TRIALS OF LIFE

[garywalker]

When it comes to trials, tests, and troubles, life can be a
mixture, MANY facets are involved as to how, when, where, and
why.

We shall start to look at this subject by answering the
question:
"WHERE do trials, tests and troubles come from - WHO is
ultimately behind them all?"

THE WHO OF TRIALS

When God first made man and woman, and placed them in the
garden of Eden, all was "good." They had been created perfect
physically speaking, and with a wonderful garden o fruits,
vegetables, and animals to enjoy. All was their's......all....
except....well one little tree that the Lord said was "off
limits" to them, troubles would surely come if they ate of the
fruit of that tree.
One day both the man and his wife (Adam and Eve) were
strolling
around the garden, may be close to the tree and the fruit they
were not to touch or eat. Then the one we now know as Satan the
Devil comes sweetly up to the woman, oh, was he about to butter
her up with deceptive words that would appeal to her vanity and
emotions. We can read all about it in the first verses of
chapter three in the book of Genesis in the Bible.

Did Satan turn on the charm? You bet he did! He soon had
Eve believing God was a liar, big time liar, and just not really
that generous, for God was holding back from them the wonderful
fruit that if eaten would make them like God, to know everything,
and what could be better than to know everything Satan told the
woman.
Now Eve was created not as a robot for God to play with, but
as a free agent, able to make choices, to listen, to meditate, to
be influenced. She was created with emotions and desires of the
natural fleshly mind.
When all these natural abilities of the mind were
manipulated and influenced by the Devil, the woman was deceived
and took of the forbidden fruit, gave to her husband and they
both did eat. WAM BANG - SPLASH FLASH - BOOOOOM! Their eyes were
opened to SIN! They had encountered their first trial, test, and
trouble, and had fell headlong down into the pit.

When God finally found them after they had run off to hide
from Him, He asked them questions that soon told Him the results
of the trial and test. Oh, they were quick to "pass the buck" -
put the blame on everybody but themselves. Now the truth was
that they had some responsibility in falling into sin and
disobeying the commandment of the Lord. But I am not focusing on
that in this article.
I want us to notice in this specific instance WHO started
this trial and tests for Adam and Eve.
It was SATAN the Devil!
We see from this first example of the Bible that the
Adversary can test and trouble us through our human mind,
emotions, and desires.

There was a man in the land of Uz, his name was Job. He was
perfect and upright, a man that feared the Lord, and avoided
evil.
This man Job was so righteous that even God said to Satan
one day: "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is
none like him in all the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one
that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" (Job 1:8).
Ah, the Devil was not slow in answering God when he said:
"Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast thou not made a hedge about
him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every
side? But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath,
and he will curse thee to thy face" (verses 9-11).

The Lord then told Satan that all except the physical body
of Job was under his control (verse 12).

And boy,, did Satan go to town on the things which belonged
to Job, including his sons and daughters. Much of what Job had
was taken away from him, yet he did not sin or curse God (verses
21,22).

Then it all happened again, Satan came before the Lord and
the Lord commended Job for his uprightness, but this time the
Devil wanted Job's skin, he wanted to nail Job to the wall we
might say. And the Lord said okay, this time Satan would be
allowed to plague the very skin of Job (chapter 2 verses 1-7).
It is hard for me to imagine what it must have been like for Job
by the time Satan was done with him.

Here in this example we can see that the Adversary can do
physical things against us, trials, tests, and troubles on the
physical level.

The apostle Peter wrote: "Be sober, be vigilant because,
your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions (trials, tests, troubles) are
accomplished in your brethren that are in the world"
(1 Pet.5:8-9).

Christians are not automatically immune from the attacks of
Satan, just as those in the world are subject to his wrath.
Mentally, the whole world has been deceived by the Devil
(Rev.12:9). He is basically in charge of and the ruler of the
nations of this earth, and will not be removed and chained until
Christ Jesus returns to usher in the Kingdom of God (Mat.4:1-10;
2 Cor.4:4; Eph.2:2; Rev.20:1-3).

We see then that the Bible does clearly show that trials,
tests, and troubles, can come from our arch enemy - Satan the
Devil. And because Christians know that plain truth, some get
completely "demon eyed" not "starry eyed" but demon eyed.
Everything that happens to them they think "the devils after me"
or "the demons are on my tail." I have known some people who
think when they trip over their feet, it was "the devil made me
do it" as the comedian Flip Wilson used to say. Banging their
toe, or cutting their finger, running out of gas in their car,
and every other ill in life is due to the devil or demons, so
they assert.

True, our Adversary and his helpers in the spirit world, are
often doing their damage in the lives of the physical humans on
this earth, but those who think trials, tests, and troubles, come
ONLY from the unseen world are woefully lacking in the knowledge
of the word of the Lord regarding this topic. There is MUCH more
to this subject than merely Satan the devil.

When you were reading (I hope you did) the first chapters of
the book of Job, all that was going on between Satan and the
Lord, I hope you picked up on another very important truth
contained there. That truth is that God is MORE POWERFUL
than Satan! The Devil has never ever been as powerful as the
Lord. He may have wanted to be, he may have tried to unseat the
Lord from His throne at one time and become the most powerful in
the universe, but he did not succeed. The Lord has ALWAYS been
more powerful than Satan. The Devil can not do one thing unless
the Lord permits it! God is in overall charge of what is going on
in this universe. He could if He chose, utter the words and Satan
and the demons would be gone - banished, vanished, or totally
destroyed. Remember how Satan accused God of putting a hedge
around Job - a hedge of protection! Yes, friend, God could if He
so chose, put a protective hedge around all of His children so
that there would never be any trials, tests, or troubles for
them.
Satan did not have the power to take away that hedge around
Job. Satan is not as powerful as God, never was, is not today,
nor will he ever be!
Remember what God said to Satan concerning Job, you can do
this to him Satan and no more. Then later when Satan wanted even
more hedge removed from Job, it was God who had to say yes or no.

He allowed the Devil to attack the physical body of Job but he
was not to take his life.

