Stand!

Stand!

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 NIV

The Context and Focus:

This is a letter written by one of the disciples of Jesus, who had walked with and worked for God, and had experienced both the pains and the pleasures of that encounter with Jesus. In the introduction to this letter, James writes to his audience, presented as 'God's people scattered over the whole world. Whether the scattering was solely due to growth, or some other external factors, the verse above gives us an insight into the realities of the times when this letter was written. Walking closely with or working hard for God does not protect you from trials or tough times, but the one thing that is guaranteed is the presence of God. It was the fact of the presence of God that kept the men of old in the faith, even when everything else was falling to pieces around them. It is still the same God. The audience may have changed, the exposure may be different, but the need remains the same: this life will present challenges which will demand a response from me. How I respond will be a function of the understanding I have of God, His will for me, and my total surrender to, and embrace of His will. 

The Message:

How can God help me if I do not submit to Him? How can He help me if I don't love Him enough to let Him work in and through me that which is His perfect will? At no time does God promise that life will be free of pressure, but He promises blessings for those who stand up under pressure. It is not a matter of if but when. It would appear that there are some benefits God cannot release if He has not tested my capacity to endure and remain faithful. This is why the verse above will declare that the man who endures under trials is blessed. There are lessons that will remain in and with you when you have passed through the fire. The stories in the bible are clear on how God took men and women through the fire, and we have learnt a lot from their lives and decisions. Imagine the strength and depth of the faith and confidence a man like Daniel would have, after passing through the lions' den. Imagine the unshakeable confidence of the three Hebrew men who were cast into the furnace of fire and were rescued? What else could shake their faith in the future, considering what they had gone through? God will supply the strength, but I have to take the plunge.

The Conclusion:

The condition attached to the blessings promised by God is 'to stand the test', whatever it will take. For every test, there is an expected response God demands from me. No two people's experiences can be the same, even if the tests are similar. God is also quite interested in my eternal reality, as well as my earthly relevance. My experiences on earth are God's building blocks for where he is taking me to here on earth, as well as where I will end up in eternity. The verse above promises a crown of life to all who love the Lord. What this tells me is that God has a reward for faithful and committed followership. God is not a man who can be fooled by hypocrisy and eye-service; he made the heart, so all its machinations and schemes are laid bare before Him. Can God trust my heart to hold on to Him, no matter what He brings my way? No matter what life throws at me, it is temporary, and will come to an end with this earthly phase. I must not destroy the eternal by messing up the earthly. Tough times will not last forever, but the one who knows the One who knows tomorrow will be kept safe to the end, and will receive all that God has promised. Would I hold on, no matter what comes? God's time of favour is here.