THE COMING GLORY
James 1:12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trials because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Many years ago on my first trip to South Dakota, to hunt turkeys on the Cheyenne River Reservation I got myself into a disastrous situation. After meeting up with two friends for a quick midday lunch, they left for another area6 miles away. I thought I had been plenty of ammunition and headed off.
A few minutes later I missed a turkey and realized I was out of ammo... I had set the remaining shells in the truck at lunch.
I decided to walk cross country to where my buddies were and hunt with them. I headed NW, knowing I would eventually find them. It was a tough walk over high buttes, where prairie dogs barked at me and where I watched every step for rattle snakes. After 3 hours I crossed a river and I knew I had to be close. Along the way I picked up the skull and antlers of a huge whitetail buck and tied it to my pack... adding one more burden.
I had been without water all day and I was cramping and stumbling. I was beginning to get worried that I would shutdown and be stuck there. But as I came out of the river and climbed the bank, I was shocked to see one buddy walking. He had juice and water in his pack and shared it with me.
A few minutes later we heard a gobbler close by. I let out a few calls and a whole bunch of birds answered. I called a few times more and a flock of gobblers rushed in. The two of us filled our tags quickly. What looked like a disaster ended in celebration.
I had pushed forward that day. It wasn't easy. I added extra burdens to the struggle as I tied the weight of antlers to my back. I persevered through sometimes big climbs and steep descents. I kept going when my legs, my lungs and my desire to rest tried to get me to stop... and in the end I was rewarded.
In everyday life it Is hard to go through trials and hardships; death in the family, financial disaster, major health issues abandonment etc... And at the time we rarely feel blessed by the trial. However if and when we endure these trials and not lose our focus on Christ, one blessing we can have is peace in our lives. Linda and I always question how it is possible for people to go through major painful issues and struggles without God... It doesn't seem possible. The promise is the ultimate sharing of glory with Christ. That's the only way I can understand the possibility of joy in the midst of terrible trials.
The last part of the verse above starts with, "that person will receive the crown of life". A few books later, in Revelation 2:9-10, the Lord would affirm to the church in Smyrna, "I know you're afflictions and your poverty," but this would not be his entire message to them. He also encourages that persecuted church by adding, "Yet you are rich!" In what way could they possibly be called "rich" while knowing poverty, slander, imprisonment and other persecution "even to the point of death"? The Lord's answer would be his promise, "I will give you the crown of life." That promise of the Lord is the kind of encouragement James gives the suffering Christian in verse 12 promising with the same phrase that God "will give the crown of life."
Today, as I prayed for the persecuted church around the world I thought of the believers in Israel, Iran and throughout the Middle East. I thought of what they've been facing recently. There may be more coming their way.
We will all face turbulence in our lives, we'll see the "trials and tests" that James wrote about. But... today, this week, this month, this year... As you face these struggles and pain... Take heart! God knows your trial, endure it with His help and look forward to the Glory that He has promised. This life is short and there is a promise of an eternity of perfection with Him when we've endured it all... with our faith and trust in Him.
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