"For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love
which you have shown toward His name and having ministered and still
ministering to the saints, and we desire that each one of you show the same
diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end that you
may not be sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience
inherit the promises." Hebrews 6:10
I had occasion recently
to talk with someone about the trials of their life. She was overwhelmed by the
burdens she was carrying and was beginning to doubt God's salvation, God's
love, and God's grace in Christ toward her.
In the midst of such
human suffering it is difficult to remember that our trials are given to us as
tests to prove His love, to prove His
power on our behalf. He is the God who parted the Red Sea and has raised
the dead. Nothing is too difficult for Him.
Rather than leading us
toward doubt, God brings trials and sufferings to show us that we are Christians!
In times of trial and suffering He is maturing our faith. And since it is God
who is allowing our trials and difficulties, we are to be diligent. We are to
endure. We are to be patient for the result is the full assurance of hope.
Trials are the very
crucible in which assurance is formed.
“…we are afflicted in every
way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…”2 Corinthians 4:8-9
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us
from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38
Paul suffered much
hardship and many trials after his conversion to Christ. He is the author of both
of the above passages! God allowed Paul to be afflicted, perplexed, and
persecuted and Paul says I'm convinced; I am absolutely convinced that none of
these things can separate us from God!
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? Just as it is written, for your sake we are being put to death all day
long, we were considered as sheep to the slaughter, but in all these things we
overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us, I am convinced." Romans 8:35
God allows awful things
to come into our lives, but He will not allow us to be overcome or worn down to
the point where we walk away from our faith. There is no trial, or suffering
that can take away a believer’s salvation. He keeps His people.
It was Paul’s experiences
of tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, and death
that assured him of the security of his salvation. None of his circumstances stole his assurance. Paul tells us that he has been through it all
and rather than being discouraged or having his confidence shaken he was convinced.
The Psalmist makes note
of God’s faithfulness and our assurance of secure salvation in the midst of
adversity. Look up these verses after you finish reading today’s post:
Psalm 40:11; Psalm 18:35-36; Psalm 54:4l; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm
119:116-117; Psalm 32:7
Jude also reminds us
that God will hold us fast, even during our times of trial and adversity and
suffering:
Now to Him who is able
to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory
blameless with great joy Jude 1:24
I look forward with
great anticipation to that day!