stones help them to keep their feet solidly upon the river bed, getting to the other side safely. What a picture this is of our lives! Sometimes the Lord gives us a weight, perhaps some physical affliction. This is not to hurt us, but rather that we might place our feet more solidly upon Him, the Rock of Ages. In this way we can go through the streams of life which are so often swollen. Wisdom for Trials Part IV What about this matter of per fection? Whenever the word perfect is used in the Bible in reference to God, it is in the absolute sense. The Lord is perfect. In Him there is no darkness, no sin, no lack of love whatsoever. Keep in -mind, however, whenever perfect is used in connec tion with man, as it is here, it is only in a relative sense. The mean ing by translation is spiritual ma turity or growth in grace. There is no such doctrine in the Bible as sin less perfection. We are told, “Let patience have her maturing work that you may be growing in spirit ual stature, and not lacking any thing..” A similar statement is found by Paul in Philippians 1:6. The trouble is that while some people have accepted the Saviour, they’ve never gone beyond that point. Christianity seemed to stop right there. It reminds us of the little boy who fell out of bed one night. His mother, hearing the thud, rushed into the room to ask, “Son, what happened?” Sleepily, the lad tried to figure it out and came up with the amusing explanation, “Well, I guess I went to sleep too close to the place where I got in.” Spiritually speak ing, there are far too many Chris tians like that. They haven’t gotten much beyond the point of initial sal vation. We are reminded in Scrip ture, “As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” 7
Patience is what each of us needs, for only thereby can we mature in our Christian growth. The thing we so soon forget is that the only way we can gain patience is through trials. No doubt you’ve heard the story of the man who asked his preacher if he would mind praying for him. He felt that he desperately needed more patience in life. The minister was happy to comply and said he’d begin right then. He in toned, “Oh Lord, send this brother troubles. Give him great difficulties. Let him know the tribulations of life personally.” The prayer was quickly interrupted by the mystified Chris tian layman who, rather confused, injected, “Pastor, I didn’t ask you to pray that way. I don’t want trou ble; what I need is patience.” The wise man of God knowingly respond ed, “Yes, no doubt. But you must realize that patience can come only through trials. You see, Romans 5:3 tells us ‘We glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh pa tience.’ ” Yes, patience is standing fast and not running away. James does not stop there. Some one might well have said, “Who needs patience but a doctor?” In verse four we are exhorted, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting noth ing.” In order to mature in Christ, to grow in the likeness of our Sav iour, we desperately need patience. This teaches us to wait on the Lord for His strength and grace. The only way to have patience is to have trials. James says patience will make you perfect. One of our missionary graduates, serving Christ over in Africa, tells how natives cross the rain-swollen rivers of areas suddenly hit by tor rential downpours. Frequently, in order to avoid being swept away by the rushing current, they will either tie stones around their waists, or carry them on their heads. In this way, crossing the river, the heavy
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker