Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 AMPC
The Context:
Paul had been a missionary to several places, and here in today's extract, he is speaking to the church in Thessalonica. He had taken time to speak to them about their present realities and the hope of eternal life. This was like the conclusion of his letter and it is instructive to note the issues raised in this final part. The Christian of today is averse to trials or tough times; in fact, we reject any tough situation 'in Jesus' name' as we think that some situations are beneath us, simply because of our new found stand in God. However, from all of Jesus' teachings and all of the new testament life, the call of God on a person's life must take him/her through the path of trials and tribulations. If I will be fully rounded and mature, God's prescription will involve some tough times. Paul knew, prepared, taught and also experienced it, so his words here come from a place of personal conviction and experience.
Why his words here make sense is because in the last chapter, he had just taught the church about the second coming of Jesus and how to prepare for Him. It is in this context that the words of today's extract makes sense. A lot of shaking is coming, and those who are not firmly secured may fall. Before the storms come or the winds sweep in, the warning comes: dark days are coming; be prepared. Only those who know their God are able to stand and to resist the devil. Guess the first and most important question here then is: have I given my life to Jesus for safe keeping? Does His Word have a place in my heart? Can God find me as an altar from which He can reach and teach the world about Him?
The Message:
It is false teaching for anyone to promote a life free from trials, simply because you seek an audience or a congregation. It is an error to seek to keep men with you on the false premise that a life of surrender to Jesus keeps you away from anything uncomfortable. I read Paul's letter again and I note a few things:
1. He acknowledges the fact that the Word of God is powerful, and that as we pray, God can keep doing His Work in the hearts of men. We can choose also not to pray but from Paul's letter, it is a privilege to be called a partner in the work that God is doing. He can get the work done with or without me, as God can never fail to have resources to get His work done. It will amount to foolishness for a mortal man to think that s/he can limit an immortal God.
2. No matter what comes my way, it does not catch God by surprise. No matter how hard man fights, he cannot change God's determinate counsel and purpose. Rather than change the hard situation, He will change you to learn to depend more on Him. This same Paul learnt this from his thorn in the flesh. Rather than take it away, God supplied grace and we know how effective Paul was.
3. God will provide and also sustain a platform on which He will display his power, glory and splendour in me. How else will the world know what it is missing if God does not make it known in and through me? He will plant my feet on a solid foundation so that nothing can shake me as I walk with and work for Him. He will not keep me from trouble but He will protect me from the evil one. There is a big difference: all men who live in the world will have to deal with the devil. He is in temporary charge of the systems of the world, but for all who have given their lives to Jesus, they have a help who has defeated Satan and can help sustain that victory.
The Response:
So you see the words: strengthen, establish and guard. Strong words, which only make sense when there is the possibility and presence of danger and trouble. That tells me what to expect in my walk with God. Even when I don't know the WHY behind all the WHAT that goes on in my life, the WHO I have come to know is sufficient to keep me sane. Only in God is a man truly kept safe from danger. It is in God's nature to keep that which is entrusted into His hands. He does not force Himself on anyone or go against the exercise of a man's freewill, but if I can trust Him with my life, He will keep me in His will and grant me His own kind of life. There is an eternal life to secure and enjoy at the end of it all, and if there has to be temporary pain, God promises that the end will justify the means. For an eternal God, he sure can be trusted. His time of favour is here.
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