The trials of life have increased with the Coronavirus, with a rise in suicides, domestic violence, drug abuse, and we could make a long list. Some are having frightening, pandemic-induced dreams. That’s the reality of the times we are living in—increased tribulation. This plague has made us think more about our mortality. I heard some social psychologist say recently that we in this society were not
ready to face our mortality; and the plague is forcing us to; and many are terrified. Too often we live in denial of death and suffering; and the plagues could get worse and even more serious trials could come, as some talk about the rumblings of war in an unstable world.
Things seem to be changing for us. For a long time, we were spared a lot of things that happened in the past; I remember my grandfather telling me about the plague in 1918 called the Spanish Flu; and how many people were dying. It caught your attention when he told what he saw. Our forefathers understood more that life was also a veil of tears, and not just “fun,” as the commercials often try to convince us. And many often looked to God more because of the difficult life they had to live. We will need to do that as the trials and tribulations of life increase—to look to God more, and get our foundation down in Jesus Christ.
We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. The Bible reminds us of the brevity of life.
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:14 NIV).
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom (Psalms 90:12 NLT).
What’s important to understand is we don’t have to have the terror of death as the social psychologist mentions above; if we have faith in God. He has made a way for us to face death unafraid. We are not to fear death. A good example of this is what Paul said:
For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying—well, that’s better yet! But if living will give me more opportunities to win people to Christ, then I really don’t know which is better, to live or die! Sometimes I want to live, and at other times I don’t, for I long to go and be with Christ. How much happier for me than being here! (Philippians 1:21-23 TLB).
This doesn’t mean we should seek death, because life is a blessing, and God has a work for us to finish; but we need to realize even death is a promotion to something better. Paul loved life; but he realized to depart this life would be far better, because he says we go to be with Christ!
Part of the problem is the above scripture is often not real to us because we don’t spend enough time with God; and we grasp these doctrines intellectually, but often fail to see the reality. This is why serious trials can bring us closer to God. An encounter with death can increase our faith:
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NIV).
Paul says the trials were so great they despaired of life. This increased their trust in God. I’ve heard some brethren talk about how with the increased trials with the coronavirus, it made them realize more their mortality, and it helped them draw closer to God. Some talked about “gold refined in the fire,” as trials increased. Trials will come. And therefore, we must seek God to teach us how to suffer and endure through them.
Keep in mind, the pressure of life can run us down, and we may need to get a rest. A good example of this is Elijah (1 Kings 19). Even after being used powerfully as God’s prophet, he let fear come in and became depressed and wanted to die! If you will notice in verse 5, he lay down and slept, and then got even more rest after that. If we continue reading we see he needed a fresh awareness of God’s presence. He had lost sight of the reality that God was with him. All of us have a breaking point; and it will also help to back off from matters at times, pray, rest, and get a fresh awareness of God’s presence. God promises to never leave or forsake us. Sometimes we will need to slow down and get some rest and pray and reevaluate matters.
Another thing to keep in mind in the affairs of everyday life, is we often take ourselves too seriously. The pressures of life can sometimes steamroll over us if we don’t learn to lighten up a bit and laugh at ourselves. I learned more of this principle while taking care of my invalid dad; we were both under pressure, for I have health problems also, and I’m up in age too, and he would call us “Two old men.” And he and I would often joke around. I would tell him about the saying: “Old age is not for sissies.” And we would have a good laugh. Laughing would really lighten things up and help us with the struggle of it all. Try to find the humor in life trials; it will help you deal with it all. We all take ourselves too seriously at times; and will need to lighten up a bit.
Yes, it is getting difficult. Jesus said a nation divided cannot stand. Any keen student of history should be seeing that this nation is headed for more and more chaos, and many do. Many Christians are angry at the way the world is going, and some have said they want to throw things at the TV when the news is on; and they are becoming hurt and offended in record numbers; some are so angry they can’t think soundly. Keep in mind the world will do what the world does; but we have to stay in focus with it all.
When I see such chaos in the minds of Christians, I think of Paul’s admonishment to the Galatians:
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other (Galatians 5:14-15 NIV).
