July- September
I am a winner! These four words are the desire of every human being. Everybody likes to be a winner, and nobody likes to be a loser. But it does not come easily. For just someone to become a winner is not in words but in action. And before someone can become a winner, he must have fought battles. No one can come today and declare himself the World Heavy Weight Champion without many challenges. The truth is that before one becomes the World Heavy Weight Champion he must have suffered. He must fight many battles and win them all. Only then can he be considered a winner.
Similarly, no matter how intelligent someone may be, he or she must take an examination which will qualify him or her to enter a university. And no one can offer him or her admission into any university without credentials. And nobody can have credentials without an examination.
Now we must realize that “natural things [are] the medium for the spiritual” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 17). Tragically, many professed believers expect to win the race to heaven without any effort—in fact, even without any battles at all. Yet such thinking is contrary to what the Bible teaches.
A boxer fully knows that before he becomes a winner, he will perhaps end up losing some of his teeth. Or he may lose his eye. But in order to win that prize which will fade away, he totally commits himself. The apostle Paul wrote, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 9:25).
A young man who won a mountain race in Cameroon received many beautiful gifts from the LG and Samsung Company. Quite frankly, everybody would like to receive such beautiful gifts, but how many are willing to do what the young man did? During his interview with journalists, he explained that he gets up at 5:00 every morning, climbing the same mountain. He stated that he did this for two years prior to the race.
“I practiced strict self control,” he added. “I refused alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products in any form. Even my food was special food. I lost all my friends, because there was no time to be with them.”
Can we see how a young man, because of perishable things, practiced strict self-control? Why, then, is it that many who want to go to heaven live a careless and reckless life? No self-control. . . . Professed believers still want to eat and drink like the people of the world. They still want to maintain the same old friends. They don’t seem to realize that they need to cut off everything that may hinder their spiritual prosperity.
“Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast
it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire” (Matthew 18:8, 9).
“If to save the body from death, the foot or the hand should be cut off, or even the eye plucked out, how much more earnest should the Christian be to put away sin, which brings death to the soul!”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 313.
Here in Douala, Cameroon, my cousin and I met a young man whose leg had been amputated. Because my cousin knows him very well, after greeting him, I eventually asked why this accident had happened. He told me a story which touched my heart tremendously. He said that one day he was working as a lumberjack and went into a big forest alone to fell big trees (timber). According to him, as he was working, unfortunately, a very mighty tree he was cutting fell on his left leg. This was a very mighty tree that one hundred able men could not dare to shake. The young man shouted at the top of his lungs, crying for help, but because he was very far into the forest, nobody heard his voice. However, two things came into his mind. One, he thought, “I will remain here and die alone”; or “since my chainsaw is still steaming, I had better cut off my left leg and live.” So the man decided to cut his own leg with his chainsaw, and began to crawl out to the road with a huge flow of blood, where he met people who took him to the hospital. And today he is living happily, because he was able to save his life from death, after much pain. Here was a man who, because he wanted to live a few more years (and not even for eternity necessarily), cut off his own leg. How much more should a Christian die to sin in order to live forever with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! How much more should professed Christians cut from all evil association in order to present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is their reasonable service.
Many believe that they should not have a single trial. And according to them, anyone who has trials got to be in a wrong standing with God. Of course, this is not what the word of God says.
The apostle Paul makes it clear: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).
In fact, the easiest way to win a battle is when your coach tells you that your opponent is strong, skillful, intelligent, and determined. Thus, he prepares you to meet him. If you underestimate your opponent, you may actually find it difficult to win the battle. That is why Jesus Christ our Lord and Coach tells us to follow the narrow way that leads unto life. Matthew 7:14.
Everyone knows that a narrow way is more difficult than a broad way. By telling us to follow the narrow way, Jesus our Lord and Saviour prepares us to meet trials. Our God Himself knew that sincere Christians must meet trials. That is why He explained through His servant, the apostle Paul, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
This is not clear to the popular preachers in the world today, who preach sunshine everyday. Everything will move smoothly to him who believes. Of course this is not what the word of God says. The Bible tells us, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).
For Christians, trials may actually come even stronger when they live godly in Christ Jesus. Someone may wonder, why is it that someone who lives godly in Christ Jesus should suffer persecution instead of enjoyment and peace always? John 14:30 tells us that Satan is the prince of this world. Thus anybody who opposes him will not be left in peace here on earth. Persecution and trials do come when sincere Christians refused to conform with the world in belief. The only way to maintain a temporal peace here on earth is to agree with the world in belief, customs, habits, and principles.
“The mysterious providence which permits the righteous to suffer persecution at the hand of the wicked has been a cause of great perplexity to many who are weak in faith. Some are even ready to cast away their confidence in God because He suffers the basest of men to prosper, while the best and purest are afflicted and tormented by their cruel power. How, it is asked, can One who is just and merciful, and who is also infinite in power, tolerate such injustice and oppression? This is a question with which we have nothing to do. God has given us sufficient evidence of His love, and we are not to doubt His goodness because we cannot understand the workings of His providence. Said the Saviour to His disciples, foreseeing the doubts that would press upon their souls in days of trial and darkness, ‘Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you’ (John 15:20).”—The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, pp. 48, 49.
“There is another and more important question that should engage the attention of the churches of today. The apostle Paul declares that ‘all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution’ (2 Timothy 3:12). Why is it, then, that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber? The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world’s standard and therefore awakens no opposition. The religion which is current in our day is not of the pure and holy character that marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the word of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world.”—The Great Controversy, p. 48.
