THE TIMES WE FACE IN OUR COUNTRY ARE FULL OF TESTING AND TRIALS. SOME OF THESE TRIALS
SEEM INSURMOUNTABLE, YET OVER AND OVER SCRIPTURE PROVIDES US ENCOURAGEMENT TO
PERSERVE TO THE END. THE BOOK OF JAMES STATES THAT THE TESTING OF OUR FAITH IN THESE TRIALS CREATES A PURIFICATION AND REWARD THAT CAN ONLY COME THROUGH SUFFERING.
” BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO REMAINS STEADFAST UNDER TRIAL FOR WHEN HE HAS STOOD THE TEST
WILL RECIEVE THE CROWN OF LIIFE WHICH GOD HAS PROMISED TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
JAMES 1:2
THE CROWN OF LIFE, IS THE REWARD JESUS SAYS HE WILL GIVE TO THOSE WHO UNDERGO SEVERE HARDSHIP, HEARTBREAK, TRIBULATION AND EVEN DEATH ON HIS BEHALF.
WHEN I THINK OF THE CROWN OF LIFE, I THINK OF MY FRIEND JUDY. A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO JUDY’S FATHER OFFERED TO DRIVE FOUR OF HER FIVE CHILDREN TO DALLAS FROM THEIR VACATION IN SOUTH TEXAS.
ON THE WAY HOME, THEY ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN RAIN STORM AND THE CAR HYDROPLANED KILLING ALL
FOUR CHILDREN AND HER FATHER. THE LOSS WAS DEVASTATING TO HER MARRIAGE AND IT DID NOT
SURVIVE EITHER.
FOR TWENTY PLUS YEARS I HAVE WATCHED JUDY PROFESS HER TRUST AND BELIEF IN THE GOODNESS
OF GOD EVEN INTHE MIDST OF CIRCUMSTANCES FEW COULD ENDURE. I HAVE WITNESSED HER NARROW
THE FOCUS OF HER LIFE TO THINGS WITH THE GREATEST ETERNAL VALUE. I KNOW THE FATHER WAITS TO
GIVE JUDY HER CROWN FOR ENDURING UNIMAGINABLE LOSS, YET NEVER DOUBTING OR QUESTIONING
THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR HER.
BELOVED, YOU MAY NOT BE ASKED TO GIVE UP YOUR PHYSICAL LIFE FOR THE LORD, BUT EACH OF US IS
COMMANDED TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL. WHAT IS THE IMPOSSIBLE THING,
PERSON OR SITUATION THE LORD HAS ASKED YOU TO BEAR UP UNDER?
THE LORD SEES.
HE SEES AND WILL ONE DAY REWARD YOU ACCORDINGLY.
“DO NOT FEAR WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SUFFER. BEHOLD, THE DEVIL IS ABOUT TO THROW SOME
OF YOU INTO PRISON, THAT YOU MAY BE TESTED, AND FOR 10 DAYS YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION.
BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND I WILL GIVE YOU A CROWN OF LIFE..”
REVELATION 2:10
REMEMBER GOD IS NOT BLIND TO YOU PLIGHT, HE IS JEHOVAH ROI, THE GOD WHO SEES. NOTHING
ESCAPES HIS DIVINE NOTICE AND CARE.
PICK UP YOUR SHEILD OF FAITH.
REFERENCES: LIGONIER MINISTRIES
The Lord is Faithful and Answers those who call on His Name.
