it was the worst weather since the turn of the century and before. A dozen or more cancellations in a pe riod of three days were made. Mon day morning, news came that the storm was heading for New York. I called the airport and made ar rangements to head nonstop from Los Angeles, smog and all. After being in the air for a few hours the voice of the pilot came over the inter com, “Ladies and gentlemen, if you’ll look out the side of the airplane you’ll see the southern extremity of Chicago.” As I looked, it was an amazing blanket of white which just seemed to cover everything. Here and there we could see some black or brown spots which were evident- ally portions of houses not covered by the blizzards. I sat back in the comfortable seat, 30,000 feet up, folded my arms, relaxed, and thought, “Sanders, you’re really a smart one. Just look what you’ve escaped.” I was joyful because I’d missed the hardship below. James tells us that, as Christians, we’re not to look at the experiences of life this way. It is not proper to categorize these events that transpire into a group of things which are happy and a group which are unpleasant. Every thing which comes our way as be lievers is to be considered with joy. Even though there may be heaviness on the outside because of these test ings, there still can be joy in the heart. Over near the Rock of Gibraltar there are two ocean currents which flow in the same body of water. Yet they do not in the least disturb each other. One current from the Atlantic flows into the Mediterranean; the other from the Mediterranean flows into the Atlantic. Both currents are in the same ocean, both currents go ing in opposite directions. Even so, in the experiences of life there may be circumstances surrounding us which are not pleasant: death, sickness, fi nancial reverses, unpleasantness in
the home or neighborhood. We may not have any reason to be happy about these things. Yet in our heavi ness or sorrow our joy remains un affected for it is rooted and ground ed firmly, as a result of a personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Joy is not conditioned by outward cir cumstances. The word divers is that from which we get our term diverse or of many different kinds. This symbol izes a never-ending variety of colors. What a perfect description for trials! Have you ever seen any two testings just alike? One day it may be illness, another sorrow, another persecution and on the list goes. Here is a varied hue of colors. We may not be able to comprehend all of the experiences that befall us, but they are known to God. The poet has wonderfully written, THE WEAVER My life is b'ut a weaving between my Lord and me: 1 cannot choose the colors; He work- eth steadily. Oft times He weaveth sorrow, and I, in foolish pride, Forget He sees the upper and I, the underside. Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly, Shall God unroll the canvas and ex plain the reason why, The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver’s skillful hand As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned. The word temptation in the Bible doesn’t always necessarily mean an enticement to do evil or a solicita tion to some immoral thought or deed. (In James 1:13-15 it does mean that.) Here temptations has refer ence to trials, testings, difficulties, and tribulations. All of these things are not a sign of God’s displeasure 5
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