it! God is in overall charge of what is going on
in this universe. He could if He chose, utter the words and Satan
and the demons would be gone - banished, vanished, or totally
destroyed. Remember how Satan accused God of putting a hedge
around Job - a hedge of protection!  Yes, friend, God could if He
so chose, put a protective hedge around all of His children so
that there would never be any trials, tests, or troubles for
them.
     Satan did not have the power to take away that hedge around
Job. Satan is not as powerful as God, never was, is not today,
nor will he ever be!
     Remember what God said to Satan concerning Job, you can do
this to him Satan and no more.  Then later when Satan wanted even
more hedge removed from Job, it was God who had to say yes or no.

He allowed the Devil to attack the physical body of Job but he
was not to take his life.

     GOD IS SUPREME RULER, HE IS SUPREME IN AUTHORITY AND IN
POWER OVER THE  DEVIL!!

     SATAN CAN ONLY DO WHAT THE LORD PERMITS AND ALLOWS HIM TO
DO, NO MORE,  NO LESS!!

     GOD THE FATHER IS IN FULL CHARGE AND POWER AND AUTHORITY, HE
THEN IS WILLING TO TAKE ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THINGS DONE IN
THIS UNIVERSE.

     That being the truth of the matter, we can now begin to
understand a verse in the Scriptures that shocks and puzzles
many.  It is found in the book of Isaiah - chapter 45 and verse
7.

     Let's start reading in verse five: "I am the Lord, and there
is none else, there is no God beside me......I am the Lord, and
there is none else.  I form the light, and create darkness: I
make peace, and CREATE EVIL: I the Lord do ALL these things."

     So the real bottom line of the WHO is behind the trials,
tests, and troubles of life, is THE LORD GOD IS!!

     IT IS THE LORD WHO ALLOWS THEM ALL, TAKING AWAY THE
PROTECTIVE HEDGE, PERMITTING US FREE AGENCY TO MAKE CHOICES,
PERMITTING SATAN TO DO HIS WORK AS HE ALLOWS, NOT MAKING HIS
CREATED PHYSICAL CHILDREN INTO ROBOTS, ALLOWING THE CARNAL WORLD
TO DO ITS OWN THING AND SO TAKING ITS TOLL. ALL THIS OFTEN
RESULTING IN EVIL, WHICH GOD PERMITS AND ALLOWS AS HE IS IN
SUPREME POWER AND AUTHORITY EVEN OVER THE DEVIL.


TRIALS AND TEST DIRECTLY FROM THE LORD!

     It is written: "And God saw the wickedness of man was great
in the earth...." (Gen.6:5). The time was in the days of Noah. 
God would destroy every living thing on the land, but Noah and
his family found grace (interesting - grace is not a New
Testament doctrine) in the eyes of the Lord.  He was told by God
to build an ark for the saving of many animals and his own
family.  It was also going to be 120 years before the flood would
come to cover the earth. God being God and able to do all things
could have made it easier on Noah.  He could have sent a death
angel to wander up and down killing all flesh except Noah, his
family, and certain animals.  But God chose to test and give Noah
the trial and trouble of building a huge wooden boat.  God chose
that Noah would have to preach the righteousness of the Lord to
the population around him, telling them about the coming judgment
of God for their sins.

     Can you imagine all the trouble Noah would face?  He would
have been laughed at and ridiculed, made fun of, and been the
standing joke of the society.  Some no doubt would have tried to
burn down or in some other way, destroy the ship as he and his
family were building it. Noah and his household (wife, sons and
their wives) were put "under the gun" - tested and tried, and in
this particular case IT WAS DIRECTLY FROM GOD! God commanded Noah
to build a ship in preparation for the watery deluge that would
come on the earth in 120 years.

     There was a man living in Haran, his name was Abram (before
it was changed to Abraham) and he was wealthy with cattle,
substance and servants. Have you ever been settled and content? 
You have a great job, a good pay-check each week, a wonderful
wife, land and investments, whereby you can hire people to look
after all that you posses.  You are quite happy and content where
you are, you have no dream of pulling up stakes and moving away
to anywhere. This was Abram's situation. He was also a God
fearing man.  Then one day, out of the blue, quite unexpectedly,
the God of the universe whom you served told you to pack up and
MOVE OUT!  He was to move to a land far away that God would show
him. This was not, "send out some servants first and they will
settle and prepare a home for you in the land that God would will
show you." 
     No!  This was, "YOU Abram, pack your suit case, tell all
with you to do the same and I the Lord will lead you to a land, I
promise you I will, it will be a land of promise."
     What GREAT faith Abram had to evidence!  Put yourself in his
shoes.  Do you not think Abram was being put to the test?  Do you
not think it was a BIG trial for Abram?  Do you not think it
would have been a monumental amount of trouble for Abram to get
up and head out with ALL his substance to a land unknown?
     It was all of this for Abram and it came DIRECTLY FROM GOD!

     This was not the last trial and test God was going to
personally send Abraham's way.  God had promised him and his wife
a son.  Finally after MANY years of waiting (that was a trial and
test also) the promised son arrived.  Then after a number of
years had elapsed God directly and personally told Abraham to
kill this promised son in sacrifice! (Gen. 22:1-2).
     Now if that would not have blown your mind I don't know what
would have.  You have waited all these years for this promised
son, finally the son arrives, he lives for some years, and then
God tells you to take him to a mountain and there offer him for a
burnt offering.  WOW!!  What a trial!  What a test! And it CAME
DIRECTLY FROM GOD!

     There was a young man who had many brothers, he was the
favorite of his father.  That fact alone could give you many
troubles as indeed it did for Joseph whom we are speaking about. 
He was the favorite son of Jacob his father. One day after all
Joseph's brothers had gone to feed their father's flocks in
Shechem, that Jacob sent Joseph to see how they were faring, if
everything was going okay for them. Well not everything was going
to go okay for Joseph that day - huge trouble was about to come
his way.  His brothers thought it was the opportune time to get
rid of this thorn in their flesh, once and for all - they would
kill him and make it appear that some beast had devoured him.  It
was Reuben and Judah who prevented him being killed
(Gen.37:1-36). It was finally decided that they would sell Joseph
to the Ishmelites (verses 27,28).

     Again put yourself in Joseph's sandals, having most of your
brothers wanting to kill you is no picnic, being thrown into a
pit is not a holiday in Hawaii, and then being sold to strangers
who would cart you off to who knows where, has got to be said to
be trouble.

     Joseph ended up in Egypt and did he ever find himself
getting into trials, tests and troubles, you bet he did, yet he
overcame and endured them.  So much so that Joseph was finally
made head over all Egypt under the Pharaoh (Gen.41:37-43).
     But what about the troubling situation that started the
whole thing - being sold by his brothers to the Ishmelites?  Was
that circumstance from Satan, from bad luck, or was it directly
from God, for some future purpose?
     Joseph was inspired to give us the answer.  It is recorded
in Genesis 45.  His brothers had come down into Egypt because of
the famine in Canaan, Joseph had played some head games with them
for some time, but when he finally decided to reveal himself to
them all he spoke these words: "And Joseph said unto his
brethren, Come near to me, I pray you.  And they came near.  And
he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.  Now
therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold
me hither: FOR GOD DID SEND ME BEFORE YOU TO PRESERVE LIFE....
And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the
earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So now it
was not you that sent me hither, BUT GOD" (verses 4-8).
     Joseph told them to go and bring back their father Jacob,
for all of them to come and live with him in Egypt, which they
did.

     So the trial, test, and trouble, Joseph faced when sold by
his brothers WAS FROM GOD, DIRECTLY, FOR A GREAT PURPOSE!

     Well, there are many other examples in the Bible that
clearly show that at times, some troubles, tests, and trials,
come to us specifically and directly from the Lord, for a reason
and for a purpose. Various are those reasons and purposes, but
one purpose they are NOT given for, and that we shall look at
next.

GOD DOES NOT TEMP US WITH EVIL

     Some, knowing that God does directly tesT  and try people at
times, will say that God is tempting us with evil, tempting us to
do evil, for if we fail in some test it may result in sin.
     The apostle James encountered this argument during his life
time. Trials, tests and troubles that Christians were
experiencing gave rise to the thought among some that God was
tempting people to do evil.
     He needed to answer that idea and he did in his letter that
bears his name.  Turn to James chapter one. I want you to note
verses 2,12,and 13. 
     I will quote from the well known Bible Commentary "Barnes'
Notes on the New Testament" the one volume edition, page 1356.