GOD IS SUPREME RULER, HE IS SUPREME IN AUTHORITY AND IN
POWER OVER THE DEVIL!!

SATAN CAN ONLY DO WHAT THE LORD PERMITS AND ALLOWS HIM TO
DO, NO MORE, NO LESS!!

GOD THE FATHER IS IN FULL CHARGE AND POWER AND AUTHORITY, HE
THEN IS WILLING TO TAKE ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THINGS DONE IN
THIS UNIVERSE.

That being the truth of the matter, we can now begin to
understand a verse in the Scriptures that shocks and puzzles
many. It is found in the book of Isaiah - chapter 45 and verse
7.

Let's start reading in verse five: "I am the Lord, and there
is none else, there is no God beside me......I am the Lord, and
there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I
make peace, and CREATE EVIL: I the Lord do ALL these things."

So the real bottom line of the WHO is behind the trials,
tests, and troubles of life, is THE LORD GOD IS!!

IT IS THE LORD WHO ALLOWS THEM ALL, TAKING AWAY THE
PROTECTIVE HEDGE, PERMITTING US FREE AGENCY TO MAKE CHOICES,
PERMITTING SATAN TO DO HIS WORK AS HE ALLOWS, NOT MAKING HIS
CREATED PHYSICAL CHILDREN INTO ROBOTS, ALLOWING THE CARNAL WORLD
TO DO ITS OWN THING AND SO TAKING ITS TOLL. ALL THIS OFTEN
RESULTING IN EVIL, WHICH GOD PERMITS AND ALLOWS AS HE IS IN
SUPREME POWER AND AUTHORITY EVEN OVER THE DEVIL.


TRIALS AND TEST DIRECTLY FROM THE LORD!

It is written: "And God saw the wickedness of man was great
in the earth...." (Gen.6:5). The time was in the days of Noah.
God would destroy every living thing on the land, but Noah and
his family found grace (interesting - grace is not a New
Testament doctrine) in the eyes of the Lord. He was told by God
to build an ark for the saving of many animals and his own
family. It was also going to be 120 years before the flood would
come to cover the earth. God being God and able to do all things
could have made it easier on Noah. He could have sent a death
angel to wander up and down killing all flesh except Noah, his
family, and certain animals. But God chose to test and give Noah
the trial and trouble of building a huge wooden boat. God chose
that Noah would have to preach the righteousness of the Lord to
the population around him, telling them about the coming judgment
of God for their sins.

Can you imagine all the trouble Noah would face? He would
have been laughed at and ridiculed, made fun of, and been the
standing joke of the society. Some no doubt would have tried to
burn down or in some other way, destroy the ship as he and his
family were building it. Noah and his household (wife, sons and
their wives) were put "under the gun" - tested and tried, and in
this particular case IT WAS DIRECTLY FROM GOD! God commanded Noah
to build a ship in preparation for the watery deluge that would
come on the earth in 120 years.

There was a man living in Haran, his name was Abram (before
it was changed to Abraham) and he was wealthy with cattle,
substance and servants. Have you ever been settled and content?
You have a great job, a good pay-check each week, a wonderful
wife, land and investments, whereby you can hire people to look
after all that you posses. You are quite happy and content where
you are, you have no dream of pulling up stakes and moving away
to anywhere. This was Abram's situation. He was also a God
fearing man. Then one day, out of the blue, quite unexpectedly,
the God of the universe whom you served told you to pack up and
MOVE OUT! He was to move to a land far away that God would show
him. This was not, "send out some servants first and they will
settle and prepare a home for you in the land that God would will
show you."
No! This was, "YOU Abram, pack your suit case, tell all
with you to do the same and I the Lord will lead you to a land, I
promise you I will, it will be a land of promise."
What GREAT faith Abram had to evidence! Put yourself in his
shoes. Do you not think Abram was being put to the test? Do you
not think it was a BIG trial for Abram? Do you not think it
would have been a monumental amount of trouble for Abram to get
up and head out with ALL his substance to a land unknown?
It was all of this for Abram and it came DIRECTLY FROM GOD!

This was not the last trial and test God was going to
personally send Abraham's way. God had promised him and his wife
a son. Finally after MANY years of waiting (that was a trial and
test also) the promised son arrived. Then after a number of
years had elapsed God directly and personally told Abraham to
kill this promised son in sacrifice! (Gen. 22:1-2).
Now if that would not have blown your mind I don't know what
would have. You have waited all these years for this promised
son, finally the son arrives, he lives for some years, and then
God tells you to take him to a mountain and there offer him for a
burnt offering. WOW!! What a trial! What a test! And it CAME
DIRECTLY FROM GOD!

There was a young man who had many brothers, he was the
favorite of his father. That fact alone could give you many
troubles as indeed it did for Joseph whom we are speaking about.
He was the favorite son of Jacob his father. One day after all
Joseph's brothers had gone to feed their father's flocks in
Shechem, that Jacob sent Joseph to see how they were faring, if
everything was going okay for them. Well not everything was going
to go okay for Joseph that day - huge trouble was about to come
his way. His brothers thought it was the opportune time to get
rid of this thorn in their flesh, once and for all - they would
kill him and make it appear that some beast had devoured him. It
was Reuben and Judah who prevented him being killed
(Gen.37:1-36). It was finally decided that they would sell Joseph
to the Ishmelites (verses 27,28).

Again put yourself in Joseph's sandals, having most of your
brothers wanting to kill you is no picnic, being thrown into a
pit is not a holiday in Hawaii, and then being sold to strangers
who would cart you off to who knows where, has got to be said to
be trouble.

