WHY CHRISTIANS HAVE TRIALS

We have all heard the pathetic cry of both believers and non-believers, “Why is this happening to me?”

The answer depends entirely upon what our relationship is with the Lord If we are a child of God, then it may be a matter of His training and developing us to be even stronger in the faith. Our father loves us and wants us to develop to our full capabilities. He prepares us for any eventuality that we may be called upon to face. When we were children our parents chastened us and guided us through facing and overcoming our problems, teaching us what is serious and what is only a temporary inconvenience. Because of this background, we should as mature adults be able to examine our problems and make the analysis, as to their seriousness. however most of us may need guidance at times. As an example, Phyllis and I have had a habit of walking for the sake of our health, but recently our advisor, our doctor, has not been happy with our cholesterol levels. We walk too slowly! But Phyllis can not keep up, if I walk faster. There is a solution. We are fortunate in that the community center where we live has a very well fitted out gymnasium, and we have full access to it at no charge. There is even a pool though it is very busy. The gym has two treadmills. Phyllis can adjust her speed to the level she needs, and I can adjust mine to a faster pace, yet we are still walking together. I could even jog. Or I can choose to use the stair climber, or perhaps one of the cycles set for anything, a level stroll, one long hill, or perhaps a series of hills, and greater resistance can be added. I can pedal for ten minutes, twenty minutes, or an hour if I wish. We can actually pedal along side by side, but one be doing hills, and the other level ground. Now applying this to more serious problems in life, isn’t that what we are actually doing in our daily lives. The believer and the non-believer each has their own needs, the believer needs to strengthen his faith, but the non-believer may be being punished. In our example case, we go to the gym to help adjust our cholesterol levels, keeping in mind our age. Walking is not accomplishing enough. Our doctor advisor says, we have to work up a sweat to raise my good cholesterol, and lower Phyllis’ bad.

Turning to spiritual trials, let us look to 1 Peter 4:12-19

12. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Some people come to the Lord expecting that all their problems will instantly go away simply because they are a Christian. On the contrary, we should expect Satan to make a renewed effort to discourage us.

He tried this even upon our Lord Jesus. Immediately after his baptism, Jesus endured a period of temptation. Satan was testing his loyalty to his Father God. Satan had tried this with Job. Now he was repeating it with Jesus. In both of these cases, he failed, But, unfortunately, he does not always fail with a new born Christian. This is where other Christian come in. We must lift up and encourage our new brothers and sisters in the faith.

Our refuge is in God. Peter is telling us clearly, Do not be surprised, trials will come, in fact let us rejoice for every time Satan fails. God will bless the faithful believer even more. He is telling us to behave in such a way, that we do not deserve to be punished, and God will bless us. If in fact, it be that even our physical lives are sacrificed for His sake, the rewards laid up in heaven are that we be very near to the very throne of our Lord, where the martyrs are.

It never ceases to shock me that those of the extreme religion faiths can not see the difference between murder followed by their own suicide and martyrdom, probably the result of murder. The one is condemned by God and the other is rewarded! There will be no unrepentant murderers in heaven, but there will be martyrs, perhaps their victims, at the very feet of our Lord’s throne.