     "2....When you fall into divers temptations....It is now
commonly used in the sense of placing allurements before others
to induce them to sin, and in this sense the word seems to be
used in verse 13,14 of this chapter. Here, however, the word is
used in the sense of trials, to wit, by persecution, poverty,
calamity of any kind.  These cannot be said to be DIRECT
INDUCEMENTS or ALLUREMENTS to sin, but they try the faith, and
they show whether he who is tried is disposed to adhere to his
faith in God, or whether he will apostatize.  They so far
coincide with temptations, properly so called, as to test the
religion of men.  They differ from temptations, properly so
called, in that they are not brought before the mind for the     

purpose of INDUCING men to SIN. In this sense, it is true that
God never tempts men to sin, verses 13,14...."

Let us look at verse 13, I quote from the above commentary, page
1358.

     "13.  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of
God.... The apostle here seems to have had his eye on whether
there was a trial of any kind TO INDUCE US TO COMMIT sin -
whether by complaining, by murmuring, by apostasy, or by yielding
to sin.  So far as that was concerned, he said that no one should
charge in on God.  He did NOTHING IN ANY WAY WITH A VIEW TO
INDUCE men to do EVIL.  That was only an incidental thing in the
trial, and was NO PART OF THE DIVINE PURPOSE OR DESIGN.  The
apostle felt evidently that there was a great danger, from the
general manner in which the word temptation was used, and from
the perverse tendency of the heart, that it would be CHARGED ON
GOD that He so arranged these trials, and so influenced the mind,
as to present inducements to sin.
     Against this, it was proper that an inspired apostle should
bear his solemn testimony; so to guard the whole subject as to
show that whatever there was in any form of trial that could be
regarded as an inducement or allurement to sin, is NOT THE THING
which He contemplated in the arrangement, and DOES NOT PROCEED
from Him. It has its origin in other causes; and if there was
nothing in the corrupt mind itself leading to sin, there would be
nothing in the Divine arrangement that would produce it. For God
cannot be tempted with evil.....The object seems to be to
show that, in regard to the whole matter of temptation, it does
not pertain to God.  Nothing can be presented to his mind as an
inducement to do wrong, and as little can He present anything to
the mind of man to induce him to sin.  Temptation is a subject
that which does not pertain to Him.  He stands aloof from it
altogether....Neither tempteth he any man.  That is, He places
nothing before any human being with a VIEW TO INDUCE HIM TO DO
WRONG....that God does not place inducements before us with a
view that we should sin, or in order to lead us into sin.  None
of His decrees, or His arrangements, or His desires, are based on
that, but ALL HAVE SOME OTHER PURPOSE AND END.  The real force of
temptation is to be traced to some other source - to ourselves,
and not to God. See the next verse."

     The above quotes were emphasized by both myself and Barnes. 
I encourage the reader to obtain this Bible Commentary and read
all of Barnes' notes on these verses.
     His notes and comments on verses 14 and 15 are explicit in
explaining that yielding to sin is to be placed on man himself.

     Putting what Albert Barnes has said into more modern
language: God NEVER says "Now what trial, test, or trouble can I
send or allow to come upon this person in order to try and get
them to sin." God is not busy figuring out ways to entice humans
to yield to sin. He is not rubbing His hands together with glee
saying to Himself "Ah, this test will make that person sin -
yippee!"
     The troubles ' tests, and trials, that God sends and allows
to come man's way, has no connection whatsoever with sin.
     No one ever needs to fall into sin by ANY trial, test, or
trouble that may come.  Can I prove that from the Bible?  Yes, I
can!
     Leaving aside the perfect example of Christ Jesus who was
tested, tried, and troubled in MANY way, yet never once sinned. 
Leaving Jesus' example to one side because some would argue that
He had the Holy Spirit without measure from conception in the
womb of Mary. I will point you to the example of Job.
     Read again the first chapters of the book that bears his
name. Job was perhaps the most righteous man next to Christ who
ever lived. When God allowed Satan to trouble, test and hand out
trials that most of us have never come close to facing and
experiencing, Job DID NOT SIN!  He still blessed the Lord.  He
kept his righteousness. And was he righteous, oh yes, read the
rest of Job in a modern translation.  Job's problem was not sin,
even under severe trials, but his problem was SELF-righteousness.

     He just had never really seen himself next to the clear
perfect awesomeness of God. He did have one sin at least, the sin
of self-righteousness.  Job finally acknowledged it, repented of
it, and God once again blessed him abundantly, see chapter 42.

WHY THEN DO WE HAVE TRIALS, TESTS, AND TROUBLES?

     Most of us will have them, that is, tests, troubles and
trials.  They say that there are two things sure for us - death
and taxes. Well most of us will also face trials, and troubles in
one form or another, sometime in our lives.  So WHY does God
allow them to come upon us? If He controls everything, if He is
greater than Satan and the demonic world, why does not He
completely protect His children from all troubles and trials? 
Why does He not just give Christians a smooth, easy, trouble free
life until they sleep in death to await their crown of glory in
the resurrection?

     The apostle Peter was inspired to give us some of the
answers as to why God allows Christians to experience trials,
tests, and troubles.

     Turn to 1 Peter chapter four.  I will quote from the
Amplified Bible, beginning in verse 12.

     "Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the FIERY
ORDEAL
which is taking place to test your quality, as though something
STRANGE - unusual and alien to you and your position - were
befalling you.  But in so far as you are SHARING CHRIST'S
SUFFERING, rejoice, so that when His glory (full of radiance and
splendor) is revealed you may also rejoice with triumph -
exultantly.... Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in
ACCORDANCE WITH GOD'S WILL must do right, and commit their souls
(in charge as a deposit) to the One Who created them and will
never fail(them)" (verses 12,13,19).

     Peter informs us about truths we have previously discussed. 
We are not to be shocked that trials and troubles come our way -
most people will experience them.  Jesus went through tests and
troubles, so His followers will probably have them also for it is
often the Father's will that it be so.  The tests and trials
prove our depth of character - are we really serious about
serving God?  As the saying goes "talk is cheap" but will we
continue to do the will of the Lord under difficult
circumstances?
     Whatever trial or trouble may come upon us, God has promised
He will never leave us, we can turn away from Him if we choose,
but He will never fail in helping us if we commit our lives to
Him.

     James also gave some answers as to why we have trials, tests
and troubles:

     "Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of
your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 
But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play
and do a thorough work, so that you may be (people) perfectly and
fully developed (with no defect), lacking nothing....Blessed,
happy, to be envied is the man who is patient under trial and
stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and
been approved he will receive (the victor's) crown of life which
God has promised to those who love Him....Every good gift and
every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes
down from the Father of all (James 1:3,4,12,17, Amplified Bible).

     Yes, many trials, tests, and troubles come as a gift from
God, to mature us, to develop us in true holy righteous
character.
     Let me try to put this in terms we as humans can understand.

     A Christian with the Spirit of God in them, has the nature
of the Father within (2 Peter 1:3,4). We shall say that holy
character of God within the Christian is a muscle.  For a muscle
to be strong and to enlarge in development it must be pitted
against some force or obstacle. Most body-builders pit their
muscles against heavy weights to strengthen and enlarge their
muscles.  Mr.Charles Atlas built his muscles by pitting one
against another, he called it "dynamic tension." But the point
is, through hard-work, hard-ship, strength is built.

     God did not create us as some kind of robotic machine, that
at the press of a button He would produce in us complete mature
holy character. He did not choose to do it that way. Trials,
tests, and troubles are often the means whereby God develops the
muscle of righteous character in us.  They are the heavy weights
or the "dynamic tension" we must muscle against to become fully
spiritually developed. The testing and trying of our faith (to
remain obedient to the way and will of God under difficult
situations) produces spiritual muscle - righteous character
(Ecc.1:13).

     Those athletes wanting to attain one of the three top medals
(gold, silver, bronze) in the Olympic Games, must be willing to
practice and strive against powerful forces in order to be one of
the three on the victors platform.  Most will never be up there
to receive a medal unless they are willing to face and endure a
lot of personal trials and troubles in preparing themselves for
the event of their choice.