Joseph ended up in Egypt and did he ever find himself
getting into trials, tests and troubles, you bet he did, yet he
overcame and endured them. So much so that Joseph was finally
made head over all Egypt under the Pharaoh (Gen.41:37-43).
But what about the troubling situation that started the
whole thing - being sold by his brothers to the Ishmelites? Was
that circumstance from Satan, from bad luck, or was it directly
from God, for some future purpose?
Joseph was inspired to give us the answer. It is recorded
in Genesis 45. His brothers had come down into Egypt because of
the famine in Canaan, Joseph had played some head games with them
for some time, but when he finally decided to reveal himself to
them all he spoke these words: "And Joseph said unto his
brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And
he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now
therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold
me hither: FOR GOD DID SEND ME BEFORE YOU TO PRESERVE LIFE....
And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the
earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it
was not you that sent me hither, BUT GOD" (verses 4-8).
Joseph told them to go and bring back their father Jacob,
for all of them to come and live with him in Egypt, which they
did.

So the trial, test, and trouble, Joseph faced when sold by
his brothers WAS FROM GOD, DIRECTLY, FOR A GREAT PURPOSE!

Well, there are many other examples in the Bible that
clearly show that at times, some troubles, tests, and trials,
come to us specifically and directly from the Lord, for a reason
and for a purpose. Various are those reasons and purposes, but
one purpose they are NOT given for, and that we shall look at
next.

GOD DOES NOT TEMP US WITH EVIL

Some, knowing that God does directly tesT and try people at
times, will say that God is tempting us with evil, tempting us to
do evil, for if we fail in some test it may result in sin.
The apostle James encountered this argument during his life
time. Trials, tests and troubles that Christians were
experiencing gave rise to the thought among some that God was
tempting people to do evil.
He needed to answer that idea and he did in his letter that
bears his name. Turn to James chapter one. I want you to note
verses 2,12,and 13.
I will quote from the well known Bible Commentary "Barnes'
Notes on the New Testament" the one volume edition, page 1356.

"2....When you fall into divers temptations....It is now
commonly used in the sense of placing allurements before others
to induce them to sin, and in this sense the word seems to be
used in verse 13,14 of this chapter. Here, however, the word is
used in the sense of trials, to wit, by persecution, poverty,
calamity of any kind. These cannot be said to be DIRECT
INDUCEMENTS or ALLUREMENTS to sin, but they try the faith, and
they show whether he who is tried is disposed to adhere to his
faith in God, or whether he will apostatize. They so far
coincide with temptations, properly so called, as to test the
religion of men. They differ from temptations, properly so
called, in that they are not brought before the mind for the

purpose of INDUCING men to SIN. In this sense, it is true that
God never tempts men to sin, verses 13,14...."

Let us look at verse 13, I quote from the above commentary, page
1358.

"13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of
God.... The apostle here seems to have had his eye on whether
there was a trial of any kind TO INDUCE US TO COMMIT sin -
whether by complaining, by murmuring, by apostasy, or by yielding
to sin. So far as that was concerned, he said that no one should
charge in on God. He did NOTHING IN ANY WAY WITH A VIEW TO
INDUCE men to do EVIL. That was only an incidental thing in the
trial, and was NO PART OF THE DIVINE PURPOSE OR DESIGN. The
apostle felt evidently that there was a great danger, from the
general manner in which the word temptation was used, and from
the perverse tendency of the heart, that it would be CHARGED ON
GOD that He so arranged these trials, and so influenced the mind,
as to present inducements to sin.
Against this, it was proper that an inspired apostle should
bear his solemn testimony; so to guard the whole subject as to
show that whatever there was in any form of trial that could be
regarded as an inducement or allurement to sin, is NOT THE THING
which He contemplated in the arrangement, and DOES NOT PROCEED
from Him. It has its origin in other causes; and if there was
nothing in the corrupt mind itself leading to sin, there would be
nothing in the Divine arrangement that would produce it. For God
cannot be tempted with evil.....The object seems to be to
show that, in regard to the whole matter of temptation, it does
not pertain to God. Nothing can be presented to his mind as an
inducement to do wrong, and as little can He present anything to
the mind of man to induce him to sin. Temptation is a subject
that which does not pertain to Him. He stands aloof from it
altogether....Neither tempteth he any man. That is, He places
nothing before any human being with a VIEW TO INDUCE HIM TO DO
WRONG....that God does not place inducements before us with a
view that we should sin, or in order to lead us into sin. None
of His decrees, or His arrangements, or His desires, are based on
that, but ALL HAVE SOME OTHER PURPOSE AND END. The real force of
temptation is to be traced to some other source - to ourselves,
and not to God. See the next verse."

The above quotes were emphasized by both myself and Barnes.
I encourage the reader to obtain this Bible Commentary and read
all of Barnes' notes on these verses.
His notes and comments on verses 14 and 15 are explicit in
explaining that yielding to sin is to be placed on man himself.

Putting what Albert Barnes has said into more modern
language: God NEVER says "Now what trial, test, or trouble can I
send or allow to come upon this person in order to try and get
them to sin." God is not busy figuring out ways to entice humans
to yield to sin. He is not rubbing His hands together with glee
saying to Himself "Ah, this test will make that person sin -
yippee!"
The troubles ' tests, and trials, that God sends and allows
to come man's way, has no connection whatsoever with sin.
No one ever needs to fall into sin by ANY trial, test, or
trouble that may come. Can I prove that from the Bible? Yes, I
can!
Leaving aside the perfect example of Christ Jesus who was
tested, tried, and troubled in MANY way, yet never once sinned.
Leaving Jesus' example to one side because some would argue that
He had the Holy Spirit without measure from conception in the
womb of Mary. I will point you to the example of Job.
Read again the first chapters of the book that bears his
name. Job was perhaps the most righteous man next to Christ who
ever lived. When God allowed Satan to trouble, test and hand out
trials that most of us have never come close to facing and
experiencing, Job DID NOT SIN! He still blessed the Lord. He
kept his righteousness. And was he righteous, oh yes, read the
rest of Job in a modern translation. Job's problem was not sin,
even under severe trials, but his problem was SELF-righteousness.

He just had never really seen himself next to the clear
perfect awesomeness of God. He did have one sin at least, the sin
of self-righteousness. Job finally acknowledged it, repented of
it, and God once again blessed him abundantly, see chapter 42.

