Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12 KJV
The Context:
James encourages the Jews of his time, who were now scattered among the nations, probably due to trials and persecutions, to hold on to the faith that they had received. How do you encourage someone to endure tough times, unless you know, by experience, the blessings that come from going through those tough times? James is basically saying: 'Count it as a thing of joy when you are tried and tested'. For James, he had his own personal experience of what walking with Jesus entailed: he was one of the inner caucus of Jesus' disciples; he saw firsthand all the opposition and threats that Jesus faced while on earth. If he did not have the hope of a better tomorrow, or a clear idea that the tough times were just temporary, he may not have had the courage to hold on to the faith that he had received. This is my first charge: I must accept and embrace tough times; they form part of the package that God has prepared for my growth and development. If they do not come, how do I know who I am and what I can endure? If I cannot stand in the days of trouble, it is very likely that it is the days of convenience that will put me in trouble.
The Charge:
There is a blessing in being tested. My limits are stretched, and the things I thought were impossible become possible. When God pronounces/promises a blessing, watch out for the conditions. In the context of today's extract, I cannot lay claim to the blessing promised here if all I do is avoid being tried and tested. I also note that the blessing actually manifests when I have endured the test. It does not say anything about what kind of tests will come, except that they will surely come. It does not say anything about the duration of the tests, or in what format they will come, or who/what will be used to test me, but I must be sure that the tests will come. I look at the reward: the crown of life. You wonder then, that if my eternity is secured, what is my fate down here? You can be sure that God does not hold anything back from me on this earth, and He will supply all that I need for life and Godliness. He does not want me to just keep an eye on the crown in eternity, while 'suffering' down here on earth, but He wants me to know that He will give me all that will make me an effective vessel in His hands. Is this the God I have come to know, or is there another?
The Conclusion:
It's hard to connect love with trials, isn't it? Yet, with God, one sure sign that he loves me is that He allows me to go through tough times to test and prove that love. It is one of the things about God that is difficult to understand, yet it is also one of the things about God that show his mighty wisdom, power and grace. How do I stand and testify of the grace of God that has helped me to stand, if there are no accounts to prove so? How do people seek to know about my God if there are no personal accounts of his dealings with me, even in my pain? He does not call me to himself for fun, or just to frustrate me; He has a plan, both for the earthly and the eternal. I have to trust His process, plan and procedure for that purpose of His. I also note that there are no collective messages here; it is for individuals. God calls me as a person, and my path may cross with yours, but each of us must find God for ourselves, and allow Him do what He alone can do with surrendered vessels. My eternity will be glad I did. God's time of favour is here.
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