     In all of this we must remember something that is very
important. Some could miss-understand, they might think that the
person who has the greater number of tests, trials, and troubles
in their Christian life is more spiritually mature or perfect
than the rest, or is being favored more by God for some special
purpose either here and now or in the life to come. That is not
necessarily so! There are many variables to consider in this
entire subject, not the least( probably the most important in
fact) is the will and the purpose of the Lord, that as human
flesh we often do not know. Who can fully understand why Abraham
was tested and tried in the way he was, while Daniel was tested
by being throw into the lions den, or his three friends into the
furnace of fire? Why did God say the apostle Paul would be
tested, tried and troubled so much, while others had it
easier(Acts 9:15,16)?  Some may think they know the answer but
the
truth is no one fully knows but God Himself.

     Turn to the Gospel of John, the last chapter, and read
verses 18 to 24.
     Jesus foretold that Peter would die a martyr's death while
John the beloved disciple would probably not.  That is the way
history tells us it happened - Peter was killed by being
crucified upside down, while John lived out a natural life into
old age. We could ask questions of why this or why that for one
person or another person. We could compare ourselves among
ourselves, but as Paul was inspired to tell us, that is NOT WISE
(2 Cor.10:12).

     When Peter tried to do that notice how Jesus answered him:
1"..... If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to
thee? follow thou me,, (John 21:22).

     It is God that works with and in us to do His good pleasure
(Phil.2:13). He is over everything, nothing happens without His
consent and allowing it, and some things are directly from Him. 
He deals on an individual basis with each of us.  It is folly to
concern ourselves and try to figure out how and why God gives or
allows this or that trial/trouble to come upon such and such a
person.  We need to have faith that the Lord loves and knows
exactly what He is doing with each of His children. Let God work
with others as He sees fit, we need just concern ourselves in
doing what Jesus said to Peter - "follow thou me."

     Sometimes the Lord may show you why He is giving or allowing
a specific trouble to come your way, maybe He will show you why
He is not removing it. This God did once do with the great
apostle Paul. He gave him a physical "thorn in the flesh" and
told him why He was not going to remove it - there was a purpose
behind it all (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

     I said sometimes God may choose to do this but not
necessarily all or every time.  There are times when it may seem
the Lord just does not make sense.  And that we shall look at in
more detail later.
                              ...............

TO BE CONTINUED


Trials, Test, and Troubles? #2

Time and Chance for everyone!

                                                by

                                          Keith Hunt


TIME AND CHANCE FOR EVERYONE

     God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the beginning. 
They were taught the way to live that would have produced
joy, happiness, and everything good.  But when they chose to
listen to Satan and rebel against the commandments of the Lord,
they ran off and hid themselves from God, and made all kinds of
excuses as to why they did what they did.
     The Lord allowed them to choose life on one hand or death on
the other hand.  They chose to do it their way, live according to
what seemed right in their eyes, they chose to hide from God.  So
God allowed it, and in allowing it He told them what they could
expect from life. Leaving Him out of the picture and going
contrary to His commands and way of life would often bring them
difficulties, hardships, trials, and troubles.  Read again the
first four chapters of Genesis.

     Hundreds and hundreds of years later God chose a people
descended from Abraham, to show to the rest of the nations the
wonderful laws and commandments of His, that would, if obeyed as
a nation, bring great benefits in this physical life here and
now. He brought this nation of Israelites out of Egyptian bondage
into the wilderness by the leadership of Moses and there gave
them His Ten Commandments. Notice what Deut. 5:4 says, "The Lord
talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the
fire." The people of Israel HEARD the voice of God.  This is what
they admitted to Moses: "...we have beard His voice out of the
midst of the fire; we have seen this day that God doth talk with
man, and he liveth....For who is there of all flesh that hath
heard the voice of the living God, speaking out of the midst of
the fire, as we have, and lived?" (verses 24,26).
     Yet, when the Lord offered them personal contact with Him
they did not want it, but asked Moses to relate the words of God
to them (verses 27).  There really was no humble, submissive
heart in them to OBEY and KEEP all of God's commandments that
"it might BE WELL WITH THEM, and with their children FOR EVER!"
(verse 29).

     Why does the world as a whole have trials, troubles, pain
and sorrow?  Partly, and I say partly because as we are seeing,
this topic is many sided.  But some of the problems that many
have in this world is due to the fact that most people want God
to "take a ride," "keep your nose of out my business," "go fly
your kite," and so God has left them to their own devices, to
their own ways.

     And as wise King Solomon was inspired to write: "There is a
way WHICH SEEMS RIGHT UNTO A MAN, but the end thereof are the
ways of death" (Prov.14:12).

     There have been times down through the centuries that some
nations did know the God of this universe, they had contact with
His word and truths, but through the hardness of their hearts
they turned away from those truths, from those commandments that
would have given their peoples health, safety, protection and
blessings.
     Listen to what the apostle Paul had to say about this:

     "Because that when they KNEW God, they glorified Him not as
God, neither were THANKFUL: but became vain in their
imaginations, and their FOOLISH HEART WAS DARKENED.  Professing
themselves to be wise they became fools.  And changed the glory
of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible
man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 
WHEREFORE God also GAVE THEM UP to uncleanness, through the lust
of their own heart....Who turned the TRUTH of God into a
lie.....For this cause God GAVE THEM UP unto vile affections
(Romans 1:21-26).

     Read all of these verses, the ones before and the ones
after, and let the plain truth ring deep in your heart.

     God is by and large, for the present age, letting the world
as a whole, GO ITS OWN WAY, DO ITS OWN THING, AND REAP THE END
RESULT OF TROUBLE, TURMOIL, TRIALS, PAIN, AND SORROW!

     And within this fact of God leaving the majority of the
population of the world to its own devices, comes the truth of
"time and chance" and "the innocent becoming prey to the guilty."
     The results of sin and rejection of God and His way of life,
laws and commandments, can often have dire consequences upon
those not directly involved in the rebellion.  Even if not a
willful rebellion, but done through ignorance, the breaking of
the laws of God can ricochet onto others standing by.  A man
determined to throw himself off the top of the Empire State
building can take you with him if you grab his arm to stop him.
     This very life principle is given to us in one of the Ten
Commandments of God, notice it in Exodus 20 and verse 5. "......
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the CHILDREN unto the
third and fourth generation of then that hate me....."

     So the world basically on its own, fending for itself, is
WIDE OPEN for "time and chance."

     But before the Christian gets too smug or too filled with
"religious vanity" in thinking they are immune from "time and
chance" or the innocent getting trouble from the ways of the
sinner, better read carefully the book of Ecclesiastes for truths
God wants us to understand about life in general.
     While it is true that the Christian has God on his side, the
angels serving and helping, the Holy Spirit filling and inspiring
us, the LORD DOES NOT PROMISE HIS CHILD THAT THIS PHYSICAL LIFE
WILL BE FREE FROM "TIME AND CHANCE" - THE INNOCENT SUFFERING FROM
THE GUILTY, OR THAT TRIALS AND TROUBLES MAY COME VIA "TIME AND
CHANCE."

     Let's see the truth of the matter as contained in the book
of Ecclesiastes.  For some this may be NEW and somewhat of a
shock!

     "All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a
just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a
wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness"
(Ecc.7:15).

     Yes, indeed, some God fearing, right living people, die from
accidents, sicknesses, even killings from the wicked, when young,
middle aged, or old.  And then there are those who are evil even
by the world's standards, all their lives, and live to a ripe old
age.

     "Because to every purpose there is time and judgment
therefore the misery of man is great upon him.  For he knoweth
NOT that which SHALL BE: for who can tell him WHEN it shall be?"
(Ecc.8:6,7).

     Now it is possible for God to tell you something say through
a prophet, what shall befall you at some time in the future. 
This was done at times with the apostle Paul, see Acts 21:10,11. 
But for most of us, for most of the time, or all the time, we
know not what shall be our lot from one day to the next.

     "Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be
prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that
fear God, which fear before Him" (verse 12).

     It must be the end result which the Christian must look at,
not the here and now.

     "There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there
be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the
wicked; AGAIN, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth
according to the work of the righteous: I said that this is also
vanity" (verse 14).

     There it is, God often allows "Time and Chance" to fall on
the righteous and the unrighteous.

     "When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to SEE THE
BUSINESS THAT IS DONE ON THE EARTH: (for also there is that
neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) Then I beheld
ALL THE WORK OF GOD, that a man cannot find out the work that is
done under the sun: because though a man labor to seek it out,
yet he shall NOT FIND IT; yea further; though a wise man think to
know it, yet shall he not be able to find it" (verses 16,17).

     Friends, there are some things in life that all we can do is
"scratch our heads" and wonder about.  There are times when it
seems God just does not make sense.  We will have to wait until
the resurrection day and the Lord has returned to answer all our
bewildering questions in this life.

