Tribulation



A simple search for the word "tribulation" in the Bible is incredibly revealing. In the New King James Version, the word tribulation appears only two times in the Old Testament, and 30 times in the New Testament. Tribulation goes with Jesus:


John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”


The Bible is clear that tribulation is a sign of following closely with God. The world generally has a mistaken idea that following Jesus should eliminate all of our troubles. Many mistakenly think that if we know God we will be rich and happy, and tribulation will decrease in our lives. Try telling that to ANYONE who is called faithful in the Bible: Moses, David, Daniel, Job, Paul, Peter, John...ugh! the list of those who faced severe tribulation and natural loss is so long! The truth is, in the natural realm, the Lord gives AND takes away:


Job 1:1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.


6-12 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person. ” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord .


God GAVE satan authority to touch Job in a limited way. This was Job's response:


Job 1:21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord .”


What a sweet sacrifice of trust and understanding Job offered the Lord that day! If you know the rest of the story, you know that Job endured much more tribulation, and walked away with this crown:


Job 42:5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.


The trouble Job endured was counted a blessing in the end by Job himself. It wasn't some commentator observing from a safe distance that called Job's tribulation good. No! It was Job himself!


The truth is, Jesus has an agenda for each life He has formed. He desires to make everyone who will agree with Him WEALTHY in HEAVEN...forever.


There is an economy of wealth and reward in heaven that looks much different than our idea of wealth on earth. Jesus is committed to everyone being as wealth as possible in heaven. Jesus is committed to everyone having crowns of victory over tribulation on earth. In this world we WILL have trouble, Jesus said, because forever He desires for us to have wealth:


Revelation 3:10-12 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.


Jesus is telling those who will persevere in tribulation that it is worth it. He says I will "keep you" from what it is that you fear, but tribulation is part of following me. It is the intensity of tribulation that gives man's heart "steel" to remain in the "refiners fire" and be renewed. Jesus wasn't telling those who would choose to persevere that He would take them out of tribulation, but that He would "keep them" through tribulation:


John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.


Jesus wants those that bear His name to have victory like He has victory. He has proven Himself victorious over everything that would oppose mankind:


I Corinthians 15:54-55 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”


The trouble we face is a divine "setup" allowed to give us victory, which produces great wealth and honor and a shared measure of glory in Jesus' victory, which will be displayed in heaven forever!


BUT, Jesus will not force victory upon us! Eventually everyone gets what they want. If we want to let fear drive us away from the fight, ultimately Jesus will let us shrink back and lose our crown of victory. Over and over, Jesus encourages His sons and daughters to "overcome," that they might not loose any of the amazing rewards He has in His heart to give them. If you have ever faced a trial and not come through it so victoriously, only to find that same, or similar, trial in your path once more, don't lose heart! This is Jesus' mercy! He is not willing that you would lose your crown of victory! Trust in the one who desires to carry you through the trouble, not remove you from it!


Jesus says:


Matthew 11:30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”


It is still a yoke and burden, but trusting in the One who is sovereign over everything and has already proven His perfect love makes the yoke that He allows easy, and the burden that He says may touch you light!


What is the limit of God's power? There is none! The limit of His love? None! If these two things are true (and they are), then anyone who belongs to God has it made!


Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The greater the tribulation, the greater the ultimate victory!

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