WHY THEN DO WE HAVE TRIALS, TESTS, AND TROUBLES?

Most of us will have them, that is, tests, troubles and
trials. They say that there are two things sure for us - death
and taxes. Well most of us will also face trials, and troubles in
one form or another, sometime in our lives. So WHY does God
allow them to come upon us? If He controls everything, if He is
greater than Satan and the demonic world, why does not He
completely protect His children from all troubles and trials?
Why does He not just give Christians a smooth, easy, trouble free
life until they sleep in death to await their crown of glory in
the resurrection?

The apostle Peter was inspired to give us some of the
answers as to why God allows Christians to experience trials,
tests, and troubles.

Turn to 1 Peter chapter four. I will quote from the
Amplified Bible, beginning in verse 12.

"Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the FIERY
ORDEAL
which is taking place to test your quality, as though something
STRANGE - unusual and alien to you and your position - were
befalling you. But in so far as you are SHARING CHRIST'S
SUFFERING, rejoice, so that when His glory (full of radiance and
splendor) is revealed you may also rejoice with triumph -
exultantly.... Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in
ACCORDANCE WITH GOD'S WILL must do right, and commit their souls
(in charge as a deposit) to the One Who created them and will
never fail(them)" (verses 12,13,19).

Peter informs us about truths we have previously discussed.
We are not to be shocked that trials and troubles come our way -
most people will experience them. Jesus went through tests and
troubles, so His followers will probably have them also for it is
often the Father's will that it be so. The tests and trials
prove our depth of character - are we really serious about
serving God? As the saying goes "talk is cheap" but will we
continue to do the will of the Lord under difficult
circumstances?
Whatever trial or trouble may come upon us, God has promised
He will never leave us, we can turn away from Him if we choose,
but He will never fail in helping us if we commit our lives to
Him.

James also gave some answers as to why we have trials, tests
and troubles:

"Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of
your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play
and do a thorough work, so that you may be (people) perfectly and
fully developed (with no defect), lacking nothing....Blessed,
happy, to be envied is the man who is patient under trial and
stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and
been approved he will receive (the victor's) crown of life which
God has promised to those who love Him....Every good gift and
every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes
down from the Father of all (James 1:3,4,12,17, Amplified Bible).

Yes, many trials, tests, and troubles come as a gift from
God, to mature us, to develop us in true holy righteous
character.
Let me try to put this in terms we as humans can understand.

A Christian with the Spirit of God in them, has the nature
of the Father within (2 Peter 1:3,4). We shall say that holy
character of God within the Christian is a muscle. For a muscle
to be strong and to enlarge in development it must be pitted
against some force or obstacle. Most body-builders pit their
muscles against heavy weights to strengthen and enlarge their
muscles. Mr.Charles Atlas built his muscles by pitting one
against another, he called it "dynamic tension." But the point
is, through hard-work, hard-ship, strength is built.

God did not create us as some kind of robotic machine, that
at the press of a button He would produce in us complete mature
holy character. He did not choose to do it that way. Trials,
tests, and troubles are often the means whereby God develops the
muscle of righteous character in us. They are the heavy weights
or the "dynamic tension" we must muscle against to become fully
spiritually developed. The testing and trying of our faith (to
remain obedient to the way and will of God under difficult
situations) produces spiritual muscle - righteous character
(Ecc.1:13).

Those athletes wanting to attain one of the three top medals
(gold, silver, bronze) in the Olympic Games, must be willing to
practice and strive against powerful forces in order to be one of
the three on the victors platform. Most will never be up there
to receive a medal unless they are willing to face and endure a
lot of personal trials and troubles in preparing themselves for
the event of their choice.

In all of this we must remember something that is very
important. Some could miss-understand, they might think that the
person who has the greater number of tests, trials, and troubles
in their Christian life is more spiritually mature or perfect
than the rest, or is being favored more by God for some special
purpose either here and now or in the life to come. That is not
necessarily so! There are many variables to consider in this
entire subject, not the least( probably the most important in
fact) is the will and the purpose of the Lord, that as human
flesh we often do not know. Who can fully understand why Abraham
was tested and tried in the way he was, while Daniel was tested
by being throw into the lions den, or his three friends into the
furnace of fire? Why did God say the apostle Paul would be
tested, tried and troubled so much, while others had it
easier(Acts 9:15,16)? Some may think they know the answer but
the
truth is no one fully knows but God Himself.

Turn to the Gospel of John, the last chapter, and read
verses 18 to 24.
Jesus foretold that Peter would die a martyr's death while
John the beloved disciple would probably not. That is the way
history tells us it happened - Peter was killed by being
crucified upside down, while John lived out a natural life into
old age. We could ask questions of why this or why that for one
person or another person. We could compare ourselves among
ourselves, but as Paul was inspired to tell us, that is NOT WISE
(2 Cor.10:12).

When Peter tried to do that notice how Jesus answered him:
1"..... If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to
thee? follow thou me,, (John 21:22).

It is God that works with and in us to do His good pleasure
(Phil.2:13). He is over everything, nothing happens without His
consent and allowing it, and some things are directly from Him.
He deals on an individual basis with each of us. It is folly to
concern ourselves and try to figure out how and why God gives or
allows this or that trial/trouble to come upon such and such a
person. We need to have faith that the Lord loves and knows
exactly what He is doing with each of His children. Let God work
with others as He sees fit, we need just concern ourselves in
doing what Jesus said to Peter - "follow thou me."

Sometimes the Lord may show you why He is giving or allowing
a specific trouble to come your way, maybe He will show you why
He is not removing it. This God did once do with the great
apostle Paul. He gave him a physical "thorn in the flesh" and
told him why He was not going to remove it - there was a purpose
behind it all (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

[garywalker]

As wise King Solomon was inspired to write: "There is a
way WHICH SEEMS RIGHT UNTO A MAN, but the end thereof are the
ways of death" (Prov.14:12).