     "For man knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken
in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so
are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth
suddenly upon them" (chapter 9:12).

     We may ask: Why do some have to die for their Christian
faith, and others living at the same time in the same country
escape with their lives?  Why in a terrible car accident that
should have killed everyone does one or more live?  Why in the
explosion of a bomb with say six people all standing within the
same range of the bomb, do 4 die and 2 live, as does happen at
times?
     The question of time and chance could go on and on, and all
we are left with in this life is wondering.

     When Solomon had contemplated all these things that he could
see came upon the just and the unjust, his answer to it was this:

     "For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all
this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, ARE IN
THE HAND OF GOD......"(chapter 9:1).

     Our life, whether we live or die, is in the hands of the
Lord. He is the potter we are the clay. Let us be confident of
this very thing, as the song writer said:
     "When peace, like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows
like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to
say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should
buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance
control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath
shed His own blood for my soul."

     I want you to read those words again friend from the well
known hymn "It is Well with my Soul" by H.G.Spafford.

     Mr.Spafford had lost his only son, a year after his wife and
four daughters boarded ship for England, while he had to stay and
look after some unexpected business.  There was a storm, some
fog, and two ships collided.  Spafford received a telegram from
his wife in England saying to the effect: I only have arrived
safely, our daughters lost to the sea. He quickly sailed for
England, but asked the captain to tell him when they were over
the area that the ship that his daughters were on went down with
them aboard. As he was standing there overlooking that part of
the ocean he wrote the words to that famous hymn we love to sing
- IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.

     So it is, so it must be, that when all in this physical life
has been allowed by God to come upon us, we must take hope and
courage in the fact that it is well with our inner spiritual soul
and life.  That indeed it will be one day as  Mr.Spafford went on
to write:
     "And Lord haste the day when the faith shall be sight, the
clouds be rolled back as a scroll, The trump shall resound and
the Lord shall descend, Even so - it is well with my soul."

TRIALS AND TROUBLES COME UPON US BECAUSE OF OUR OWN FOLLY

     When we become a Christian, God does not take away from us
our free agency, our ability to make choices, whether right or
wrong.

     When we are converted and the Lord gives us His Spirit, we
do not instantly acquire the perfect sum total of ALL wisdom.

     The word of the Lord has a great deal to say about wisdom. 
You may want to take a Bible concordance like Stronge's or
Young's and have a study project, looking up all the places in
God's word that concern and use the word "wisdom."

     Ecclesiastes 7:5 says: "It is better to hear the rebuke of
the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools."

     Many times the soft soothing notes of foolish talk and ideas
get the better of us, and in following, we bring upon ourselves
troubles and trials.

     Verse 12 of the same chapter: "......but the excellency of
knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."

     How many people have said after the fact "Oh if I had only
used more wisdom, I would not have found myself in all this
trouble and turmoil."
     Notice verse 19, "Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than
ten mighty men which are in the city."

     See what chapter 10 and verse one says: "Dead flies cause
the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor; so
doth a little folly to him that is in reputation for wisdom and
honor."

     Just because you usually do things in a wise way does not
automatically mean you have a corner on the market as they say. 
Slip up one time and you will probably have to pay the price.

     Verse 8 is a basic true-ism: "He that diggeth a pit shall
fall into it; and whoso breaks a hedge, a serpent shall bite
him."

     This is not talking about a pit that needs to be dug or a
hedge that needs to be trimmed back, but doing things rashly,
without enough thought behind it, doing something on the impulse
and a little on the "wild side." Act and live this way and sooner
or later you are going to be stung.

     A great lesson and teaching is found in 11:1-2.  "Cast thy
bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. 
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not
what evil shall be upon the earth."
     Read also Jesus' instruction as found in Luke 16:1-14. 
There is a wisdom of the world that Christians should also
cultivate.  In the right attitude of mind serve and help others,
make friends through giving of yourself and your material
possessions, you may need your friends to help you one day.  This
is also wisdom to keep you from severe troubles both emotionally
and physically at times.

     Now look at the book of Proverbs.  Read chapter 3 and verses
one to eight.

     Yes, sometimes our trials and troubles come about because we
just plainly disobey the laws and commandments of God, and so we
naturally reap what we have sown.  For every effect there is a
cause. Mercy and Truth are not to be taken lightly in our daily
living for "So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in
the sight of God and man" (verse 4).  Many troubles could be
avoided through living and practicing truth and mercy.
     Verses 11 through 26 contain more vital instructions to help
keep us from the troubles of our own folly.
     Able to take and use correction from the Lord in the various
ways He may choose to give it us, is necessary, in order to avoid
the end result of our way that leads to many trials we could
otherwise escape.

     Again notice the emphasis God places on the quality of
wisdom in these verses.  Nothing can be compared to her.  In its
pathway is pleasantness and peace.  You will walk safely without
stumbling.  Ah, there is much good when living wisely.

     Notice what Proverbs 4:26,27 tells us: "Ponder the path of
thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.  Turn not to the
right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil."
     By acting too fast or wandering off the straight and narrow,
many unnecessary trials are our lot in life.

     Proverbs 11:14, "Where no council is, the people fall; but
in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."
     Then put this with chapter 12:15, "The way of a fool is
right in his own eyes; but he that harkeneth unto counsel is
wise."
     Many of us face troubles because we were just too proud and
vain to ask others for their advice.

     Proverbs 14:1, "Every wise woman buildeth her house; but the
foolish plucketh it down with her hands."

     We must be willing to learn that there are literal things
that if we do or do not do, we will either reap benefits or
disasters. 
     A woman who unloads all her days problems on to her husband
as soon as he opens the door after a days work, will eventually
have a husband who will not want to come home to her.  A man who
works 16 hours a day, seven days a week, and has no time for his
wife, will find she probably wants another husband one day who
will give her some time. Such things happen all too often in our
societies today.

     Verse 15, "The simple believeth every word; but the prudent
looketh well to his going."

     We often end up in big problems of one sort or another
because we are "gullible" - every sales person can rap us around
their little finger and we get taken for a ride time after time,
never able to learn from the hard knocks we take.
     This kind of simple-minded way of life leads us into untold
folly (verse 18).

     Sometimes our financial troubles are brought on because of a
lack of action on our part, we are as they say "all talk but no
action." See verse 23.

     Oh, the sorrow, pain, and grievous trials, that have been
laid on the heads of some who could not control their angry and
wrathful tongue - verse 29 with 15:1.
     Some not controlling their anger have literally killed
another for things that most of us would shrug off as nothing, or
as a very minor unpleasantness on the part of another.
     How many youngsters have found themselves in deep water
(over their heads) with the law of the land, because they would
not listen to their parents or take instruction - verse 5.
     Then there are those who have brought trouble on themselves
and/or their household because of being all consumed with the
physical things of this world, or bending the rules by taking
bribes and involving themselves in a "scam" of some kind - verse
27.
     Some of our health and physical life problems come on us
because we will not accept instruction that could help - verse
32.

     Notice the wisdom contained in Proverbs 17:14.  "The
beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore
leave off contention before it is meddled with."

     By some sticking their nose into business that was not
theirs to get involved in, many have suffered the pain of having
it punched.
     The Lord instructs us not to be involved in co-signing and
being security even for friends, as this can also bring heartache
and trouble - verse 18.
     It has been now scientifically proved that various physical
ailments can be brought on by our emotional attitude - some of
our bodily troubles are self inflicted - verse 22.

     Getting involved with the wrong type of person/s and casting
aside those who walk rightly will bring problems and troubles
through your door - chapter 18:5.
     Those who think they "know it all" - we commonly call them
"know all's" - and will not listen to others, or have the
attitude that what others may have to say is just "hot air" are
going headlong into the ditch of folly - verse 13.
     Wow!  Look at verse 21.  Those who put their mouth into gear
before their brain will reap t r o u b 1 e.

     Chapter 22 and verse 3 is back again to contrasting the
prudent with the simple minded, the wise with the rash and naive
(easily duped, fooled and deceived).  The wise can often see the
robber coming and so get out of his way, the simple pass on to be
"fare game" for the predator.

     Verses 24-25 talk again about being in the wrong company and
so receiving bad instructions that end in the snare of troubles.

     We have nobody to blame but ourselves for some of the
sorrow, hardship, and trials we face.  The way out is pure self
control and discipline - chapter 23:2,20,21.

