Being Christian does not exempt believers from trials and tribulations. Life is still filled with hurdles, distractions and deception when we are seeking truth and pursuing the path of salvation. While secular society embraces atheism and places its faith in science and material wealth, the carnal nature of the human condition results in our affinity to worldly values and our rebellious disposition that rejects God’s ways. This societal peer pressure creates many stumbling blocks that run interference with living a holy life. Such is the fallen state of man.
Jesus said we cannot serve God and the ways of the world, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Mathew 6:24. He also warned about the narrow and wide roads and the difficulty of finding the narrow gate that leads to life (Mathew 7:13-14). While Christ declared that his yoke is easy and his burden is light, he did not promise his followers that they would live lives on easy street. In fact, he predicted quite the opposite.
When Jesus sent out his twelve disciples to spread the good news he warned them to expect persecution and hatred (Mathew 10). In Mathew 10:22, Jesus says, “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” In the Bible there are over 100 Bible verses that state – only those who endure to the end will be saved. Based on scripture we are to expect to be challenged and tested in order to build perseverance and strength in our faith.
When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they were tested in the desert through a process of refinement so that only those who were sincere in their faith would enter the promised land. “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” Psalm 66:10-12. This is a lesson we can apply in our Christian experience.
The message of the gospel has been preached for two thousand years. Throughout his ministry, Jesus predicted that not everyone who hears the message will receive it and follow it. In the thirteenth chapter of Mathew, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and scorched the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears let him hear.” Mathew 13:3-9.
The prophet Zechariah wrote that the insincere would be turned away for their lack of faith. “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. And I will turn my hand against the little ones. In the whole land, ‘declares the Lord, ‘two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one third will be left in it. This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” Zechariah 13:7-9. We are called to suffer and endure persecution and hardship in order to prove ourselves worthy.
Christians are called to focus our lives on Jesus and bear fruit for him. We are called to be humble and patient, enduring until he returns. When we do so, Jesus, who is faithful and true, will take us home to be with him forever. “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” Revelation 3:10.
