The view that when one accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, that everything will go smoothly from that point forward, is an incorrect view, for although He has promised to be with us always, His leadership involves taking us through very difficult places, and experiences, that by our constancy, obedience, and steadfastness, sterling character will be built. It is described in the Bible as being a cross.
Good character is not the result of an accident, and thus, it is by trials that we are enabled to climb each rung of “Jacob’s” ladder. Therefore, for us Christians to expect only smooth sailing is a misnomer, for the gold of character is freshly minted in the fires of our life’s experiences and obedience is often developed, tested, and confirmed in the presence of opposing forces.
When Adam and Eve first fell into transgression, it was their distrust of God that led them to sin, and in our experiences the same thing often rings true, for it’s discovered that in very many cases our tendency to disbelieve God leads us into transgression. Thus, it is easy to obey God when things are going good, but when the clouds and rainy days come, when the storms of life unload on us, then it is manifested if we will really continue obey.
When things were going good for Job, obedience didn’t require much effort, for he was surrounded daily with blessings and prosperity. But when trials came, and he was tempted to curse God and die, he then had to make a deliberate choice to continue serving God. It is at times like these when a make or break moment often occurs, for God will strengthen but He never interferes with our freedom of choice.
When John was imprisoned in the dungeon he had to regroup and consider whether he would continue believing, and it was only when he decided to move forward with God that his faith is confirmed. Thus, the easygoing brand of Christianity that is subjective in nature, which only loves blessings but hates trials which develop character, often fizzles, and trembles on the brink when trials or temptations appear out of nowhere.
Some Christians balk at the idea of trials as if it were some strange thing that’s unique to our experience alone. But the Bible teaches us that God is deeply involved in the process, that has become necessary on account of sin, and therefore, because faith that isn’t tested cannot be trusted, every human being, including Jesus Christ, must pass through the fiery furnace, for faith and obedience to be made manifest. Let’s read:
Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Again, we behold Jesus as the cup of human woe trembles in His hand, in the garden of gethsemane. His own words at that time of trial reveal the severe internal struggles He experienced in His decision of whether or not to move forward with the salvation of man. Obedience at that time was never a breeze, as we also will find out, whenever tough choices to serve God need to be made. Let’s read:
Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.
Matthew 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
If Jesus is asking for prayer, we know things have to be pretty bad. Thus, whenever our turn may come, and we are faced with stark choices of whether or not continue obeying God, then it is that character is being confirmed, and if we do not renege on our obedience nor become impatient and frustrated at the process, we will become much stronger in faith, because when resilience is manifested in difficulty it produces conquerors.
Indeed, trial is not something we should eagerly look forward to, but we are all encouraged not to surrender our faith in God, whenever the going gets rough, because Christ knows what He is doing, and the rough edges, dross, wrinkles and all impurities in our character must needs be purged, if we are to be made mature representatives of The Highest. This is the work of character building that must take place in every true believer. Let’s read:
Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Thus, it is that the experiences God permits us all to pass through, are the means whereby our faith is to be developed. The problem with many of us is that we often permit trials to break us instead of making us, for, like the easy-going Christians of our day, we like to hop on the deliverance band-wagon as soon as any storms arise, not considering that an ongoing work of character building is taking place.
Some of us don’t take the time to look at the larger picture to understand that Jesus died, not merely to forgive us, but to save us from our sins, and as such, the evil traits in our characters must be purged out. Some of us Christians may have very short tempers which flare up at the least provocation. With others, there is often manifested an argumentative spirit, that clamors to have the last word.
Others have a problem with snitching and gossiping by which several juicy tidbits of people’s personal business are dwelt upon with intense interest, while suppositions and forgone conclusions are added to the toxic mix. Then again, some of us like James and John, love to fight, and we cannot rest content until we get even with someone who has done us wrong.
Again, there is the character flaw of impatience, by which many Christians fall into the snare of making our own time-tables for God, and if for some reason His promises do not come through at a preset time of our own making, then we are ready to throw in the towel in the heat of the moment, and thereby make shipwreck of faith.
Therefore, circumstances that will test our patience, situations which would test our anger management, and conditions that would test our resolve to keep quiet when angry words fly left and center, would be permitted to come our way at different times in our experience.
But if by the grace of God, if by our free choice, and in cooperation with The Holy Spirit, we endeavor to keep moving forward with God, we will come forth victoriously at the end of the tunnel, after the trials of obedience are lifted. This takes us into the next segment of our Bible study: “They Will Kill Me”.
Abraham, whom God had called to be the father of the faithful, was living in Ur of the Chaldees. He was well established in the land of his forefathers, when lo and behold he receives a command to leave his hometown and country, to go to a place that he will be shown. This specific call did not come in the days of his youth when he would have time to regroup if things didn’t pan out.
