Title When you are tested
Contents
1 Corinthians 10:13 When tempted
The story of Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, as a child. One day, at his house, friends from the neighborhood gathered and played cards together. But from the very first hand, a very bad hand came into Eisenhower's hands. He was heartbroken. So he threw his hand away and said, "What is this? What if I give you such a bad hand from the start? Make a new one!"
Then Eisenhower's mother came in with a drink and saw it. Eisenhower's mother put down her drink for a moment and told the children: "You guys, before you play cards, listen to me first. And especially Eisenhower, listen carefully to me!
The cards you are playing now are the same as the life you will live in the future. Just as bad cards can come in when playing cards, there will always be difficult and difficult times as you go forward. Doesn't that mean you can't just throw your life away at will? The more difficult and difficult the times, the more you will have to be patient and pass the moment wisely. Then the bright sun will rise in your life.
So, when you play cards, whether good or bad cards come in, you have to do your best with them as they are! Only those who are willing to do so should now pick up their hand and start playing cards. And there is one last thing you should keep in mind. It is that no one's hand always comes in good, and it doesn't always come in badly!"
Eisenhower was deeply sorry for his rash act. And I deeply cared for my mother's teachings. After that, he faced many adversity in his life. However, at every turning point, he wisely passed on the words of his mother by reflecting on them. So he is American
became president. became a historical figure. Became a great person.
Everyone, as we go through life, sometimes good cards come in, but sometimes bad cards come in. However, if we get frustrated or sit down, we will have no choice but to be left behind in life. In our life path, it is easy to walk, but it does not appear. In fact, that wouldn't be fun. Sometimes there is an uphill road that requires sweating, and sometimes a steep slope that requires careful descending will appear before our eyes. Let's live with peace of mind while doing so.
Everyone, think of our Jesus. Jesus, the Son of God, took on flesh and came to this earth. He came as the son of the poor carpenter Joseph. There was no room, so he was born in a stable. How bad of a hand did you start with? In addition, if we look at the life of Jesus, most of them were bad cards. Yet Jesus never complained about his life. He did not abandon the mission given to him. Jesus completed his mission to the end with a bad card. That's why He said, "I am finished!" on the cross, satisfied.
In the text we read today, the Apostle Paul teaches us some important guidelines that we must keep in mind when we are tempted.
1. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man.
He said that no temptation has overtaken us except what is common to man. The test we face is a test that others have also endured. Therefore, when we are subjected to a certain test, we should not think, “I am the only one who is unusually tempted by this test!” Others are living with equally difficult trials. They may face much more difficult trials than I do, but they bear it well.
live. Why can't we ourselves face the tests that others have endured?
Everyone, think of Job. Job was rich enough to be called the greatest in the East. However, the wealth of wealth disappeared in one day like a bubble. In today's language, the business went bankrupt and became a beggar. In addition, he lost seven sons and three daughters at once in an accident. Nevertheless, Job did not complain against God. Rather, it was praised. “The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).
But Job's test did not end there. I had severe sores all over my body. His wife looked at the miserable condition and said: "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die." (Job 2:9) What was Job's answer at that time? "Your words are like the words of one of the foolish women. If we have received a blessing from God, will we not receive any disaster?" (Job 2:10).
And Job did not sin with his lips until the end. He overcame all those hardships. In the end, Job lived while enjoying the double blessing that God had given him. Because Job's faith was that great, the test he was faced with must have been that great.
So is Daniel. The ordeal he suffered was great. He was thrown into the lions' den. Still, I overcame it with faith. The same goes for Daniel's three friends. Because of their great faith, they were tested until they were thrown into the fiery furnace. Still, they overcame it by faith. In this way, our ancestors of faith were tested more than we did, but they overcame them by faith.
Ladies and gentlemen, don't think that I'm the only one going through some kind of test. Others have lived through such tests. Why can't we ourselves face the tests that others have endured? However much
can afford it. We will have to live by thinking about it.
2. But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able.
Gentlemen, God controls all our trials. God will not allow us to be tempted from the beginning that we are unable to bear. God allows us only tests we can bear. Think of the time when Job was tempted by Satan. Satan struck Job's cattle. They also struck Job's children.
But Satan could never touch Job's body. Why? Because God is in control. So Job overcame Satan's temptation and was victorious. Satan failed to overthrow Job in the first test. Then Satan asked God to allow him to touch Job's body. God allowed it. But how did God control Job's temptation this time? God controlled Satan so that even if he touched Job's body, it would never harm Job's life.
In this way, God controls all the temptations we face. He will not allow trials that he cannot bear. You only allow tests you can handle.
3. With the temptation also he will make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Ladies and gentlemen, God prepares a way for us to escape when we are tempted. He prepares a better way for us and guides our steps. Is the east blocked by any chance? Don't be discouraged. Just look west. Is the west blocked? Look south. Is the south blocked? Please look north. Is the east, west, north, and south all blocked? Raise your eyes and look up. Please look to God. The sky is always open. God prepares the way of escape and guides our steps.
It was the early 1800's. There was a man who worked for a customs office in the US. One day he got fired from his job. He became discouraged. He was distressed when he returned home and told his wife that he had been fired. "What do I do now? I must be a really incompetent person."
Then his wife comforted him. "Honey, cheer up! You've always liked to write. So you can start writing from now on." "No, what are you going to eat?" My wife answered. "I have some money I have saved up in case something like this happens. With that money, I can live without worrying about it for a year." "Can you write a book that sells well in a year?" My wife answered again. “If you trust in God, God will help you.”
The two knelt on the spot. I prayed earnestly, asking for God's help with a heart of dependence on God. Not long after that, he published a novel. It was a huge hit. It is considered one of America's greatest novels. The novel's title is "The Scarlet Letter". The author's name is Nathaniel Hawthorne. One bad tile thrown into his life turned him from an obscure man into a historical figure.
There will be times in our lives when we are faced with a similar situation. There are times when we fail in business despite our hard work. Sometimes you let the person you love go away first. Sometimes we get sick that we don't want. But we need not be discouraged. Why? Because God prepares the way of escape and guides our steps.
Sometimes God leads us into the valley of the shadow of death. It goes through green pastures and still waters.
is. Even if we go into the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear. Why? For the Lord is with us and comforts us with His rod and His staff. Even if it is difficult and difficult, let's endure a little more. Please be a little more patient. It's just hidden by the hillside, so you can't see ahead.
But as we turn around that mountaintop under the guidance of the Lord, we will discover that great blessings and glory await us that we have never expected before. Green pastures will welcome us. A resting price point will be waiting for us. Only then will we understand the reason why God, the Good Shepherd, led me into the valley of darkness.
And even in the midst of that great ordeal, you will know why, “Why did I have to be a little more patient and a little more patient?” and thank God. Dear saints, Have you been through hard times? Are you carrying a heavy load? It's not something God doesn't know. You know everything. Today, I hope you will listen to the word of God that God has given to us through the Apostle Paul once again.
“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.”