It is simply unheard
of within scripture of someone with great faith not being tested in that
faith. Try as you may, you will not come
across a God beacon who avoided being sorely tried. Noah, Moses, Ruth, David, Daniel, Mary,
Peter, Mary Magdalene, Paul; they all were sent careening off the cliff at some
point and you will also come upon your own cliff. It may not appear suddenly but could
gradually arise but you will face it if your love of Christ is actual. The most comfortable life there is right now
is the one without hope, without promise.
Hope is not for the pagan or the atheist but only for the one going
through the fires of faith. If you want
to look around at all the pitch dark souls wandering around without Christ and
long for their settled existence, you certainly can. But it would be like Noah's wife perched in
the ark ruminating over how easy her aunt has it back in the village. You are going to face tremendous trials that
will bark at your faith but that is all they can do...bark. The trials have no bite for they cannot get
at where you are...hidden with Christ in God.
You are dead and that is what the Lord declares you to be.
Imagine a great bear snarling at the Lord Jesus Christ glorified. It is as ridiculous as your trial besting
you. The Lord has you and yes your faith
is being tested but that is just the beginning of birth pains for you as you
triumph in them and come out victoriously to your place in the pantheon of
God's great hall of saints purified by trial.
Resist the urge to envy the untroubled.
Nothing can take away the joy you possess ultimately and it doesn't need
to be dispossessed now. The trial will
pass but you will stand and stand with a smile gracing your face as you look
back upon it as a toothless barking dog .
Be resolute in your determination to trust Christ fully at the moment
the hounds come after you.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ
in God. Colossians 3:3-4 NIV
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