     Once more God tells us that we are sometimes responsible for
our difficult circumstances and must just get up off our lazy
backsides - chapter 24:30-34.
     Even the doing of some "good things" must be done in balance
and moderation or problems could arise - chapter 25:16.
     This reminds me of my Boy-Scout days.  We were taught to
always be helpful to others, especially the elderly.  Yet we had
a standing joke among ourselves to help us keep the balance.  It
went something like this: "Did you hear about Henry getting
smashed over the head with a purse by the little old woman down
the street?  No, why did Henry get hit over the head with the old
ladies' purse?  Well he was helping her cross the busy street. 
Yes, but wasn't that a good thing he was doing?  No, not that
time - she didn't want to go."

     Now see the wisdom and teaching that verses 17, 19, and 28
bring to our attention.  When some of us are in trouble, instead
of running off to find help in stable, faithful, and wise godly
people, we often hook up with those who add more pain to the
situation.
     Chapter 26:17 tells us that there are problems that some
others have that we would be wise to keep clear of or we will get
a painful bite.  Naturally these circumstances here are not life
threatening, but troubles that will be resolved by the parties
involved, and we need not concern ourselves.  Again wisdom is
needed to know the difference between when to get involved in
other peoples matters and when not.

     The wisdom of Proverbs 27:9 can not be overstated.  The
neutral and heart-filled counsel of a well trusted friend can
often be the answer to whether we shall have pain or peace at
some point in our life.
     Verse 14 tells us to be wise in even doing "good" to our
very friends.  Acting well if not done at the right time and in
the correct manner could bring us t r o u b 1 e!
     God teaches us to be circumspect towards our present
physical living so future problems in this area will be greatly
reduced or eliminated altogether (unless the Lord has chosen you
to be a wandering apostle Paul type) - see verses 23-27.
     The law and principle that God lays down in not forgetting
the poor is restated over and over again in His word.  Many a
"curse" on many a person could be lifted by obeying this one
command alone - chapter 28:27.

     Wisdom is the principle thing.  But what is wisdom someone
may ask?  Knowledge is facts. Understanding is putting those
facts into correct formation.  Wisdom is using Knowledge and
Understanding in correct every day practical life situations
whereby only good is the end result.

     The whole book of Proverbs is filled with the use of
everyday practical wisdom teachings and situations.  It is a book
that is to often neglected in the Christian's reading and study
of the Bible.  What a shame, for it contains much that would
deliver us from trials and troubles.

     I finish my thoughts on this section by leaving you with
some wise proverbs that were sent to me by a friend:

RESOLUTIONS FOR AVOIDING MISERY AND TROUBLES -

     Choose to love rather than hate.   
     Choose to smile rather than frown.
     Choose to build rather than destroy.
     Choose to persevere rather than quit.
     Choose to praise rather than gossip.
     Choose to heal rather than wound.
     Choose to give rather than grasp.
     Choose to act rather than delay.
     Choose to forgive rather than curse.
     Choose to pray rather than despair.


TO BE CONTINUED

Written August 1995


Trials, Tests, and Troubles? #3

When God doesn't make sense

                                               by

                                        Keith Hunt




WHEN GOD DOESN'T MAKE SENSE

     A little saying I came across some time ago goes like this:
Just when you thought you were winning the rat race, along come
faster rats.
     Have you experienced times in your life, situations in your
life, happenings in your life or in the life of your family, when
you seemed to be winning the race, you had really got the handle
on the use of wisdom, there was no big sin in your life that you
were hiding from people, no skeleton in the closet, you were
honestly trying to live by every word of God, and all seemed to
be going on a win win playing field.  Then out of the blue, like
a thunderbolt from a clear cloudless sky, you were hit it would
seem "below the belt" to have the wind knocked right out of you.

     I had entered the Church of God during the very early 60's,
when we had our first local minister about 1965 I was soon being
used for various duties within the church.  As I had some music
ability it was my responsibility to keep in touch with others in
the group who had musical talents.  A family came into the church
with such gifts, it was not long and I was a good friend of
theirs.  They had 3 or 4 children(my memory escapes me now on the
exact number).  I soon got to know all of them.  They were a
quiet serene type family, very humble and deeply dedicated to
serving the Lord.
     I was very spiritually impressed with their eldest daughter,
she was about 14 or 15.  A pretty young teenager with all of her
life ahead of her.  When visiting her parents I had often spoken
to her about the way of the Lord.  She was very mature for her
age and sincerely wanted to know and serve God.  I knew it was
only a matter of time before she would be baptized.
     One week I received a phone call from the minister telling
me this young lady was sick, he had anointed her, but would I go
and visit the family and keep close in touch with them letting
him know how things were going (the sickness was one of those
very rare and odd "house polluted" viruses, you hardly ever hear
of it in the Western world). Some of the others in the family
were only partly sick.
     Of course I was off to visit those parents and their lovely
sick daughter.  We talked about the Lord, and how we were all in
His hands.  We all, including this young lady, looked to God for
healing.
     Because things did not get any better after a few days, the
minister advised the parents to call in the medical doctors.  So
done, they also seemed lost as to what to do, but they finally
said she should be admitted to the hospital, and she was.  I can
not remember now what the doctors diagnosed this teenager with,
but it was serious. I do remember that back in the middle 1960s
the medical doctors had nothing to fight this decease with, they
were hopeless to know how to treat or kill this strange virus
infection she had.
     One evening I decided to visit this sick young lady in the
hospital.  What a great visit, again we talked about the Lord,
His healing power,there was no doubt on her part or mine, that
God of course can heal any sickness, if He chooses to so do.

     I had no problem talking to her about the seriousness of her
sickness, it was life threatening, she knew it, I knew it, the
minister knew it, her mother and father knew it, the doctors knew
it. I had already visited with her parents, they knew her life
was in God's hands. The doctors in the 60's could not help, it
was beyond their medicines at that time.
     What a spiritually mature young lady she was.  I talked
openly to her about life and about death, and about all of us
being in God's hands.  She believed all that, she told me she was
ready for whatever was the will of God.

     The next day I was told she had died.  I must admit to you I
was somewhat shocked to hear that news.  I was confident God
would heal her.  A beautiful, clean living, spiritually maturing
girl, one that was obedient to her parents, loved to attend
church and read God's word.  Here was a young lady that one day
would have made a lovely Christian wife and mother for some man,
and the Lord allowed her to DIE!
     I could not understand WHY!  It just did not make any sense
to me.  I still have no answer to this day as to the reason why
the Lord did not heal her.  He could have that is for sure.  He
has and still does heal people from what otherwise would be sure
death.  Yet this young lady died at the beginning of her prime.

     At times it would seem to us moral flesh that God just
doesn't make sense.

     A number of years back I heard about a family (did not know
them personally) who were on their way to observe a Christian
festival.  Travelling to this fall festival they had done
faithfully year after year.  This was nothing new to them, it was
a regular custom.
     Here they are minding their own business, doing nothing
wrong or illegal as they were driving along, when out of the
blue, through no fault of their own, along comes some truck and
SMASH BAG! I believe 5 or 6, all of them from one family - wiped
out, KILLED!!  And this happened on their way to attend a feast
of the Lord. Why you ask?  I asked the same question, but it did
happen.

     There are times when to us mortals God just does not seem to
make sense.  Why didn't He send His angel to protect them from
that disaster, He has and does give protection through His
angelic beings.  Why did He not do it for them on that day?  I
have no answer for YOU.

     I will quote for you what I consider are some very pertinent
passages on this topic, from the book "When God Doesn't Make
Sense" by Dr.James Dobson.

     "Unfortunately, many young believers - and some older ones
too - do not know that there will be times in every person's life
when circumstances don't add up - when God doesn't appear to make
sense....My chief concern at this point, and the reason I have
chosen to write this book, is for my fellow believers who are
struggling with circumstances that don't make sense.  In my work
with families who are going through various hardships, from
sickness and death to marital conflict and adolescent rebellion,
I have found it common for those in crisis to feel great
frustration with God.  This is particularly true when things
happen that seem illogical and inconsistent with what had been
taught or understood.  Then if the Lord does not rescue them from
the circumstances in which they are embroiled, their frustration
quickly deteriorates into anger and a sense of abandonment. 
Finally disillusionment sets in and the spirit begins to wither."
(pages 9,12).

     You may be asking the question concerning my first true
example above: How did the parents of the young teenager who died
take it all?  Like spiritually seasoned veterans, a real
inspiration to all of us.  They did not doubt God, they did not
blame Him, did not get angry at Him, or loose their faith in Him
or His word.

