James 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.
James, in his epistle, begins it with the above-mentioned phrase. When I read the verse, it seems that the words, "joy" and "temptations" should not appear in the same sentence. But, here, they are together. That is perhaps one of the greatest truths of Christianity - true Christianity provides peace amidst the storm; calmness in the midst of turmoil; joy in the middle of trouble. I knew of a lady who decided she was going to turn her life around, and start going to church. I am not her judge, but it does not appear that she had a "born again" experience. But, she purposed she was going to do better. After going to church for a few services, she told me how things in her life were doing better. I was glad to hear this. However, I felt the need to caution her. I said to her one day, "I know things are doing better for you, but what are you going to do if things get worse? What if you have a really bad day?" She was surprised by my question, but I went on to explain to her that true Christianity is not a good luck charm. We do not serve God because doing so takes our problems away. LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE SIMPLY DOES NOT TAKE OUR PROBLEMS AWAY. This lady is not going to church now. In her mind, all she knows is that the people with whom she goes to church seem to be happy people. Therefore, this lady concludes that people who are happy must be happy because they have no problems. I tried to explain to her that some of the happiest people I know have been through some of the most problems. Christians are not happy because we do not go through anything. Christians are not happy because we've never been awake all night with a sickness. Christians are not happy because friends have never betrayed us. Christians are not happy because life has never dealt us a bad hand, if I can say it that way. Christians are not happy because we've never had to worry about our finances. Christians are not happy because we've never stood in front of a casket that held someone we loved. By now, I am sure you get the point. Christians are not happy because all of our circumstances are favorable. Christians are happy, not because of our circumstances, but in spite of our circumstances. Circumstances do not define us. Circumstances do not make us or break us. We do not blame the Lord if we have a bad day, a bad week, or a bad year. Our relationship with the Lord is defined in one word - LOVE. We love the Lord, and we love Him for who is, not because He is our sugar daddy. He never promised to take all our troubles away. He never said the cross would not be heavy. We do not expect that. We are not disappointed when friends betray us; we understand that if Jesus Christ Himself was betrayed, we will be betrayed also if we follow Him. We are not shocked when liberals are tolerant to everyone except the true Christian; Jesus said, "If the world hate me, they'll hate you!" We're not expecting a bed of roses. Jesus bore a hard cross. His cross is shown in the crown of thorns, the nails in His hands and feet; the whip across His flesh, the spitting and mocking, the visible hatred of those who beheld Him. And, His message to us is simple: Take up thy cross, and follow me. If the cross was hard for Jesus, I do not expect it to be any less difficult for me.
So, the most joyous Christian you know is not joyous because the Christian life has given him no challenges. Joy in the Christian walk is given in the midst of a hard cross to bear.
Circumstances that are difficult are not given to merely Christians. Another word for "hard circumstances" is "LIFE." You are going to go through hard circumstances whether you give your life to Christ or not. Go ahead and live for the devil. You will find very quickly that a lifestyle in sin is a hard road. Getting saved will take care of some that hardness, but getting saved does not do away with "LIFE." You are still subject to real-life experiences - even the hard ones. However, you have a friend that sticketh closer than a brother to help you bear your heavy load. Life does not get easier by serving God. Life will still be life. But, if you serve God, you have help. This doesn't make circumstances any easier, but it does make bearing them easier! And Jesus Christ, our help in time of trouble, is the reason we have joy in the midst of tribulation.
James, in his epistle, begins it with the above-mentioned phrase. When I read the verse, it seems that the words, "joy" and "temptations" should not appear in the same sentence. But, here, they are together. That is perhaps one of the greatest truths of Christianity - true Christianity provides peace amidst the storm; calmness in the midst of turmoil; joy in the middle of trouble. I knew of a lady who decided she was going to turn her life around, and start going to church. I am not her judge, but it does not appear that she had a "born again" experience. But, she purposed she was going to do better. After going to church for a few services, she told me how things in her life were doing better. I was glad to hear this. However, I felt the need to caution her. I said to her one day, "I know things are doing better for you, but what are you going to do if things get worse? What if you have a really bad day?" She was surprised by my question, but I went on to explain to her that true Christianity is not a good luck charm. We do not serve God because doing so takes our problems away. LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE SIMPLY DOES NOT TAKE OUR PROBLEMS AWAY. This lady is not going to church now. In her mind, all she knows is that the people with whom she goes to church seem to be happy people. Therefore, this lady concludes that people who are happy must be happy because they have no problems. I tried to explain to her that some of the happiest people I know have been through some of the most problems. Christians are not happy because we do not go through anything. Christians are not happy because we've never been awake all night with a sickness. Christians are not happy because friends have never betrayed us. Christians are not happy because life has never dealt us a bad hand, if I can say it that way. Christians are not happy because we've never had to worry about our finances. Christians are not happy because we've never stood in front of a casket that held someone we loved. By now, I am sure you get the point. Christians are not happy because all of our circumstances are favorable. Christians are happy, not because of our circumstances, but in spite of our circumstances. Circumstances do not define us. Circumstances do not make us or break us. We do not blame the Lord if we have a bad day, a bad week, or a bad year. Our relationship with the Lord is defined in one word - LOVE. We love the Lord, and we love Him for who is, not because He is our sugar daddy. He never promised to take all our troubles away. He never said the cross would not be heavy. We do not expect that. We are not disappointed when friends betray us; we understand that if Jesus Christ Himself was betrayed, we will be betrayed also if we follow Him. We are not shocked when liberals are tolerant to everyone except the true Christian; Jesus said, "If the world hate me, they'll hate you!" We're not expecting a bed of roses. Jesus bore a hard cross. His cross is shown in the crown of thorns, the nails in His hands and feet; the whip across His flesh, the spitting and mocking, the visible hatred of those who beheld Him. And, His message to us is simple: Take up thy cross, and follow me. If the cross was hard for Jesus, I do not expect it to be any less difficult for me.
So, the most joyous Christian you know is not joyous because the Christian life has given him no challenges. Joy in the Christian walk is given in the midst of a hard cross to bear.
Circumstances that are difficult are not given to merely Christians. Another word for "hard circumstances" is "LIFE." You are going to go through hard circumstances whether you give your life to Christ or not. Go ahead and live for the devil. You will find very quickly that a lifestyle in sin is a hard road. Getting saved will take care of some that hardness, but getting saved does not do away with "LIFE." You are still subject to real-life experiences - even the hard ones. However, you have a friend that sticketh closer than a brother to help you bear your heavy load. Life does not get easier by serving God. Life will still be life. But, if you serve God, you have help. This doesn't make circumstances any easier, but it does make bearing them easier! And Jesus Christ, our help in time of trouble, is the reason we have joy in the midst of tribulation.
