The Valley of Persecutions & Trials ~ Perfecting Our Faith

Do not fear any of the things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you in prison,  that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.   Revelation 2:10     

You and I often walk in  the torturous Valley of Persecutions and Trials. These are times in our lives when we feel off-balance and fearful, because we've been attacked in a way that feels especially unkind or even vicious. We're caught off-guard because trials can come unexpectedly from anywhere, and are often caused by people we know, even family or friends. But trials are also caused by a lack of money, food, clothing or shelter--what we call "the necessities" of life. Many trials are caused  by sickness, misery and pain.  And then there are trials caused by the more subtle influence of Satan and his demons in their unseen world.

But my point is, wherever trials and tribulations come from, we must face them and deal with them, because our eternal destiny depends on it. You can expect your faith to be tested and tried by sorrow, illness, or persecution,  along with many other unexpected strivings and stresses in your life. You and I must be ready to fight through all of these in order to have eternal life with God.

We aren't used to suffering for our beliefs in this country, but we are living in unsettled times. At any time, we may be subjected to a surprisingly hateful effort by those who don't believe as we do. And so I want to remind you of what Peter said to those followers of Christ: "...you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom not having seen you love." Before the trials come, we should already know how we'll deal with them. And, as always, that means we should be filling our hearts and minds with the word of God. 

                                                                             

I'm sure you're familiar with the Beatitudes listed in Matthew 5. Verses 11 & 12 say: "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Remember that we're the salt of the earth, a city set on a hill, and a lamp that shines before men. Our physical trials can help us keep our saltiness, can help us be a shining example, and help us be a lamp of enlightenment!

We are to show those who are  lost and hurting the way of life. If we suffer in the process, our reward is greater. Big words, I know, but they're true. All the apostles except John were killed while standing for Christ and with Christ, openly proclaiming His gospel. We aren't likely to lose our lives, but are we even proclaiming the gospel?

So what more can trials do for us? The Christians in I Peter were suffering escalating persecution, so Peter was writing to show them how to live victoriously in the middle of hostility--without losing hope or becoming bitter--while keeping their trust in their Lord, and looking to His second coming. So we can look at trials as giving us a purpose for our earthly existence, while helping us to appreciate God and our blessings. And trials also help to bring our faith to perfection by alleviating doubt, fear, anxiety, depression, and discouragement--all those emotions and feelings we find so disturbing. As believers, we are constantly exposed to a world in which Satan and his demons hold sway. But, like the Christians Peter was addressing, we too can live victoriously.
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 Remember Job's loyalty to God? His faith was definitely put to the test. Job was going along with his life, a rich man who sanctified his children daily, when he suddenly lost everything that was important to him--his health, his home, and his children. But he didn't lose his faith, even though Satan was expecting him to curse God and die.  But the story of Job shows his  attitude  when bad news kept coming to him: "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.' In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong."                                                                                  

                                                         

Job was tested by the most accomplished tempter the world has ever known--Satan. Notice that Job was not being tempted by more wealth, but by trials and tribulations bringing all the pain and anguish mankind can experience. And when his friends asked him what he'd done wrong to be punished like he was, he refused to agree with them. When his wife turned on him and told him to curse God, he wouldn't listen. Job's faith was firm and strong no matter what happened in his life. He is an example to all of us!

Hebrews 11 has a list of people whose faith was strong like Job's. And the beginning of each verse says that their actions were "by faith." Let's look at these characters who had strong faith:

1. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain...God testifying of his gifts...and through it he being dead still speaks.
2. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death...for he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him....
3. By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
4. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. By faith...he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country...for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
5. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she had judged Him faithful who had promised.

And the verses end by telling us: "These died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."    Heb. 11:13

I John 5:4 says: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith." So what is the answer to any trial or tribulation or persecution? Of course, it's our faith. People following Christ are not always free from sorrow, pain, and the stress of this world, and may even suffer persecution before life is over. But we must prepare for assaults on our faith when we enter the Valley of Persecutions and Trials. We must be ready to stand steadfast in our belief in Jesus Christ the Son of God--our Lord and Savior!

Blessings...Mimi