     Back to Dr.Dobson's book:

     "......those who live long enough will eventually be
confronted by happenings they will not understand. That is the
human condition.  Let me say it again: It is an incorrect view of
Scripture to say that we will always comprehend what God is doing
and how our suffering and disappointment fit into His plan. 
Sooner or later, most of us will come to a point where it appears
that God has lost control - or interest in the affairs of people.

It is only an illusion, but one with dangerous implications for
spiritual and mental health.  Interestingly enough, pain and
suffering do not cause the greatest damage.  Confusion is the
factor that shreds one's faith....The God whom he has loved,
worshipped, and served turns out to appear silent, distant, and
uncaring in the moment of greatest need.  Do such times come even
to the faithful?  Yes, they do, although we are seldom willing to
admit it within the Christian community. " (pages 13,15).

     Confusion along with the whispers of Satan the devil at such
times of pain, sorrow, trial and trouble, can cause some to
reject God, throw in the towel, give up the battle, declare
defeat and turn back to wallow in the muck of the unconverted
world.
     Sadly, I have seen that happen among ones who knew and lived
the truth at one time.  A very good friend of mine at one time in
the Church of God, an older man than myself, but we were very
close because he, his wife, and I, were three of the six founding
members of the church in our city.  This man had one of his two
sons killed one night by a hit and run driver.  He was
hitch-hiking from one part of the county to another when someone
hit him into the ditch with their car.  They may not even have
known they hit him, but if they did they never stopped to help,
and he died shortly after.
     In their grief, both his father and mother left the church
and turned away from following the true God and His way of life.

     As Dobson has written in his aforementioned book:

     "When the heat is on and confusion mounts, some believers go
through a horrendous spiritual crisis.  They 'lose God.' Doubts
rise up to obscure His presence and disillusionment settles into
despair.  The greatest frustration is knowing that He created the
entire universe by simply speaking it into existence, and He has
all power and all understanding.  He could rescue.  He could
heal.  He could save.  But why won't He do it?  This sense of
abandonment is a terrible experience for someone whose entire
being is rooted in the Christian ethic.  Satan then drops by for
a little visit and whispers, 'He is not here!  You are alone!'"

     Then as James Dobson goes on to say:

     "What does such a person do when God makes no sense?  To
whom does he confess his troubling - even heretical - thoughts? 
From whom does he seek counsel?  What does he tell his family
when his faith is severely shaken?  Where does he go to find a
new set of values and beliefs?  While searching for something
more reliable in which to believe, he discovers that there is no
other name - no other God - to whom he can turn....Christians who
lose God during a period of spiritual confusion are like the vine
that has been cut off from its source.  They are deprived of
nurture and strength.  They seem to cope at first, but the
concealed wound is mortal.  They begin to wither in the heat of
the sun....Indeed, some of the most bitter, unhappy people on the
earth are those who have become estranged from the God they no
longer understand or trust....If you are among those people who
have been separated from the Vine because of disillusionment or
confusion, I have written with you in mind." (pages 18-20).

     Yes, and if there is anyone reading this article who is in a
state of confusion over this subject, then I recommend you go out
and buy or borrow Dr.Dobson's book "When God Doesn't Make Sense"
and read it in its entirety.

     We must realize that it is God who made the universe, made
all there is, established the laws of nature.  It is He who made
mankind and not we who made Him, although some like to make God
into their own image.
     We are finite, He is infinite.  We are lacking in and
growing in knowledge, He is all knowing and perfect in knowledge.

We can not see what lies beyond in the next hour, He can see far
into the future.
     Although He does give us a portion of searching a thing out,
there are many things He conceals from us in this physical life -
Proverbs 25:2.
     Sometimes and in some ways God does hide Himself from us -
Isaiah 45:15.
     There are things that the Lord has chosen to keep to
Himself, for now at least - Deuteronomy 29:29.

     We need at times to remember Ecclesiastes 11:5 which says,
"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is
formed in the mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of
God, the Maker of all things."

     Isaiah 55:8-9 teaches,,"For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."'

     As Dr.Dobson has written: " Clearly, the Scriptures tell us
we lack the capacity to grasp God's infinite mind or the way He
intervenes in our lives.  How arrogant of us to think otherwise! 
Trying to analyze His omnipotence is like an amoeba attempting to
comprehend the behavior of man.  Romans 11:33 (KJV) indicates
that God's judgments are un-searchable and His ways 'past
finding out.' Similar language is found in 1 Corinthians 2:16:
'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct
Him?' Clearly, unless the Lord chooses to explain Himself to us,
which often He does not, His motivation and purposes are beyond
the reach of mortal man.  What this means in practical terms is
that many of our questions especially those that begin with the
word 'why' - will have to remain unanswered for the time being.
     "The Apostle Paul referred to the problem of unanswered
questions when he wrote, 'Now we see but a poor reflection as in
a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part;
then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known' (1 Corinthians
13:12).  Paul was explaining that we will not have the total
picture until we meet in eternity.  By implication we must learn
to accept partial understanding" (When God Doesn't Make Sense,
pages 8,9).

     It can be very easy when in a time of severe testing, trial,
or trouble (if not with all the amour of God - Ephesians 6), to
say things with our mouth that we ought not say.  Some have said
such things as: "It has been an error to become a Christian" or
"It is a waste of time to serve God - I have all these troubles -
I should quit."

     Take note what is taught us in Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 6.
Such thoughts and words are from the mind of the Adversary -
Satan!  He is able to tempt us to sin by these very thoughts.  He
can even put such thoughts into our mind.  If that should happen
we need to be able and ready to say "get behind me Satan, for you
say not the things that be of God."

     It may seem hard at times to understand God.  There will
probably be times when it may seem God does not make sense.  But
the word of this God says "the just shall live by faith and not
by sight."
     No matter how hard it may be for our fleshly finite mind to
handle certain situations that may arise in our lives, the true
Christian must believe with all faith and trust the verse of
Romans 8:28, "And we know that all work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose."

GOD IS WITH TO HELP YOU - HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU!

     I know it may be of little comfort to quote to you Romans
8:28 when your daughter has just been raped by some beast of a
man, or your neighbor has sexually molested your son or daughter.

It is hard to understand that verse when you have just lost your
wife or husband in a car crash due to a drunk driver, or when a
gang of thugs has beaten up your son on his way home from school.
     Yes, a hard to comprehend verse in the light of all the
things that this life may dish out to us.
     During the time Job was going through all his pain,
suffering and troubles, he couldn't at the time comprehend the
why of it either.
     Yet Job knew that tests, trials, and troubles, are not given
to us with the view in mind to turn us away from God and His way
of life. We need to pray and ask the Lord to help us ingrain in
our minds the attitude that Job exhibited when he was under
pressure from his troubles, pain, and sorrow - his words were:

     "Shall we receive GOOD AT THE HANDS of the Lord, and shall
we not receive EVIL.  The Lord GAVE and the Lord hath TAKEN AWAY,
blessed be the name of the Lord."

     Consider the account of Elijah in 1 Kings 17.  Verses 3 and
4 say, "Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself
by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.  And it shall be,
that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the
ravens to feed thee there."
     That was very good news for Elijah because of the drought in
the land at the time.  At least he was not going to die of
thirst. But now look at verse 7, "And it came to pass after a
while, that the brook DRIED UP...."
     Elijah was human, I suspect he may have questioned if God
was making any sense.  He sends him to a brook to sustain him AND
THE BROOK RUNS DRY!  He may even have wondered if God had left
him, forgotten about him. But no, the next verse tells us God was
still with him.  He had other plans for him in the overall scheme
of things.

     There may be times when everything looks like it is
unravelling in our lives and the Lord is busy doing something
else more important than watching over us.  But for the Christian
nothing could be further from the truth.
     I personally have experienced times like this.  I just could
not understand the Lord and what was going on in my life.  I was
trying to serve Him with all my heart, soul and mind, I wanted to
do His will.  I had prayed and prayed.  And things were just not
working out the way I wanted or thought they should.  I could
have easily got myself into the attitude that God had turned His
back on me.  Satan wants us to do just that during such
troublesome times.
     The Lord had not left me at all.  He was working His work in
my life, although I could not understand it at the time.  Now as
I look back on it all years later, I see that without those
experiences I would not be the man I am today.  Those sore trials
and troubles of yesterday are able to help me be a more
considerate, patient, sympathetic and understanding minister of
the gospel today.

