Making a stand

Sometimes we have to make a stand against adversity, and it isn’t always comfortable. During these times we’d all like an intervention, and they do happen, but there are situations where we need to learn the art of endurance.

Life throws up difficulties. When we were born again we came into God’s blessing and providence, but we were never promised a trouble free life. In fact, Jesus said that in this world we would have tests, trials and tribulation, but we were to ’be of good cheer’ because He had overcome the world.

Because He has overcome, we can overcome. We are told that we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. This doesn’t mean that we will be absolutely challenge free. It means we will have the wherewithal to overcome those trials and be better off for it.

Trial of faith

Most of the trials we will face involve our faith. They are tests in much the same way we put pressure on items we build to see if they can take the weight. We don’t make a chair and then give it to someone to sit on unless we have first tested its ability to take their weight.

The trying of our faith perfects it. We are not being tested. Our faith is being tried out to see if it is genuine, and can stand the pressure that will come against it. It’s not God who is testing us. It is our flesh, or the adversary. Do we really believe what we say we believe?

Paul likens the test of our faith to being put in a crucible. He calls it more precious than gold being tried, put under a fiery trial to remove imperfections.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. (1 Peter 1:6-8)

How genuine is our faith? Can it stand the test of a trial?

Having done all

Sometimes the adversary will use circumstances, or even the attitude or ambitions of other people to prove us. He will come at us every which way to attempt to bring us down, discourage us, cause us to lose concentration, or trip us into losing heart. This is where we have to make a stand and not allow his devices to weaken our resolve.

We should always remember that we do not wrestle with those people who are seemingly opposing us. There is a spiritual dimension to the pressure we sometimes find ourselves under. Our enemy is always either our own flesh rising up, or the opposer of the brethren. Again, Paul outlines it for us perfectly.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)

We have been given the solution. We have the very armour of God. We need to make sure we put on this armour, and keep it on. It is the armour of light; the same armour Christ was wearing in His days on earth–spiritual, supernatural armour, unseen to the natural eye. Now it is ours to use. It is salvation, righteousness, the gospel, truth, faith, and the very Word of God, which is called the sword of the Spirit.

Above all, though, Paul tells us, we should maintain the shield of faith as protective armour against the fiery darts of the wicked one. Again, our faith is coming under scrutiny. It is being tested. Here is where we have to make a stand. Having done everything we know to do we keep on standing resolute and unmovable in Him.

As long as it takes

The very fact that God has included this in His Word tells us that we can withstand, even in the evil day. We can hold out. We will make it in the end, even if we were to suffer martyrdom for the sake of the gospel, we will enter the eternal promises of God. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. To live is Christ, to die is gain. We died to self when we began to live for Him.

In most circumstances, though, we will come out the other side unscathed, just like Daniel in the lion’s den. “Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me (Ps 23).” Keep listening, keep trusting, keep following His lead. The Shepherd knows where He’s going.

God will not allow us to be tempted above that which we can withstand. He knows our current limitations, but the testing is to allow our resilience to be increased for future trials.

Oh, yes, there will always be trials, as long as we have faith, and that faith always has the interests of the kingdom at heart.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Going through trials is part of being a person of faith. It is, in part, honing our faith, building our capacity, extending our levels of endurance for bigger projects.

Whatever you may go through, always make a stand for faith.