" Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."Hebrews 12:1-2
Jesus must have had the victory of the cross ever present before Him, etched in His mind. He must have determined in His heart to obey God. He chose to withstand the crucifixion knowing of the gift of salvation that His sacrifice would bring.
Another friend I was talking to today reminded me of a message she heard in a sermon . Sometimes we go through trials because God has chosen to trust us with it. There is a higher purpose and a greater reward awaiting us. In the case of Job, God trusted him with his trial.
"One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, 'Where have you come from?'
Satan answered the LORD, 'From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.'
Then the LORD said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.'"Job 1:6-8
If we choose to trust God through our trials, He will reveal Himself to us in ways that we could never before fathom. If we submit to Him and bring our pain to Him, He will give us the grace to endure. He will develop character in us and entrust us with a testimony that will help others along life's journey. Just look at the book of Job. His story is one that has encouraged God's people through the ages and continues to do so. Just hang in there and hold on to Jesus.
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5 comments:
First, Hebrew 12:1-2 tells us that there are already a lot of winners. You can win this race! This great cloud of witnesses all affirm that the race is winnable and the victory is worth it. Secondly, it tells us that to win we must follow certain basic procedures. We need to put off encumbrances which would weigh us down and the sin which entangles us and look toward the joy of victory at the end of the race. Thirdly, it tells us that our best example to follow is Jesus as He lived His life, overcoming obstacles such as the shame of the cross, and reached the throne of God. In this great cloud of witnesses all died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. This great cloud of witnesses refers to those who had lived faithful lives in the past. Hebrews chapter eleven lists quite a few who made it into God's "Hall of Fame." By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen …” (Heb 11:7). By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance…." (Heb. 11:8).
The book of Job teaches us that suffering may occur for reasons we don’t understand unless or until God reveals them to us (see John 9:1-7). Trials may come because God needs to know something about a faithful servant (Gen. 22:1-12). Job’s suffering had such an intent—to prove whether he would love God in spite of everything. This message of Job has deep implications for every Christian’s relationship with God. Trials and suffering provide spiritual enrichment and build a relationship between us and God (2 Cor. 12:7-10; Heb. 12:4-12; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 4:12-19). Job also tells us no ironclad relationship exists between suffering and sin. Just because Christians suffer trials or tragedies does not mean God is punishing them for some sin. Job affirmed that God was still God — no matter what — and always worthy of our love, reverence and worship. That was the test on Job, and he passed the test. He vindicated both himself and God by remaining faithful. He proved it is possible for humans to love God unconditionally. Suffering had been an expansive, faith-demonstrating opportunity for Job. God had grown much bigger; Job had become smaller. That is an exhortation that is tremendously needed in these trying days.
Chapter 5 of Romans clearly shows us two areas of Christian blessing, and two great reasons for Christian victory. Let me bring the first before you -- the two areas of blessing -- in Verses 1-5: This is the first experience, and the results are three fold: Peace with God, access to God, and the certain hope of sharing the glory of God in heaven. All this we have the moment we become a Christian. From the moment we believe in Jesus Christ all these things are true for us. And they never become any more true -- a person who has been a Christian for 50 years is no more justified than the man who just this moment has committed his life to Jesus Christ. All Christians enjoy these same blessings immediately, permanently, and continuously. And we do rejoice in this. We have been converted and our life has been changed as we have come to realize that God has a gift of righteousness to give us -- something that we can never earn ourselves -- a gift that Christ has given us, and we are born again by receiving that gift and by the Holy Spirit working in our hearts. Paul points out here that there is a sense of peace that possesses us. Then, there is a new sense of God's presence to delight us -- we have access to God. When we talk to Him we feel that he is listening and He hears us. There is a certain hope of heaven awaits us. Thank God that someday we are going to get through all the struggles and trials down here, and will be up there with him, and what a day of rejoicing that will be!"
Dear Father, we want to learn your wonderful truths. We pray that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened to lay hold of it and understand it -- that you have provided a way by which the One who walked in the hills of Galilee 2000 years ago can live that same wonderful life again through us and make it possible for us to be victor over every circumstance, over every heartache. Lord, we thank you for this. Help us to live it and experience the real glory and beauty of Christian living. We pray these things in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus name. Amen.
Thank you Cynthia for your comments. One statement that has stood out for me is your indication that when we are afflicted by trials and tribulations this does not mean that we are being punished for a past (or current) sin. I am aware that when we do sin and are unrepentant we will be rewarded accordingly. However, I also firmly believe that the human shortcoming of being judgemental tends to make us focus on what may appear to be punishment for acts committed. It is important for us to realize that at times God sends us a challenge to make us stronger during our christian journey, to renew our faith in Him and to equip us further to testify of His goodness and His mercy.
A blessed day to all.
thanks natasha for sharing this encouraging word. this comes at the right time for me personally. truth be told, when you sent out the initial email at 10pm on tuesday evening, i was having a heated conversation with my wife about this exact topic, enduring the tribulations of life and staying true to the promises we have been given. i was frustrated when i went to bed, and equally frustrated when i woke up the next morning. as i was getting ready to go to work, i read natasha's email (there is no timing like the Lord's). it really helped to reset my perspective with things. i was reminded of a message by one of my favourite speakers (Lance Wallnau) where he talks about "enduring the contradiction". the gist of that message is that anytime you are given a significant promise from the Lord, there is always a period that follows the promise in which it would seem that "life" is contradicting what the Lord said was going to happen. we see this throughout the Bible in the lives of Joseph, Abraham, Moses, Noah, etc. if any of these guys had given up hope in the promises they received, what would the outcome have been (food for thought)?
any promise that is worth it's weight in gold must be put through the crucible to see if we are faithful. the higher the heat, the larger the reward.
i want to encourage anyone that may read this to not let go of your promise. don't let the contradictions force your eyes off the prize. we have all been created with a uniquely supernatural purpose. if we as believers resolve in our hearts to pursue our own promises to fruition with a dogged persistence, we will strategically reshape this nation...
The TNIV version expresses Hebrews 12:2a in this way ... "..fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.." This description, "pioneer," reminds me that in my heart, when Jesus came in, areas were entered that He had never been allowed into before ... therefore He is the only one that can take me to the very end of my "race of faith" victoriously.
The Spirit has to constantly remind us (or at least, me) that we cannot depend on our own ability to persevere to make it through our tests and trials. He takes us where we have never been in our faith, and will keep pressing forward ahead of us encouraging us to follow Him closely, until the journey is finished.
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