Keep in mind that Paul is warning Christians of the danger of their human nature which will destroy them if they are not careful. Having seen division in the churches for almost half a century now, it’s no mystery why we would need to be warned as Christians.
Therefore, keep in mind that the world will do what the world does; but I see many Christians already becoming offended and hurt, and taking things in the personal hurt way the world does, and becoming offended. Brethren, we get out of focus when we become offended, and it is dangerous. To have the kind of love that Jesus said we should have, we don’t have the right to become offended.
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them (Psalms 119:165 KJV).
Let us keep in mind that law without love is pharisaical. Think of Christ’s words in Matthew:
“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:10- 13 NIV).
Since the love of many Christians will grow cold, keep in mind the connection here between love and enduring till the end!
I used to be selective in whom I would love; when God showed me my lack of love, I realized I didn’t know God like I thought I did:
He who does not love does not know God: for God is love (1 John 4:8 RSV).
If we will be praying and meditating as we should and staying with God, then He will give us His ability to stay with His mercy and love, and not become offended and not take things in the personal way the world does, but instead we will react with His mercy and love. And this will enable us to endure till the end.
I share this with you as one who became offended for many years, and I had an unforgiving heart towards those in and out of the church. It was many years before God got my mind straight. Once God showed me how without the work He did on the cross, I would be lost; then He brought me to repentance, and I have not held anything against anyone for over 25 years now. I know that only by Christ in me can that be done, and I thank God. But I went through many years of failure before God taught me different. Once God gave me the ability to forgive, the big war I had going on inside ended! And I was at peace. Oh the price I paid for an unforgiving heart.
As we study the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talks about the Golden Rule and the love we should have that Paul mentions to the churches in the above Scripture. And He talks about forgiveness. Jesus says:
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14- 15).
I see many Christians angry at those “in the world”, when they fail to see the danger of our own nature, the same problem and danger I was in many years ago until God brought me to repentance, as He showed me the danger of my human nature. We will be safe brethren if we stay with the love and forgiveness of God, and He will give us His peace not to become offended.
Let us keep in mind what Jesus said:
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:32-37 NIV).
Jesus instructed us:
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 NIV).
We can quibble about picky points of doctrine for the remainder of our lives, but we had better make sure we are seeking God for His love. No, the law was not done away with. Yes, we should obey the Law; but again, let us remember, that law without love is Pharisaical.
Seek God’s ability to apply Jesus’ words on the Sermon on the Mount, then we won’t become offended and hurt as the world does when things don’t go our way. But we will learn to react with the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. And we will stay in focus.
Are we not to follow the example of Jesus Christ? When they crucified Him, He prayed for them, and asked God to forgive them. Spend time with God. Don’t let the busy rushing schedule of the world take you away from Him.
Spend time with the best Friend you will ever have. I used to look at prayer as a duty. Now I look at it as a time of intimacy with the best Friend I will ever have, and I have learned the joy and intimacy in prayer. He has shown me how much He cares for us. Now I want to spend time with Him. I sit in a chair talking with God, and often feel the peace of God all around me.
The cares of this life can destroy us if we let it. Don’t let the chaos of the world pull you down. Things could continue to deteriorate. Slow down; and make sure you are not neglecting your personal relationship with Jesus
Christ. Sit and talk with Him. Spend time getting to know Him personally. As we seek Him diligently, He will have us see what we need to see about prophecy, or anything else we need to stay in focus as we learn to stay with Him in prayer. Let us not pass up this wonderful opportunity to go to Him with all our cares and worries, for He cares for us: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).
As we learn to do this, He will give us His peace amidst a world of chaos.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV).
Get your foundation down in Jesus Christ:
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-27 NIV).
Too often many make the mistake I made with giving lip service to Jesus’ words on the Sermon on the Mount about forgiveness. Study the Sermon on the Mount and seek God for his ability to apply what Jesus told us to do.
Get your foundation and trust down in Jesus Christ. And as this old world gets shaken as Scripture says it will, it is the love and peace of God that will enable us to endure till the end.