There have been times down through the centuries that some
nations did know the God of this universe, they had contact with
His word and truths, but through the hardness of their hearts
they turned away from those truths, from those commandments that
would have given their peoples health, safety, protection and
blessings.
Listen to what the apostle Paul had to say about this:

"Because that when they KNEW God, they glorified Him not as
God, neither were THANKFUL: but became vain in their
imaginations, and their FOOLISH HEART WAS DARKENED. Professing
themselves to be wise they became fools. And changed the glory
of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible
man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
WHEREFORE God also GAVE THEM UP to uncleanness, through the lust
of their own heart....Who turned the TRUTH of God into a
lie.....For this cause God GAVE THEM UP unto vile affections
(Romans 1:21-26).

Read all of these verses, the ones before and the ones
after, and let the plain truth ring deep in your heart.

God is by and large, for the present age, letting the world
as a whole, GO ITS OWN WAY, DO ITS OWN THING, AND REAP THE END
RESULT OF TROUBLE, TURMOIL, TRIALS, PAIN, AND SORROW!

And within this fact of God leaving the majority of the
population of the world to its own devices, comes the truth of
"time and chance" and "the innocent becoming prey to the guilty."
The results of sin and rejection of God and His way of life,
laws and commandments, can often have dire consequences upon
those not directly involved in the rebellion. Even if not a
willful rebellion, but done through ignorance, the breaking of
the laws of God can ricochet onto others standing by. A man
determined to throw himself off the top of the Empire State
building can take you with him if you grab his arm to stop him.
This very life principle is given to us in one of the Ten
Commandments of God, notice it in Exodus 20 and verse 5. "......
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the CHILDREN unto the
third and fourth generation of then that hate me....."

So the world basically on its own, fending for itself, is
WIDE OPEN for "time and chance."

But before the Christian gets too smug or too filled with
"religious vanity" in thinking they are immune from "time and
chance" or the innocent getting trouble from the ways of the
sinner, better read carefully the book of Ecclesiastes for truths
God wants us to understand about life in general.
While it is true that the Christian has God on his side, the
angels serving and helping, the Holy Spirit filling and inspiring
us, the LORD DOES NOT PROMISE HIS CHILD THAT THIS PHYSICAL LIFE
WILL BE FREE FROM "TIME AND CHANCE" - THE INNOCENT SUFFERING FROM
THE GUILTY, OR THAT TRIALS AND TROUBLES MAY COME VIA "TIME AND
CHANCE."

Let's see the truth of the matter as contained in the book
of Ecclesiastes. For some this may be NEW and somewhat of a
shock!

"All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a
just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a
wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness"
(Ecc.7:15).

Yes, indeed, some God fearing, right living people, die from
accidents, sicknesses, even killings from the wicked, when young,
middle aged, or old. And then there are those who are evil even
by the world's standards, all their lives, and live to a ripe old
age.

"Because to every purpose there is time and judgment
therefore the misery of man is great upon him. For he knoweth
NOT that which SHALL BE: for who can tell him WHEN it shall be?"
(Ecc.8:6,7).

Now it is possible for God to tell you something say through
a prophet, what shall befall you at some time in the future.
This was done at times with the apostle Paul, see Acts 21:10,11.
But for most of us, for most of the time, or all the time, we
know not what shall be our lot from one day to the next.

"Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be
prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that
fear God, which fear before Him" (verse 12).

It must be the end result which the Christian must look at,
not the here and now.

"There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there
be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the
wicked; AGAIN, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth
according to the work of the righteous: I said that this is also
vanity" (verse 14).

There it is, God often allows "Time and Chance" to fall on
the righteous and the unrighteous.

"When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to SEE THE
BUSINESS THAT IS DONE ON THE EARTH: (for also there is that
neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) Then I beheld
ALL THE WORK OF GOD, that a man cannot find out the work that is
done under the sun: because though a man labor to seek it out,
yet he shall NOT FIND IT; yea further; though a wise man think to
know it, yet shall he not be able to find it" (verses 16,17).

Friends, there are some things in life that all we can do is
"scratch our heads" and wonder about. There are times when it
seems God just does not make sense. We will have to wait until
the resurrection day and the Lord has returned to answer all our
bewildering questions in this life.

"For man knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken
in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so
are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth
suddenly upon them" (chapter 9:12).

We may ask: Why do some have to die for their Christian
faith, and others living at the same time in the same country
escape with their lives? Why in a terrible car accident that
should have killed everyone does one or more live? Why in the
explosion of a bomb with say six people all standing within the
same range of the bomb, do 4 die and 2 live, as does happen at
times?
The question of time and chance could go on and on, and all
we are left with in this life is wondering.

When Solomon had contemplated all these things that he could
see came upon the just and the unjust, his answer to it was this:

"For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all
this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, ARE IN
THE HAND OF GOD......"(chapter 9:1).

Our life, whether we live or die, is in the hands of the
Lord. He is the potter we are the clay. Let us be confident of
this very thing, as the song writer said:
"When peace, like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows
like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to
say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should
buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance
control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath
shed His own blood for my soul."

I want you to read those words again friend from the well
known hymn "It is Well with my Soul" by H.G.Spafford.

Mr.Spafford had lost his only son, a year after his wife and
four daughters boarded ship for England, while he had to stay and
look after some unexpected business. There was a storm, some
fog, and two ships collided. Spafford received a telegram from
his wife in England saying to the effect: I only have arrived
safely, our daughters lost to the sea. He quickly sailed for
England, but asked the captain to tell him when they were over
the area that the ship that his daughters were on went down with
them aboard. As he was standing there overlooking that part of
the ocean he wrote the words to that famous hymn we love to sing
- IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.

So it is, so it must be, that when all in this physical life
has been allowed by God to come upon us, we must take hope and
courage in the fact that it is well with our inner spiritual soul
and life. That indeed it will be one day as Mr.Spafford went on
to write:
"And Lord haste the day when the faith shall be sight, the
clouds be rolled back as a scroll, The trump shall resound and
the Lord shall descend, Even so - it is well with my soul."