     Remember the disciples at the time of Jesus' death and the
days shortly after.  They had been with Christ for three and one
half years.  They had heard Him preach the wonderful truths of
God, they had seen the many great miracles He had performed. 
They were convinced that He was indeed the very Son of the Most
High God. Then they had seen how mortal man was able to beat and
tear Him apart, then nail Him to a stake and there they heard Him
cry out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!"
     It seemed to them that God had left them.  Peter said, "I'm
goin' fishin'." They had a severe problem of perception.  All
they saw was what the facts seemed to say and they could not
harmonize them with all the facts of the previous three years. 
They thought God had left them, that He was no longer with them. 
It was only later that they could see where the Lord had never
left them, but was working out His purpose in His time and at His
will.

     David knew God was intimately interested in human beings ALL
THE TIME: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of
man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:4 NIV).  And again in Psalm
139: "O Lord, you have searched me and you KNOW ME.  You know
when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with
ALL MY WAYS. Before a word is on my tongue you know it
completely, 0 Lord" (verses 1-4, NIV, emphasis mine).

     The word teaches us that God loves His children infinitely
more than we, "being evil," (as Jesus once put it) can express to
our own flesh and blood.

     Jesus said that the heavenly Father knew each sparrow that
falls, He provides food for them, so how much more is He
concerned about us humans who are made in His image and after His
likeness. God knows the very number of hairs on our head.  He
never leaves those who are truly His children, begotten with His
Holy Spirit, heirs of His Kingdom, co-heirs with Christ Jesus
(Romans 8:14-17).

     Jesus promised His disciples of all ages that He would never
leave them.  He said that those who loved Him would be loved of
the Father.  That those who would keep His words both He and the
Father would come and live within them (John 14:21,23).

     God the Father is not some whimsical fellow who uses us,
plays with us, and then casts us aside to forget about us for a
while.  NO NOT AT ALL!  Once we have been converted and are
filled with His Spirit, He is always there with us even in our
darkest and roughest trials and storms of life.

     The story in Matthew 8:23-26 is a fine example.  Jesus,
during His ministry while on earth, could hardly be accused of
"making it easy" or "soft touching" the men whom He chose for His
inner circle.
     You are familiar with the story I believe.  Picture them in
a small boat late one evening. Jesus had had a busy day, so He
grabs a cushion and goes off to a corner of the boat for a "cat
nap." While He slept a "furious storm" came up.  Remember some of
the disciples were professional fishermen and they knew very well
what a storm could do to a small craft and those in it. They
became ever more frightened, possibly naturally so you may
think, but Jesus, when they awoke Him, for fear they would all
drown:, did not think they should have been so afraid.  He said
to them: "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" (NIV).

     Stop and think about it, there was Jesus the Christ, the
very Son of God, indeed God in the flesh, WITH THEM in the boat,
unconcerned, asleep, but yet with them.  He had not said, "Oh,
guys please excuse me, I'm staying on land for I know what is
coming later out there on the sea."  He did not leave them, even
when the stormy billows blew, He was there while they struggled
through it.  They should have had faith that with God in the boat
with them all would work out okay in the end, for God never
leaves us especially when we need Him the most.

     Let me go back to Dr.James Dobson's book "When God Doesn't
Make Sense" and quote some pertinent thoughts of his on this
point.

     ".......a person who really believes that all trouble will
be swept away for the followers of Christ, is left with no
logical explanation when God fails to come through.  Sooner or
later an illness, a business collapse, an accident, or some other
misfortune will leave him in dismay.  What is he to believe when
he discovers 'life as it is' turns out to be very different than
'life as it is supposed to be'?  He stumbles toward one of
several conclusions,, all of which are potentially damaging to
his faith: (1) God is dead, irrelevant, bored, or uninvolved in
the affairs of man; (2) God is angry at me or some sin I've
committed ; (3) God is whimsical, untrustworthy, unfair or
sinister; (4) God ignored me because I didn't pray enough or
display enough faith. All four of these alternatives serve to
isolate that individual from God at the precise moment when his
spiritual need is the greatest.  I believe it is a ploy of Satan
to undermine the faith of the vulnerable....There are so many
other sources of pain.  I am mindful of those among my readers
who are hurting for less catastrophic reasons, such as adult
children of alcoholics, those who have been overweight from
childhood, those who have been physically or sexually abused in
the early years, and people who are blind, quadriplegic,
chronically ill, etc.  I'm also concerned for the single mothers
who wonder how long they can carry the load that is upon their
shoulders.  A million different scenarios exist, but they all
point to a similar kind of frustration. And most of them bear
theological implications....No, I can't provide tidy little
solutions to all of life's annoying inconsistencies.  That will
not occur until we see the Lord face to face.  But his heart is
especially tender toward the down-trodden and the defeated.  HE
KNOWS YOUR NAME AND HE HAS SEEN EVERY TEAR YOU HAVE SHED.  He was
there on each occasion when life took a wrong turn. And what
appears to be divine disinterest or cruelty is a misunderstanding
at best and a satanic lie at worst. 
     How do I know this to be true? Because the Scriptures
emphatically tell us so.  For starters, David wrote, 'The Lord is
CLOSE to the brokenhearted and SAVES those who are crushed in
spirit.' (Psalm 34:18).
     Isn't that a beautiful verse?  How encouraging to know that
the very presence of the King - the Creator of all heaven and
earth - hovers near to those who are wounded and discouraged.  IF
YOU COULD FULLY COMPREHEND HOW DEEPLY YOU ARE LOVED, YOU WOULD
NEVER FEEL ALONE AGAIN.  David returned to that thought in Psalm
103:11: 'For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great
is his love for those who fear him.'" (pages 110, 111, 235-236,
emphasis mine).

     Then we have that wonderful section of inspired scripture in
Romans the eighth chapter beginning with verse 26.
     When in times of such mental and emotional distress that it
is practically impossible to put the words together in prayer to
the Father in heaven, then the Spirit - Christ Jesus (verse 34) -
makes INTERCESSION "for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered."

     No matter what may be our trials, tests, and troubles.  No
matter how small or LARGE, God is ALWAYS there, He never LEAVES
US!

     Remember the famous little poem called "Footprints."

     The person relating the story tells you about two sets of
footprints in the sand.  Their own and those of the Lord as He
walked alongside them.  Then in the most difficult and
troublesome time of life there was only one set of prints.  Our
story-teller asks the Lord why He left them at the time they
needed Him the most.  The Lord answers them: "Oh, my child when
you saw only one set of foot prints that was not when I left you,
that was the time I CARRIED you."

                      .................

TO BE CONTINUED

Written August 1995


Trials, Tests, and Troubles? #4

Victory in Christ with Great Glory

                                                                     by

                                                              Keith Hunt



VICTORY IN CHRIST JESUS

     The unmistakable evidence of the Bible from its examples of
righteous men and women, is that most of the time those
individuals were drawn CLOSER to God during their times of
hardship, persecution, tests and troubles.  And friends/brethren,
that should be the case!  It is at such times that we need to get
on our knees even more and cry out and beseech the Lord for help,
strength, comfort, faith, and power to battle on and fight the
good fight.
     When in the throws of the tempests of life's difficulties, I
urge you to read the life story of King David of ancient Israel. 
Read the book of Psalms, taking special notice of and comfort in
the verses and Psalms to do with times of trials, tests, and
troubles.  You will see how the Psalmists did not allow those
times to defeat them.  They did not laugh them off necessarily
either, pretending they weren't there, but they looked to God for
the extra spiritual strength they needed for those occasions when
it seemed their world was "falling apart."

     Remember how David was put to the test with the giant
Goliath.  God brought him to that situation.  David met it with
confidence and faith in the Lord.  He knew God was WITH HIM and
would be by his side to help him use the skills of marksmanship
that he had developed over past months, to defeat the enemy.
     David was hunted by the Devil and his spirit co-workers via
King Saul.  The Adversary would have loved to have literally
pinned David's hide to the wall - to have killed him.  But the
Lord was there with him against the darts of the wicked one.   
David remained true to serving God, drew close to Him, while
withstanding Satan's roaring about like some starving lion.
     And yes, David fell prey to his own fleshly carnal
weaknesses at times.  He used poor judgment, didn't get or look
for wise counsel, broke many of the teachings of the book of
Proverbs that his son would compile later.  And in so doing
brought much pain, sorrow, and trouble upon himself.
     Yet through it all he was a repentant man, willing to be
corrected, willing to be taught and instructed by the Lord.  He
knew that victory was with STAYING CLOSE, DRAWING NIGH, to God,
and not letting the hard times pull him away or turn him aside
from having and continuing his personal relationship with the
eternal heavenly Father.
     All of this attitude and character of David's was the basis
behind why God could call him a man after His own heart.

