Sunday, November 18, 2018

Trusting God in the Fire

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

Matthew 10:28–31

One of the martyrs of the early church, a man named Pionius, was sentenced to be burned to death because he would not renounce his faith. In fact, not only did he refuse to deny the Lord, he spent his last days on earth witnessing to his guards and attempting to convince them to put their faith in Christ. According to the account of his execution, the guards refused Christ, knowing what it would cost them and saying, “You can’t make us willing to burn alive.” Pionius replied, “It is far worse to be burned when you are dead.”

The promises God has given to us are not a guarantee that we will not have problems but instead a guarantee that we will never be forsaken. And when we place the struggles and pains of this life in the context of eternity, it is easy to see that doing what God says is the best choice, regardless of the immediate consequences. This world is not our destination or our purpose. It is merely a temporary residence on the way to eternity.

Those Christians who understand this truth are prepared no matter what trials they may face. No fire can destroy God’s love and care for us. We have His presence in this life, and His promise of Heaven to look forward to in the next. Paul wrote “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God’s care is always present, no matter what trials or pain we may be enduring—He never forsakes us.

[Jesus said], “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life”. (John 5:39-40)