TRIALS AND TROUBLES COME UPON US BECAUSE OF OUR OWN FOLLY

When we become a Christian, God does not take away from us
our free agency, our ability to make choices, whether right or
wrong.

When we are converted and the Lord gives us His Spirit, we
do not instantly acquire the perfect sum total of ALL wisdom.

The word of the Lord has a great deal to say about wisdom.
You may want to take a Bible concordance like Stronge's or
Young's and have a study project, looking up all the places in
God's word that concern and use the word "wisdom."

Ecclesiastes 7:5 says: "It is better to hear the rebuke of
the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools."

Many times the soft soothing notes of foolish talk and ideas
get the better of us, and in following, we bring upon ourselves
troubles and trials.

Verse 12 of the same chapter: "......but the excellency of
knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."

How many people have said after the fact "Oh if I had only
used more wisdom, I would not have found myself in all this
trouble and turmoil."
Notice verse 19, "Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than
ten mighty men which are in the city."

See what chapter 10 and verse one says: "Dead flies cause
the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor; so
doth a little folly to him that is in reputation for wisdom and
honor."

Just because you usually do things in a wise way does not
automatically mean you have a corner on the market as they say.
Slip up one time and you will probably have to pay the price.

Verse 8 is a basic true-ism: "He that diggeth a pit shall
fall into it; and whoso breaks a hedge, a serpent shall bite
him."

This is not talking about a pit that needs to be dug or a
hedge that needs to be trimmed back, but doing things rashly,
without enough thought behind it, doing something on the impulse
and a little on the "wild side." Act and live this way and sooner
or later you are going to be stung.

A great lesson and teaching is found in 11:1-2. "Cast thy
bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not
what evil shall be upon the earth."
Read also Jesus' instruction as found in Luke 16:1-14.
There is a wisdom of the world that Christians should also
cultivate. In the right attitude of mind serve and help others,
make friends through giving of yourself and your material
possessions, you may need your friends to help you one day. This
is also wisdom to keep you from severe troubles both emotionally
and physically at times.

Now look at the book of Proverbs. Read chapter 3 and verses
one to eight.

Yes, sometimes our trials and troubles come about because we
just plainly disobey the laws and commandments of God, and so we
naturally reap what we have sown. For every effect there is a
cause. Mercy and Truth are not to be taken lightly in our daily
living for "So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in
the sight of God and man" (verse 4). Many troubles could be
avoided through living and practicing truth and mercy.
Verses 11 through 26 contain more vital instructions to help
keep us from the troubles of our own folly.
Able to take and use correction from the Lord in the various
ways He may choose to give it us, is necessary, in order to avoid
the end result of our way that leads to many trials we could
otherwise escape.

Again notice the emphasis God places on the quality of
wisdom in these verses. Nothing can be compared to her. In its
pathway is pleasantness and peace. You will walk safely without
stumbling. Ah, there is much good when living wisely.

Notice what Proverbs 4:26,27 tells us: "Ponder the path of
thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the
right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil."
By acting too fast or wandering off the straight and narrow,
many unnecessary trials are our lot in life.

Proverbs 11:14, "Where no council is, the people fall; but
in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."
Then put this with chapter 12:15, "The way of a fool is
right in his own eyes; but he that harkeneth unto counsel is
wise."
Many of us face troubles because we were just too proud and
vain to ask others for their advice.

Proverbs 14:1, "Every wise woman buildeth her house; but the
foolish plucketh it down with her hands."

We must be willing to learn that there are literal things
that if we do or do not do, we will either reap benefits or
disasters.
A woman who unloads all her days problems on to her husband
as soon as he opens the door after a days work, will eventually
have a husband who will not want to come home to her. A man who
works 16 hours a day, seven days a week, and has no time for his
wife, will find she probably wants another husband one day who
will give her some time. Such things happen all too often in our
societies today.

Verse 15, "The simple believeth every word; but the prudent
looketh well to his going."

We often end up in big problems of one sort or another
because we are "gullible" - every sales person can rap us around
their little finger and we get taken for a ride time after time,
never able to learn from the hard knocks we take.
This kind of simple-minded way of life leads us into untold
folly (verse 18).

Sometimes our financial troubles are brought on because of a
lack of action on our part, we are as they say "all talk but no
action." See verse 23.

Oh, the sorrow, pain, and grievous trials, that have been
laid on the heads of some who could not control their angry and
wrathful tongue - verse 29 with 15:1.
Some not controlling their anger have literally killed
another for things that most of us would shrug off as nothing, or
as a very minor unpleasantness on the part of another.
How many youngsters have found themselves in deep water
(over their heads) with the law of the land, because they would
not listen to their parents or take instruction - verse 5.
Then there are those who have brought trouble on themselves
and/or their household because of being all consumed with the
physical things of this world, or bending the rules by taking
bribes and involving themselves in a "scam" of some kind - verse
27.
Some of our health and physical life problems come on us
because we will not accept instruction that could help - verse
32.

Notice the wisdom contained in Proverbs 17:14. "The
beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore
leave off contention before it is meddled with."

By some sticking their nose into business that was not
theirs to get involved in, many have suffered the pain of having
it punched.
The Lord instructs us not to be involved in co-signing and
being security even for friends, as this can also bring heartache
and trouble - verse 18.
It has been now scientifically proved that various physical
ailments can be brought on by our emotional attitude - some of
our bodily troubles are self inflicted - verse 22.

Getting involved with the wrong type of person/s and casting
aside those who walk rightly will bring problems and troubles
through your door - chapter 18:5.
Those who think they "know it all" - we commonly call them
"know all's" - and will not listen to others, or have the
attitude that what others may have to say is just "hot air" are
going headlong into the ditch of folly - verse 13.
Wow! Look at verse 21. Those who put their mouth into gear
before their brain will reap t r o u b 1 e.

Chapter 22 and verse 3 is back again to contrasting the
prudent with the simple minded, the wise with the rash and naive
(easily duped, fooled and deceived). The wise can often see the
robber coming and so get out of his way, the simple pass on to be
"fare game" for the predator.

