in good. If any Christian thinks he has reason to grumble and com plain on account of his troubles, he ought to take a long look at some of the saints of the past. Their trials were far more severe and longer lasting than any of us will ever experience. We should be ashamed of whimpering and whin ing when we realize that the ser vants of God in other ages bravely faced the flame and sword without such resources as are at our dis posal. Those who lived then were not permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit as we are today. They did not have the completed Word of God, nor was there the example of a suffering Saviour who could challenge their lives. These saints are the “ great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1) who should en courage us still in the race of life. Think of Noah's faithfulness for example. For 120 years he preached. In the face of daily ridicule he still stood firm. In Hebrews 11 you will see a complete “ hall of fame" of those heroes of the faith who re mained true to the Lord despite often insurmountable odds. Jesus Christ gave a similar description of the ill treatment of the prophets when He accused the Jewish fath ers of killing, crucifying, scourging and persecuting them (Matthew 23:34-35). Stephen, one of the early deacons of the church, levelled the same accusations (Acts 7:52). Jere miah is a case in point. He was beaten, imprisoned and thrown in to an open cistern. None of the prophets groaned and moaned poignantly over their personal af flictions. They would not abandon their faith in the promises of God. They endured as seeing the Lord who is invisible.
Job is an example of a man who continued to trust the Lord in sor row. He illustrates, too, that God is full of tenderness and mercy. This ancient saint is the proverbial paragon of patience. He had a ten acity which caused him to testify in confidence, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." We have ah excellent pattern for our own lives in trials and testings given in II Corinthians 4:8-18. The troubles God permits to test us are not without a purpose. He intends that we should emerge from the ordeal with a clearer con cept of His unfailing mercies and tender compassion. There is not to be grumbling and criticism. We do not make exaggerated claims or use immoderate speech. Strictly honest people do not need to re sort to oaths. Their word is always their bond. And so we need to see how Job reacted to trials (Job 3:3, 11; 10:18; 16:2; 17:11-16). The Apostle Paul had the same kind of believing persistence. In the midst of his trials and difficul ties, he was strong to the end (Acts 26:21, 22). How wonderful it is to realize that God has given us so much. These should all be real in centives for patience. You and I, as believers, will one day stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. What are our afflictions in the light of the imminent return of our blessed Lord? James urges us to exercise forbearance toward peo ple who mistreat us. We are to be living in daily anticipation of the Lord's return. We have no right to grumble; no business to retaliate, no purpose to give up and no rea son to use oaths (James 5:12). PRAYER WORKS How privileged we are as believ- Page 47
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