(1Peter 4:12) “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”
Assessment seems to be the order of the day for the pilgrim, their root of endurance will be tried through many different struggles. But this is nothing new. Through sickness and through health, through laughter and weeping, it must be this way, as this is the only way we will really begin to understand ourselves as our commitment to the Lord Jesus becomes evident.
I have been in the Cedarburg with my son Mongi over the last four days we have been on horseback and through some of the ancient historical sites of the San people, which in itself has been very informative, their old rock paintings speak volumes and it is here where the saying, “a picture speaks a thousand words” was understood by these nomads so long ago. They have left their legacy and we too will leave ours, may we learn to occupy until our Saviour returns or we breathe our last.
It was obvious that these people had been influenced by witchcraft and were lost spiritually. I am taken to the verse in Revelation where John saw a multitude of believers in heaven; “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:8-9) – So even among these remote nomads that travelled up the river and throughout the rocky overhangs of the Cedarburg a remnant will be ransomed by the blood of the Lamb. How great is our God! Brilliant is too small a word to describe His ingenious wisdom.
What legacy will we leave behind; I pray that our hearts would be gripped to preserver through whatever hardship we face to the glory of our great Lord and King. There seems to be an endless amount of testing needed for our lives, will it ever end I find my frail flesh question at times. Yesterday I drank some of the tap water which on the surface seemed a safe thing to do, it was not! It is in times like this that test our endurance; but we must never forget everything we face in life has a purpose and has been clearly thought out by our God. All is needful for us to become more like our glorious Saviour, instead of resisting the tests through life it would be good for us to use them to help us find grace and become more like our King. Suffering of all kinds is beneficial if we reason with spiritual wisdom. It puts a whole different perspective on the trial of our faith when we reason with a sound mind. We no longer ask why but how will this hardship teach me what the Lord Jesus endured while redeeming us back to God the Father. Peter is very specific and he instructs us in this manner; “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (1Peter 3:12) – “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” (1Peter 4:12-16)
The context of this portion of scripture speaks of the hardships we must endure when standing upon the truth, come what may, sickness is a very weak substitute, nevertheless all kinds of suffering will have their part to play in fashioning us into the image of our great Saviour, let us therefore learn not to shirk the trial but to welcome it, as it will be worth it all. One day our hope will finally arrive and we will enter the Promised Land and we will receive our glorified bodies and we will forever be with our God paying him homage for all eternity. How I long for that day, even so come quickly Lord Jesus! But until then may we seek out the store rooms of grace to help in time of need.
Signing off
Tyrone
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