Verses 24-25 talk again about being in the wrong company and
so receiving bad instructions that end in the snare of troubles.

We have nobody to blame but ourselves for some of the
sorrow, hardship, and trials we face. The way out is pure self
control and discipline - chapter 23:2,20,21.

Once more God tells us that we are sometimes responsible for
our difficult circumstances and must just get up off our lazy
backsides - chapter 24:30-34.
Even the doing of some "good things" must be done in balance
and moderation or problems could arise - chapter 25:16.
This reminds me of my Boy-Scout days. We were taught to
always be helpful to others, especially the elderly. Yet we had
a standing joke among ourselves to help us keep the balance. It
went something like this: "Did you hear about Henry getting
smashed over the head with a purse by the little old woman down
the street? No, why did Henry get hit over the head with the old
ladies' purse? Well he was helping her cross the busy street.
Yes, but wasn't that a good thing he was doing? No, not that
time - she didn't want to go."

Now see the wisdom and teaching that verses 17, 19, and 28
bring to our attention. When some of us are in trouble, instead
of running off to find help in stable, faithful, and wise godly
people, we often hook up with those who add more pain to the
situation.
Chapter 26:17 tells us that there are problems that some
others have that we would be wise to keep clear of or we will get
a painful bite. Naturally these circumstances here are not life
threatening, but troubles that will be resolved by the parties
involved, and we need not concern ourselves. Again wisdom is
needed to know the difference between when to get involved in
other peoples matters and when not.

The wisdom of Proverbs 27:9 can not be overstated. The
neutral and heart-filled counsel of a well trusted friend can
often be the answer to whether we shall have pain or peace at
some point in our life.
Verse 14 tells us to be wise in even doing "good" to our
very friends. Acting well if not done at the right time and in
the correct manner could bring us t r o u b 1 e!
God teaches us to be circumspect towards our present
physical living so future problems in this area will be greatly
reduced or eliminated altogether (unless the Lord has chosen you
to be a wandering apostle Paul type) - see verses 23-27.
The law and principle that God lays down in not forgetting
the poor is restated over and over again in His word. Many a
"curse" on many a person could be lifted by obeying this one
command alone - chapter 28:27.

Wisdom is the principle thing. But what is wisdom someone
may ask? Knowledge is facts. Understanding is putting those
facts into correct formation. Wisdom is using Knowledge and
Understanding in correct every day practical life situations
whereby only good is the end result.

The whole book of Proverbs is filled with the use of
everyday practical wisdom teachings and situations. It is a book
that is to often neglected in the Christian's reading and study
of the Bible. What a shame, for it contains much that would
deliver us from trials and troubles.

[garywalker]

The unmistakable evidence of the Bible from its examples of
righteous men and women, is that most of the time those
individuals were drawn CLOSER to God during their times of
hardship, persecution, tests and troubles. And friends/brethren,
that should be the case! It is at such times that we need to get
on our knees even more and cry out and beseech the Lord for help,
strength, comfort, faith, and power to battle on and fight the
good fight.
When in the throws of the tempests of life's difficulties, I
urge you to read the life story of King David of ancient Israel.
Read the book of Psalms, taking special notice of and comfort in
the verses and Psalms to do with times of trials, tests, and
troubles. You will see how the Psalmists did not allow those
times to defeat them. They did not laugh them off necessarily
either, pretending they weren't there, but they looked to God for
the extra spiritual strength they needed for those occasions when
it seemed their world was "falling apart."
Remember how David was put to the test with the giant
Goliath. God brought him to that situation. David met it with
confidence and faith in the Lord. He knew God was WITH HIM and
would be by his side to help him use the skills of marksmanship
that he had developed over past months, to defeat the enemy.
David was hunted by the Devil and his spirit co-workers via
King Saul. The Adversary would have loved to have literally
pinned David's hide to the wall - to have killed him. But the
Lord was there with him against the darts of the wicked one.
David remained true to serving God, drew close to Him, while
withstanding Satan's roaring about like some starving lion.
And yes, David fell prey to his own fleshly carnal
weaknesses at times. He used poor judgment, didn't get or look
for wise counsel, broke many of the teachings of the book of
Proverbs that his son would compile later. And in so doing
brought much pain, sorrow, and trouble upon himself.
Yet through it all he was a repentant man, willing to be
corrected, willing to be taught and instructed by the Lord. He
knew that victory was with STAYING CLOSE, DRAWING NIGH, to God,
and not letting the hard times pull him away or turn him aside
from having and continuing his personal relationship with the
eternal heavenly Father.
All of this attitude and character of David's was the basis
behind why God could call him a man after His own heart.
The trials, tests, and troubles that David experienced in
his life, yes, many brought on by himself, few of us will have as
many and as severe.
Let's read again the wonderful twenty third Psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd - I shall not want. He makes me to
lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still
waters. He restoreth my soul:He leadeth me in the path of
righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil: for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence
of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my
life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I encourage you to obtain, read and study, the informative
book by Phillip Keller called "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23." It
is an eye opener and will bring this Psalm to life for you as you
probably have never seen before. Mr.Keller was for many years a
shepherd and intimately knows what David (also a one time
shepherd) was really conveying to us as he put it down in nut
shell form through the 23rd Psalm.
Then there is the inspiring words of the great Psalm 121. I
remember that as a young child in Sunday-school I had to learn by
heart and recite this Psalm. The words have always been a source
of comfort, especially in times of trouble.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh
my help?
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth
thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall
neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right
hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall
preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from
this time forth, and even for evermore.
When we are in a time of sorrow, trial, and difficulty, we
need to try and remember that there is always someone somewhere
worse off than ourselves. It is indeed a true proverb that says:
"I thought I had problems because I had no shoes, until I met a
man who had no feet."
Take a look at the things the apostle Paul had to suffer
through in his ministry for Christ Jesus. Because many in the
church at Corinth were looking to men who gloried in the
physical, Paul felt he had to argue satirically from this point
of view also to try and get them to see sense. We will pick up
his words in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, beginning with verse 23.
"Are they (ministering) servants of Christ, the Messiah? I
am talking like one beside himself, (but) I am more, with far
more extensive and abundant labors, with far more imprisonments,
(beaten) with countless stripes, and frequently (at the point of)
death. Five times have I received from (the hands of) the Jews
forty (lashes all) but one; (Deut.25:3). Three times have I been
beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been
aboard a ship wrecked at sea a (whole) night and a day I have
spent (adrift) on the deep; Many times on journeys, (exposed to)
perils from rivers, perils from bandits, perils from (my own)
nation, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in
the desert places, perils in the sea, perils from those posing as
believers - but destitute of Christian knowledge and piety; In
toil and hardship, watching often (through sleepless nights), in
hunger and thirst, frequently driven to fasting by want, in cold
and exposure and lack of clothing. And besides all those things
that are without, there is the daily (inescapable pressure) of my
care and anxiety for all the churches!" (verses 23-28, Amplified
Bible).
Paul surely knew what tough times were all about, the word
"tough" is possibly a poor word to use to describe all the perils
he encountered during his life. When he talked to the church at
Philippi about many of these same experiences he also showed them
HOW victory could be achieved.
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in
whatsoever state I am, therefore to be content. I know both how
to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all
things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to
abound and to suffer need. I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST
WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME" (Philippians 4:11-13).
Verse 13 is translated this way in the Amplified Bible:
"I HAVE STRENGTH FOR ALL THINGS IN CHRIST WHO EMPOWERS ME -
I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who
infuses inner strength into me, (that is, I am self-sufficient in
Christ's sufficiency)" (emphasis mine).
VICTORY over trials, tests, and troubles is through the
power of Christ Jesus in us!
Now notice what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:13: "Trial has
not overtaken you more than men can endure: for God is faithful,
Who will not permit you to be tried beyond what you are able; on
the contrary, He will with the trial also provide the escape by
which you will be able to come out of it" (Ferrar Fenton
translation).
One final truth and inspiration from the apostle Paul:
"What can drive us from the love of Christ? affliction? or
oppression? or persecution? or famine? or nakedness? or danger?
or sword? Just as it is written: WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY ON
ACCOUNT OF YOU! WE ARE REGARDED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.
But in all these we more than conquer through His having loved
us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor authorities, nor present, nor future, nor power, nor height,
nor depth, nor any other created thing, is able to separate us
from the love of God in our Lord Christ Jesus!" (Romans 8:35-39,
Fenton translation, emphasis his).

