ALTHOUGH THE ALMIGHTY God permitted that the ancient
Israelites in the kingdom of Judah be taken into Babylonian captivity in 586
B.C.E., brought about by their moral and spiritual decadence, He consoled them
through these comforting words: “… Restrain your voice from weeping and your
eyes from tears … there is hope for your future” (Jer. 31:16-17, New
International Version).
“There is hope for your future” is a
very timely encouragement nowadays in the wake of current economic woes,
earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, tornadoes, snow, storms, drought, terrorism,
war, chaos, and poverty in various parts of the globe, rendering a bleak future
to many.
No doubt, to constantly think of the
undesirable things in life will not bring peace and tranquility to one’s self.
The following verses attest this, thus: “For sighing comes to me instead of food;
my groans pour out like water. What I dreaded has happened to me. I have no
peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil” (Job 3:24-26, Ibid.).
That is why on the part of God’s true
servants, what they should do, amidst seemingly inescapable unfavorable
conditions, is to draw consolation from the Heavenly Father, as what King David
encouragingly expressed, thus: “Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on
him” (Ps. 62:5, Contemporary English Version).
To have such a firm conviction that
“only God gives inward peace” boosts the confidence of His people to perceive
global events in a different perspective no matter how grim they may be. They
will always think of the good that each discouraging situation they are in
would bring to their lives-to come out genuine in their faith after going
through trials (I Pet. 1:7, New Living Translation).
Hence, when troubles come to their lives
or when they find themselves in tough situations, they recall Apostle James’
soothing advice, thus: “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your
way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your
endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is
fully developed, you will be strong of character and ready for anything” (James
1:2-4, Ibid.).
Indeed, servants of God have reason to
be joyful even when various trials come their way for these will bring out from
them endurance, steadfastness, and patience, making them “ready for anything”.
‘They are good for us’
Apostle Paul
too, in his epistle, echoed the same counsel to Christians when they run into
trials and problems: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and
trials, for we know that they are good for us-they help us learn to endure. And
endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our
confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint
us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy
Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Rom. 5:3-5, Ibid.).
When the same apostle spoke about
problems and trials, he helped God’s servants realize that they are “good for
us” for they produce endurance, leading to the strength of character and
confident hope of eternal salvation. Hence, God’s people, in the midst of
troubles and difficulties, should not lose hope for all these, if dealt with
properly, would be for their own advantage-for their attainment of salvation.
‘Cheer up’
There’s no
wonder that the apostles were able to convey hope, confidence, and optimism to
their fellow Christians for they received a great deal of understanding from
the Savior Himself who said, thus: “ …Here on earth you will have many trials
and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, Living
Bible).
“Cheer up” was the Lord Jesus Christ’s
motivating advice to His disciples in facing the multitude of trials and
sorrows, settings Himself as their role model in doing so-“I have overcome the
world,” He said. In spite of all that had happened to Him, He did not give up
obeying God. True Christians today, should likewise cheer up and not be
discouraged when facing troubles, for in the end, they will be rewarded with the
peace that the Lord Jesus Christ promised them: “I am leaving you with a
gift-peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace
the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27, Ibid.).
Nothing compares to this peace
reserved by the Christ for His worthy servants. What the world offers is a
momentary peace while that which the Savior promised is an enduring one, a
great and precious reward that man should truly aspire for.
We will be saved
(Heb. 10:35, God’s Word) that they obtained by
way of the precious grace redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ’s blood.
Attesting to the right salvation of those redeemed, Apostle Paul assuredly
declares, thus: “But God has shown us how much more, then, will, we be saved by
him from God’s anger!” (Rom. 5:8-9, Today’s English Version).
God’s anger, as mentioned, will be
revealed on the great day of the Lord. The prophet Zephaniah attests to the
certainty of that day: “The great day of the Lord is near-near coming quickly.
Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the
warrior there. … Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them
on the day of the LORD’S wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world
will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth“
(Zeph. 1:14, 18, NIV).
Man’s helplessness and powerlessness
will all the more be revealed when God ultimately shows His fierce anger for
the whole world and all who live in it
will be consumed by fire on the day of Judgment (II Pet. 3:7, 10, New King
James Version). Hence, that man be covered by Christ’s redemption is of supreme
importance. Yet, man can only receive this sacred grace within the Church Of
Christ, as what Apostle Paul teaches, thus: “Take heed therefore to yourselves
and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to
feed the Church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood” (Acts 20:28,
Lamsa Translation).
The promised future reward
This
biblical truth is what truly boosts the confidence of genuine members of the
Church Of Christ or Iglesia Ni Cristo-that they are fortunately privileged to
be saved on judgment Day. Hence, no matter what their job, livelihood, health,
and family-they do not lose courage. They cheer up in times of trials, firmly
believing that as they continue serving God amid hardships, the more they are
making it certain that salvation will be theirs on judgment Day.
They hope for the promised future
reward---the things that cannot be seen and that last forever. Apostle Paul
declared as to what true Christians will certainly inherit: “We never give up.
Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day.
These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make
all our troubles seem like nothing. Things that are seen don’t last forever,
but things that are not seen are eternal. That’s why we keep our minds on the
things that cannot be seen” (II Cor. 4:16-18, CEV).
Worldly things, including sufferings and
afflictions brought by poverty, sickness, and others, are rendered temporary,
brief, and fleeting. In contrast, the promised rewards for members of the
Church Of Christ who do not lose their confidence or sacred right for salvation
is beyond compare. The rich blessings that God keeps for them will never
perish, spoil, or fade away. Apostle Peter revealed this through his epistle,
thus; ‘Let us give thanks to the god and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Because of his great mercy he gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from
death. This fills us with a living hope, and so we look forward to possessing
the rich blessings that God keeps for his people. He keeps them for you to
heaven, where they cannot decay or spoil or fade away. They are for you, who
through faith are kept safe by God’s power for the salvation which is ready to
be revealed at the end of time” (I Pet. 1:3-5, TEV).
‘I will guide you’
In their
earthly pilgrimage, where calamity, hardship, wickedness abound and grow even
more severe, the fruitful servants of God shall hold to this promise made by
Him that His guidance in protection will always with them: “The Lord says, I
will guide you along the best pathway your life. I will advise you and watch
over you. … Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those
who trust the Lord’” (Ps. 32:8, 10, NLT).
Indeed, God’s unfailing love is what
true Iglesia Ni Cristo members extremely desire, for, with His love and abiding
care, they will make it to the end, achieving what they are hoping
for---salvation and life everlasting in God’s heavenly kingdom.