So many professed Christians live as dumb dogs who cannot bark, because they believe that that is the best way to maintain peace. But the word of God tells us that the mark of God will be set upon the forehead of the men and women who sigh and cry. (See Ezekiel 9.) Some go to the extent of compromising their faith, thinking that that also is the best way to maintain peace and unity.
The inspired writing tells us that to live in peace and unity is good. The Bible also says that if it be possible, we should live in peace with all people.
However, the Spirit of Prophecy further says. “If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war” (Ibid., p. 45).
Regarding the above-inspired messages, how can a sincere Christian expect to live without trials? Trials for Christians are the result of their separation from the world.
“What an example have the martyrs for Jesus left us in their lives of self-denial and sacrifice. They were faithful and true to principle. Although prisons, tortures, inquisitions, gibbets, and the stake threatened them, they counted not their lives dear unto themselves. Their love for the truth was here manifested. They chose to obey the truth at the expense of great suffering. The world was not worthy of these heroes of faith. They died for their faith. The pure gold was refined from all dross through trial and suffering. As these shall enter the portals of glory they will shout in triumph: We overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony. We were faithful unto death, and now receive a crown of life” (The Review and Herald, December 2, 1875).
God sometimes can allow you to get into a situation that will cause you to feel absolutely devoured. The only way to triumph is to now make Jesus Christ your constant companion, your closest friend. Let His words abide in you, and you in His words. Said David, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Unless we hide the word of God in our heart, we cannot become winners.
When faced with trials, every true Christian should think of the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These brave young men made it clear to the king that whether or not their God would deliver them from the burning furnace, they would never bow down to any other god. See Daniel 3:16–18.
Paul and Silas were aware that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. That explains why, when the persecution came, instead of murmuring and complaining, they were singing praises to God.
In 2 Corinthians 11:23–27, the apostle Paul tells some more of his trials. He went to jail many times, was whipped numerous times, and was face-to-face with death again and again. Five different times the Jews gave him 39 lashes. Three times he was beaten with rods. Once he was stoned. Three times he suffered shipwrecked. He was adrift at sea for the whole day and night, he traveled many weary miles, and he faced dangers from flooded rivers, from robbers, danger from his own people, as well as from the Gentiles. He also faced dangers in the city, in the desert, and on the stormy seas. He suffered from dangers from false brethren, and suffered in weariness, pain, and sleepless nights. Many times he went without water and food. Many times he suffered from cold, without enough clothes to keep him warm.
In all these things, the apostle Paul was counted as a faithful servant of Jesus Christ.
Dear young people, your own trials may be due to false friends. Perhaps someone you have trusted with all your heart has betrayed your trust. It could be that a brother or sister you love so much has stood against you and said all manner of evil against you, accusing you falsely. These things are there for only one reason. Satan wants to separate you from God. The Bible says, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12). But verse 13 says “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Perhaps, you have decided to abandon your faith because of false believers. But before you do that, remember the following:
1. The church is your heavenly Father’s house. How can you abandon your Father’s house because of somebody?
2. Remember that because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. This is simply prophecy fulfilling, so it should strengthen your faith, not diminish it.
3. Remember that only he or she that endures till the end shall be saved.
4. Remember how the apostle Paul endured till the end. John the Baptist suffered in prison and eventually was beheaded because he called sin by its right name. He told Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, that it was wrong to take the wife of his brother Philip while his brother was still alive. See Luke 3:19.
The only way to live in peace with the world is to cease to do the will of God. But if we have decided to follow Jesus, we must be prepared to be persecuted. Persecution does not come in only one way. But all who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. The persecution that may come to you may not be the one you like.
The pen of Inspiration writes: “Looking down through long centuries of darkness and superstition, the aged exile saw multitudes suffering martyrdom because of their love for the truth. But he saw also that He who sustained His early witnesses would not forsake His faithful followers during the centuries of persecution that they must pass through before the close of time. ‘Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer,’ the Lord declared; ‘behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation: . . . be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life’ (Revelation 2:10)” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 588).
Here Inspiration says “they must pass through [persecution] before the close of time.” Please underline the word MUST, which, as you know, means something that is necessary or obligatory, not optional. “Must” has nothing to do with choice. “Must” shows that whether you like it or not, you must pass through persecution because you choose to live godly in Christ Jesus. However, we have an assurance that our faithful Father who sustained His early witnesses cannot abandon us during that period—praise God for that.
“The early Christians were indeed a peculiar people. Their blameless deportment and unswerving faith were a continual reproof that disturbed the sinner’s peace. Though few in numbers, without wealth, position, or honorary titles, they were a terror to evildoers wherever their character and doctrines were known. Therefore they were hated by the wicked, even as Abel was hated by the ungodly Cain. For the same reason that Cain slew Abel, did those who sought to throw off the restraint of the Holy Spirit, put to death God’s people.”—The Great Controversy, p. 46.
It is only when we endure trials and suffering to the end that we can be declared winners. Like the apostle Paul who endured all trials and suffering to the end, thus, he said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7, 8).
“The crown of life is presented before us as the honor to be given at the end of the conflict.”—Evangelism, pp. 186, 187.
“We are to run the race, at the end of which is a crown of immortality and everlasting life. Yes, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory will be awarded to us as the prize when the race is run. ‘We,’ says the apostle, ‘an incorruptible.’”—Counsels on Health, p. 47.