It was given when he was seventy-five years of age, when most people would be concerned about their 401 k, their retirement, and medical bills. It is not an easy thing to entirely uproot from one’s base at the age of seventy-five let alone to go to a land in which there are hostile forces to righteousness. Therefore, in consequence of this major move, Abraham could have asked several pertinent and valid questions, if he was so disposed not to leave.
Will he have enough pasture for his flocks? Will he have a support system for himself and his family in a land of strangers, and would he be able to learn a foreign language at his age? Would he be permitted to return to bury any of the many other relatives he is going to leave behind? But in the face of all these logical questions, Abraham obeyed, and he left, not knowing whither he went. Let’s read:
Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families
of the earth be blessed.
4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
But not long after they left, evil forebodings began to appear, because the Canaanite was in the land. In just a short period of time a deadly famine began to overspread the land, to the point where Abraham was forced to relocate temporarily in Egypt, so as to spare his family and flocks the horrors of starvation.
Now, this is where it gets interesting, for the Bible explicitly states that God knows the end from the beginning, meaning, that in this instance, He knew in advance of the famine, He knew what decision Abraham would make in such a situation, and God also knew in advance, that Abraham would tell lies in order to protect himself from what he viewed as an existential threat from the Egyptians.
The question to be considered is “Why would God, in the full knowledge of the future, permit Abraham to go down to Egypt and lie. It is worthy of note that God in no way sanctions any type of falsehood, for He desires only truth in His servants. This particular situation did not take God by surprise, neither was it something He did not cater for, so the question is why would He permit this? Let’s read:
Genesis 12:9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon.
12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
Thus, it was made manifest to Abraham something he may not have known about himself, but of which God was fully aware, and in order for him to see his need of victory over this character flaw, God would permit circumstances to accrue which will facilitate the discovery of the evil trait. To speak the truth in easy instances is quite different to speaking truth in a difficult, or life-threatening circumstance.
But in each and every circumstance we may come across, God desires that we deal truthfully, and not tell any lies, for we are to be representatives of His character. The conclusions people draw about God depend a whole lot on what they see in those who call themselves Christians, and that’s why He says “Ye are My witnesses”. A witness is not merely a spectator but is to be a living reflection of what he or she has seen and heard of God. Let’s read:
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto
all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Thus, there may be some latent tendencies, some evil propensities in us that might still lay dormant at the moment, but which at some time or another we must be made aware of. Some Christians would tell lies only when they are under tremendous pressure, while others often use it as a natural default mode. David used it, Saul used it, Peter used it, and many in high places currently use it on a daily basis.
Recently, a Christian woman, single, and with five young children was stopped at an intersection by a trooper at an intersection on her way to work, for in her haste to get to her job, she ran a red light. After examination the officer found that she was driving with an expired license and asked her if she was in the country illegally.
Now, the community where she lived is not one of those sanctuary cities across the land where “Catch and release” is practiced. If she was to be truthful in this desperate situation she would confirm what the officer had suspected, which in consequence could lead to her deportation, and possibly separation from her kids, since they were U.S citizens. What was she to do in this instance?
Should she trust God and obey His laws on speaking truthfully in every situation, or should she resort to plan “B”? Should she like Abraham conclude that they will “kill” me, meaning that if she were to tell the truth she would surely face dire consequences. It is worthy of note, that in Abraham’s case, it was his own premonition of evil, that caused him to tell lies.
In fact, nobody was going to kill, Abraham, for he had been given the promises of God’s protection when he left Ur of the Chaldees. Therefore, his own conclusions were based on premonition, not on the promises of God. Sometimes, in our experience, we too may succumb to premonitions, gut feelings, or a hunch.
We often allow intuition, inkling, or our sixth sense to drive us to do or say things, which under a more favorable circumstance, may never be said or done. But God does not desire that we should live by gut feeling or instinct; He has given us mighty promises which, if believed, embraced, and acted upon, will clear the way for us to deal and speak truthfully in every situation.
There are times when it can be quite difficult to obey God, but the consistent practice of doing right will culminate in sterling character building when we are confronted with precarious situations such as those described previously. Our choices, and our decisions, and the repetition of good deeds do form habits, and they in turn form character, and we will often find that God will permit several opportunities for us to grow.
Some of these circumstances may be easy-going, while others may put us at the crossroads, but all in all, they are designed to refine the work of building sterling character, in those who are thus exercised. It is not the will of God that Christians should be made the sport of circumstances, and we should try by His grace to do right the first, and every time, for the trial of faith can become increasingly difficult with every passing round.
Therefore, let the good work of character building continue, let us, instead of buckling under those circumstances that test us, rather look at the bigger picture, for we are not living for the present only, but for the future. In lieu of this fact we will end on a note that should encourage us to stay the course with God, because all things work together for good to them that love Him. Let’s read:
Hebrews 11:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
God Bless!