     The trials, tests, and troubles that David experienced in
his life, yes, many brought on by himself, few of us will have as
many and as severe.

     Let's read again the wonderful twenty third Psalm:

     The Lord is my shepherd - I shall not want.  He makes me to
     lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still
     waters.  He restoreth my soul:He leadeth me in the path of
     righteousness for His name's sake.  Yea, though I walk
     through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
     evil: for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they
     comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence
     of mine enemies:
     Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
     Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my
     life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

     I encourage you to obtain, read and study, the informative
book by Phillip Keller called "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23."  It
is an eye opener and will bring this Psalm to life for you as you
probably have never seen before.  Mr.Keller was for many years a
shepherd and intimately knows what David (also a one time
shepherd) was really conveying to us as he put it down in nut
shell form through the 23rd Psalm.

     Then there is the inspiring words of the great Psalm 121.  I
remember that as a young child in Sunday-school I had to learn by
heart and recite this Psalm.  The words have always been a source
of comfort, especially in times of trouble.

     I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh
     my help?
     My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
     He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth
     thee will not slumber.  Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall
     neither slumber nor sleep.
     The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right
     hand.
     The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
     The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall
     preserve thy soul.
     The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from
     this time forth, and even for evermore.


     When we are in a time of sorrow, trial, and difficulty, we
need to try and remember that there is always someone somewhere
worse off than ourselves.  It is indeed a true proverb that says:
"I thought I had problems because I had no shoes, until I met a
man who had no feet."
     Take a look at the things the apostle Paul had to suffer
through in his ministry for Christ Jesus.  Because many in the
church at Corinth were looking to men who gloried in the
physical, Paul felt he had to argue satirically from this point
of view also to try and get them to see sense.  We will pick up
his words in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, beginning with verse 23.

     "Are they (ministering) servants of Christ, the Messiah?  I
am talking like one beside himself, (but) I am more, with far
more extensive and abundant labors, with far more imprisonments,
(beaten) with countless stripes, and frequently (at the point of)
death.  Five times have I received from (the hands of) the Jews
forty (lashes all) but one; (Deut.25:3). Three times have I been
beaten with rods; once I was stoned.  Three times I have been
aboard a ship wrecked at sea a (whole) night and a day I have
spent (adrift) on the deep; Many times on journeys, (exposed to)
perils from rivers, perils from bandits, perils from (my own)
nation, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in
the desert places, perils in the sea, perils from those posing as
believers - but destitute of Christian knowledge and piety; In
toil and hardship, watching often (through sleepless nights), in
hunger and thirst, frequently driven to fasting by want, in cold
and exposure and lack of clothing. And besides all those things
that are without, there is the daily (inescapable pressure) of my
care and anxiety for all the churches!" (verses 23-28, Amplified
Bible).

     Paul surely knew what tough times were all about, the word
"tough" is possibly a poor word to use to describe all the perils
he encountered during his life.  When he talked to the church at
Philippi about many of these same experiences he also showed them
HOW victory could be achieved.

     "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in
whatsoever state I am, therefore to be content.  I know both how
to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all
things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to
abound and to suffer need.  I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST
WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME" (Philippians 4:11-13).

     Verse 13 is translated this way in the Amplified Bible:
 
     "I HAVE STRENGTH FOR ALL THINGS IN CHRIST WHO EMPOWERS ME -
I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who
infuses inner strength into me, (that is, I am self-sufficient in
Christ's sufficiency)" (emphasis mine).

     VICTORY over trials, tests, and troubles is through the
power of Christ Jesus in us!

     Now notice what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:13: "Trial has
not overtaken you more than men can endure: for God is faithful,
Who will not permit you to be tried beyond what you are able; on
the contrary, He will with the trial also provide the escape by
which you will be able to come out of it" (Ferrar Fenton
translation).

     One final truth and inspiration from the apostle Paul:

     "What can drive us from the love of Christ? affliction? or
oppression? or persecution? or famine? or nakedness? or danger?
or sword?  Just as it is written: WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY ON
ACCOUNT OF YOU!  WE ARE REGARDED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.
But in all these we more than conquer through His having loved
us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor authorities, nor present, nor future, nor power, nor height,
nor depth, nor any other created thing, is able to separate us
from the love of God in our Lord Christ Jesus!" (Romans 8:35-39,
Fenton translation, emphasis his).

     VICTORY is in Jesus!


THE GLORY THAT SHALL BE!

     The Lord wants us to repent of sin - the breaking of His
Holy righteous perfect laws and commandments.  He wants us to
turnaround - be converted - and start to live His way of life. 
He wants us to forsake the world with its carnality and lusts. 
He wants us to resist the darts of the wicked one - Satan.
The Lord wants us to be filled with the mind of His Son Christ
Jesus, to have a mind set that is humble and is willing to be
corrected and instructed in living by every word of His (Matthew
4:4).
     God the Father wants us to be His personal son or daughter. 
He wants us to "count the cost" and realize that putting the
seeking of the Kingdom is not always walking down easy street. 
It could mean the giving up of things and people that have been
very close to us.  It could mean suffering at times, hardship,
difficulties, trials, tests, and troubles, all for the sake of
being a true Christian.  It could even mean the death of your
physical body, some, at times many, were called upon to die as
martyrs for God in past ages.

     Many have had to leave lands, leave homes, leave parents, or
husbands or wives, or brothers and sisters, or children.  Many
have had to give up their successful or high paying jobs to seek
first the Kingdom of God in their lives.
     Many have suffered ridicule and persecution for the name of
Jesus.  They have been cast out from the company of their
relatives and family.

     The original twelve disciples gave up many things to follow
Christ.  They asked, and it was not wrong of them: Jesus what
shall we gain, what's in it for us when all is said and done
(Mat.19:27). I've put their question in modern parlance, but
notice Jesus did not ignore them.  He did answer their question,
see verses 28-30.

     The word of God has a great deal to teach us about what lies
beyond this physical life that is often fraught with trials and
troubles.

     Those who will surrender all to God, will receive His Holy
Spirit, thus becoming His literal child and able to call Him
"daddy" (Romans 8:14-16).
     Then as children we are HEIRS of God, and believe it or not,
as mind numbing as it may sound, we are JOINT-HEIRS with Christ! 
     If we are partakers with Him of His suffering we shall also
be partakers together of His GLORY (Romans 8:17,18).
     As Jesus inherited all things at His resurrection into
glory, so also shall we inherit the same glory.

     For a detailed study on that wonderful truth please see the
articles, " A Child of God?" and "A Christian's Destiny."

     Look at these verses in 1 John 3:1-3.  Mark them in your
Bible, believe them, be inspired by them:

     "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon
us, that we should be called the of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, now are we the
of God, and it doth not yet appear WHAT WE SHALL BE: but we know
that, when He shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, for we shall
see Him as He is!" (emphasis mine).

     Now turn to Revelation chapter 21.  Mark verse 7.

     "He that overcometh shall inherit AIL and I will be his God,
and he shall be my son" (emphasis again is mine).

     Put the above verse together with Hebrews 2:5-18 for a
breathtaking look at what the Lord has promised to the brothers
and sisters of Christ Jesus - inheritance of everything that
belongs to the Father.

     For a nut shell glimpse of that everything, turn back to
Revelation chapter 21.

     "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first
heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no
more sea.  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming
down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold,
the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will He will dwell with
tbem, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with
them and be their God.
     And God shall WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES; and there
shall be NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL
THERE BE ANY MORE PAIN: for the former thing are passed away....
     And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and
the Lamb are the temple of it.  And the city had no need of the
sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God
did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.........
     And there shall be NO MORE CURSE: but the throne of God and
of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: And
they SHALL SEE HIS FACE: and His NAME shall be in their
foreheads.
     And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle,
neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and
THEY SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER" (verses 1-4,22-23; 22:3-5,
emphasis mine).

     Ah, when this relatively short time of life in the flesh
with all of its trials, tests, and troubles are over, what a
glorious, sinless, peaceful, and restful eternity awaits the
child of the heavenly Father.

     Let's continue to pray: THY KINGDOM COME!
                                     
                        .............

Written August 1995


 

 

 

 

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