No Problem

Let’s review a few of the famous accounts in the Bible to see if God has any problems letting His people go through the pressure cooker and/or wilderness times.

Man named Joseph. Sold into slavery, left in a prison for a nice long time. Nope, no problem. In the end he was second in command of Egypt, it was worth it.

Man named David. Saul tried to murder him, he wound up a fugitive living in the wilderness. No problem with that either. In the end he received kingship over all Israel, it was worth it.

Man named Moses. Had to flee Egypt after killing a man, spent 40 years in the desert herding sheep when he knew he was supposed to deliver Israel (see Acts 7:25). No problem with this one. In the end he delivered Israel, and has some of the nicest things spoken about him of all the Old Testament characters.

Three Jewish boys. Told to bow before Nebuchadnezzar’s idol, thrown into a fiery furnace when they refused. No problem. They weren’t even burned, and they wound up getting promoted in Babylon (see Daniel 3:30). ‘Twas worth it.

Man named Job. Everything taken away from him, no explanation given at the time. God initiated it by talking to Satan about His servant Job. In the end he was given even more than he started with, it was worth it.

Man named Noah. Told to build a boat that took around 100 years to build amongst people who didn’t understand, then live in it with a bunch of stinky animals while the world got flooded. In the end it was a fresh start for the world, it was worth it.

Jesus. Prayed so fervently that his sweat was like drops of blood, endured incredible brutality before being nailed to a cross and that barely begins to cover it. It was exactly what God wanted. In the end it became possible for us to be saved by grace, bought with His blood. Oh, it was worth it!

Let’s talk about us today.

Twenty first century church. Told to endure to the end through tribulation, hardship, persecution, and even death for serving Jesus. Big problem! It doesn’t agree with our theology.

If God would let all these other people go through these things, why do we think that we have a free ticket out? No, here is what the Bible really has to say:

“20: And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21: I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
22: Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
23: Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24: And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25: And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
26: But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” Daniel 7:20-26 KJV Emphasis added

Make war… wear out… doesn’t sound like fun, yet to be given the kingdom as a possession? It will be worth it.

Cleanse your life and endure to the end! It’ll be worth it.