VICTORY is in Jesus!
THE GLORY THAT SHALL BE!
The Lord wants us to repent of sin - the breaking of His
Holy righteous perfect laws and commandments. He wants us to
turnaround - be converted - and start to live His way of life.
He wants us to forsake the world with its carnality and lusts.
He wants us to resist the darts of the wicked one - Satan.
The Lord wants us to be filled with the mind of His Son Christ
Jesus, to have a mind set that is humble and is willing to be
corrected and instructed in living by every word of His (Matthew
4:4).
God the Father wants us to be His personal son or daughter.
He wants us to "count the cost" and realize that putting the
seeking of the Kingdom is not always walking down easy street.
It could mean the giving up of things and people that have been
very close to us. It could mean suffering at times, hardship,
difficulties, trials, tests, and troubles, all for the sake of
being a true Christian. It could even mean the death of your
physical body, some, at times many, were called upon to die as
martyrs for God in past ages.
Many have had to leave lands, leave homes, leave parents, or
husbands or wives, or brothers and sisters, or children. Many
have had to give up their successful or high paying jobs to seek
first the Kingdom of God in their lives.
Many have suffered ridicule and persecution for the name of
Jesus. They have been cast out from the company of their
relatives and family.
The original twelve disciples gave up many things to follow
Christ. They asked, and it was not wrong of them: Jesus what
shall we gain, what's in it for us when all is said and done
(Mat.19:27). I've put their question in modern parlance, but
notice Jesus did not ignore them. He did answer their question,
see verses 28-30.
The word of God has a great deal to teach us about what lies
beyond this physical life that is often fraught with trials and
troubles.
Those who will surrender all to God, will receive His Holy
Spirit, thus becoming His literal child and able to call Him
"daddy" (Romans 8:14-16).
Then as children we are HEIRS of God, and believe it or not,
as mind numbing as it may sound, we are JOINT-HEIRS with Christ!
If we are partakers with Him of His suffering we shall also
be partakers together of His GLORY (Romans 8:17,18).
As Jesus inherited all things at His resurrection into
glory, so also shall we inherit the same glory.
Look at these verses in 1 John 3:1-3. Mark them in your
Bible, believe them, be inspired by them:
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon
us, that we should be called the of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the
of God, and it doth not yet appear WHAT WE SHALL BE: but we know
that, when He shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, for we shall
see Him as He is!" (emphasis mine).
Now turn to Revelation chapter 21. Mark verse 7.
"He that overcometh shall inherit AIL and I will be his God,
and he shall be my son" (emphasis again is mine).
Put the above verse together with Hebrews 2:5-18 for a
breathtaking look at what the Lord has promised to the brothers
and sisters of Christ Jesus - inheritance of everything that
belongs to the Father.

For a nut shell glimpse of that everything, turn back to
Revelation chapter 21.
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first
heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no
more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming
down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold,
the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will He will dwell with
tbem, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with
them and be their God.
And God shall WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES; and there
shall be NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL
THERE BE ANY MORE PAIN: for the former thing are passed away....
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and
the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the
sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God
did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.........
And there shall be NO MORE CURSE: but the throne of God and
of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: And
they SHALL SEE HIS FACE: and His NAME shall be in their
foreheads.
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle,
neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and
THEY SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER" (verses 1-4,22-23; 22:3-5,
emphasis mine).

Ah, when this relatively short time of life in the flesh
with all of its trials, tests, and troubles are over, what a
glorious, sinless, peaceful, and restful eternity awaits the
child of the heavenly Father.