Not to fall for the traps laid by the opponents of God but using the bad experiences also to make us grow

In our life, we undergo lots of experiences. Not everything that happens in our life shall we love, and hopefully, not everything that happens shall we hate. But somehow there shall be a love-hate system trying to pull one way or the other.

We should not be astonished at the fiery trials happening among us for our testing. Those that do not love God shall do their utmost to get us away from Him. Satan, or adversary of God, shall even rage harder the closer we get to the end of times.

Growing up, we can use all those experiences we have to make ourselves stronger. Day in and day out we can work at ourselves, using those experiences, not letting them drag us down, but fortifying us, them being the mortar for the bricks the Most High delivers us.

There may have been events that take us by surprise, coming out of the unexpected, coming from the darkness of this world. But as followers of Christ we can bear the light and as if a surprise were occurring to us; according as we share the sufferings of Christ, we can rejoice, because we do know a man can do us nothing as much as the Highest can with us and them. There is no reason at all to put our trust in man instead of God. Therefore, we do have all reason to rejoice in our suffering; so that we may rejoice exultingly at the revelation of his glory.

“I know Jehovah, That his way is not in the power of man, That it is not in man who walketh to guide his steps.” (Jer 10:23 Calvin_Bible)

“12 Beloved, think it not strange when ye are tried by fire for the purpose of proving you, as though some new thing had happened to you; 13 But inasmuch as ye are partakers of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice; that at the revelation also of his glory ye may exultingly rejoice.” (1Pe 4:12-13 Calvin_Bible)

When we are aware of the suffering a human being has to undergo, not by God His intentions, but by the choices made by man itself. With the knowledge that the elohim Hashem Jehovah is stronger than any human being when we are willing to come under Christ, we know that even as we are sharers of the sufferings, so also we shall be sharers of the comfort.

“and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort.” (2Co 1:7 ASV)

When looking at our life, the bad and good experiences, we are able to place them in the right picture. We do know that for a brief moment at the present we are bound to grieve in various trials, in order that the proof of our faith – much more precious than gold refined by fire! – may be found a cause for praise, glory, and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

“6 On account of which ye exult, though now for a little while, if it be necessary, ye are made sorrowful through various temptations; 7 That the probation of your faith, much more precious than gold which perisheth, though even it be proved by fire, may be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, when Jesus Christ shall be revealed:” (1Pe 1:6-7 Calvin_Bible)

The bottom line, in our lives, is not to fall for the traps laid by the opponents of God. They will be only too happy to challenge, bully or harass us, and try to make our lives as miserable as possible. But we should not let them do this to us and can ignore their hostile actions or beat them to the ground, deliberately choosing to ignore them and go forward without further consideration for them, except to grieve them and pray that they would take another path.

It is not that we would not feel those bad things people do to us. But we should know that it is better for us, the time we are here on earth, to suffer because of doing good – if that be the wish and will of The God Most High – than be persons suffering for doing bad. Because we should strive to do the Will of God, more than doing the will of man.

“For it is better to suffer, if so be the will of God, for doing good than for doing evil:” (1Pe 3:17 Calvin_Bible)

We should not think it strange that others around us want to test us. How more we go in against the traditions of man and desire to follow God’s Will, people shall laugh at us and try to convince us to go their way. We should realise that the testing of our deep conviction by those around us, shall work out endurance. Undergoing all those tests we should let endurance work out completely so that we may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

“2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various temptations; 3 Knowing that the trying of your faith works patience: 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so that ye may be perfect and entire, in nothing deficient.” (Jas 1:2-4 Calvin_Bible)

Whatever people do with us, let us always keep our focus on the right things, the things of God. In Him we shall find a more precious life than the life people undergo in this system of times. All the afflictions that come along our way may strengthen us and should encourage us to remain in the faith, being convinced that we must gain entrance into the Kingdom of The God through many oppressions.

“confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.” (Ac 14:22 ASV)

It might well be that we do feel continually pressured, but not completely restricted. Continually perplexed, but not without direction. Even when we would be continually persecuted, we should know that when we trust God He shall not abandon us. Though many might want to attack us and continually suppress us, we can live with the idea that they shall not be able to destroy us.

We do have the example of Christ. He in his short public life must have suffered also a lot. Also, his earthly parent had to endure a lot of pain. We have to let the life of Jesus to become manifest in our body. For we, the living, are constantly being exposed to death in behalf of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus might also be manifest in our mortal flesh.

“7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves; 8 [we are] pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; 9 pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed; 10 always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (2Co 4:7-11 ASV)

It is true, lots of things that happen to us may hurt us. Realising that this oppression produces endurance we are willing to endure the pain and ask God to help us to endure it. This endurance documents and endorses us, so that this endorsing documentation produces hope for much better times to come.

“3 And not only so, but we glory also in tribulations; knowing that tribulation produces patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” (Ro 5:3-4 Calvin_Bible)

“Blessed is the man, who endures temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life: which the Lord hath promised to them who love him.” (Jas 1:12 Calvin_Bible)

Therefore, we are not afraid of what others want to do against us, and manage to do to us. We let ourselves not be frightened of what we are about to suffer. The Scriptures give us many examples of how men of God had to cope with difficulties. We have all the reason to continue to be faithful unto death so that we might receive the crown of life.

“Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” (Re 2:10 ASV)

“Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that [hour] which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Re 3:10 ASV)

Preceding