will you stay in the fire?

This is not a message for everyone. Just for those truly unique and brave individuals who trust in the One True and Living God, who are bold enough to call themselves, Christian.

Once again, I was wrestling to understand the age old question which gnaws at many people, ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’ As I considered several perspectives, three arrested my attention:

 First: It must be acknowledged that good is relative. ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ Romans 3:23
 Second: We live in a fallen world where things occur that God never intended as a direct result of the sinful nature of man. ‘Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned.’ Romans 5:12AMP
 Third: It is what must be – at times.

Now you may be questioning that third possibility, just as I did. How can a good God allow bad things to happen to His people – to people who trust in His Word, who call on His name, who follow His commands and who live for His purpose? Yet if we look through Scripture, we see many examples of God allowing (seemingly) terrible events to befall His people. Why would He do this?

For me the answer came in the form of a question. ‘Will you stay in the fire long enough for somebody else to see Jesus? This is the question of the day. This is the question that I ask in my upcoming book, When Storms Rage. This is the question that I ask of you today, the question that God asked of me several years ago.

Now, all throughout my life, I have been advised that you should not answer a question with a question. Yet we understand from His Word that, our thoughts are not His thoughts – neither are our ways His ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9). Faithful and true, God knew that I would discover the answer that I sought if I would only consider the question that He asked.

Remember the three Hebrew boys. Daniel 3:16-18 tells us that ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king …. ‘let it be known to you , O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.’ They refused to disobey God, they stood up for righteousness and they were thrown in the fire. Not only were they thrown in the fire, they were kept in the fire … until someone else (the king and all the onlookers) could see Jesus. Daniel 3:24-29

Next, let us review the situation of three siblings whom Jesus loved – Mary, Martha and Lazarus. As we know from Scripture, Lazarus became ill and His sisters sent for Jesus. Yet He (Jesus) did not respond immediately to their cries for help. He waited until Lazarus died so that He could raise Him from the dead and the glory of God could be seen (John 11). ‘Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.’ John 11:45

Lastly, we have Tabitha - certainly not the last that there is, but the last that we will consider. Scripture states, ‘This woman (a disciple) was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died’ But Peter came and prayed and raised her from the dead. ‘And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.’ Acts 9:36-42

All were serving the Lord. All were loved by the Lord. All were facing and endured terrible situations and circumstances – with the consent of the LORD!

So I ask you again, ‘Will you stay in the fire long enough for somebody else to see Jesus?’ Will you face the illness and even death? Will you endure the ridicule and bouts of poverty? Will you stand up under the disappointment of delayed or broken dreams? Will you selflessly and joyfully subject yourself to extreme conditions to ensure the salvation of another?

Will you be like Jesus, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross?

Hebrews 12:1-3 (Message Version)
'Do you see what this means—
all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?

It means we'd better get on with it.
Strip down, start running—and never quit!

No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Keep your eyes on Jesus,
who both began and finished this race we're in.

Study how he did it.

Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—
that exhilarating finish in and with God—

He could put up with anything along the way:
Cross, shame, whatever.

And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith,
go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through.

That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!’

Sometimes a little perspective is all that is needed to give us the strength to stand the test. And when you have done all to stand … keep on standing!

May God Richly Bless You …