James 1: 2 My brethren,
count it all joy when ye fall into divers (many – or a large quantity of) temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying (testing) of
your faith worketh (brings about or finishes) patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that
ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
How secure are we in “our belief” concerning Jesus – concerning
the cross and concerning His resurrection . . . It is only natural for us to doubt
these type of things – but as we mature spiritually – or
in the words of James – as we become “perfect and entire” or (completely whole)
these
periods of doubt should slowly “fade away” as God’s Spirit
continually testifies of His Truth to
our spirit.
Ro 8:16 The Spirit itself (The
Holy Spirit of God) beareth witness with our spirit (testifies to our heart)
that we are the children of God:
The idea in our text verses – is that when our faith
is put to the test by trials – or when we are able to prove how committed we
really are to God . . .
then this is something that puts the finishing touches
on our lives regarding what it means to actually be a “Christian.”
If we have ever painted a wall – we understand that it
is necessary to trim around the edges of a window casing . . . the main part of
the room is
painted first – and then afterward – a smaller brush is
used to “trim out” around the edges of the door facings or the windows.
Before adding the “finishing touches” the room is
completely covered with paint – but there are just a few details that we cannot
finish with a 12”
roller . . . so we have to go back with a smaller
brush to reach a few spots where the roller couldn’t reach . . .
This is exactly what James 1: 1-4 is teaching us about
our lives after we have been saved. To
be saved is to have our lives painted with a big wide
roller that covers our soul with the blood of Jesus –
like a painting roller covers the wall with paint.
However – for the detailed work of our lives – having completely
covered our soul with His blood – God now needs to do a little “finish work” on
our lives . . . now our salvation is not dependent
upon this “detailed work” any more so than the color of the walls are dependent
upon trimming
around the face boards of a door . . . but just like “trimming
in a door” makes the room look better – when Jesus puts the finishing touches
on
our lives with manifold “temptations” in order to prove to
us that our faith is real and genuine . . . then having gained such confidence
through these
trials we have “a better life” while we remain upon the Earth waiting on
God to take us to heaven . . . just like we have a prettier room after painting
it – IF we “trim in” around all of the edges.
One of the “trials or the temptations” that we will undergo
for the purpose of “testing” our faith to prove “not to God” but to ourselves
that our faith is real . . . is the trial of DOUBT.
If we have been saved – then to later “doubt our
salvation” is not a sin that condemns us to hell . . . but rather it is only
one trial in a long series of
trials that we will suffer through as a child of God .
. . the end result being that we grow stronger in spirit as we read verses like
John 5: 24 which tells us . . .
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I
say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH
everlasting life, and SHALL NOT come into (or enter into) condemnation; but
(because of their belief) is passed (has
already passed) from death unto life.
Satan “tempts us” with the idea or with the concept
that Salvation is not really a gift . . . but that it has to be earned or
maintained by some sort of
effort on our part . . . but as we look into the scriptures
to put these doubts to rest – what we find there causes us to grow stronger
than we were before.
John 3: 18 He that believeth
on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already,
because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
He that believeth on Him IS NOT CONDEMNED . . . Such is the case regarding any type of doubt that we
encounter in our lives regarding the kindness of God and His promised care for us . . . we face adversity – and then because of that
adversity we are tempted to doubt God.
But after a period of “soul searching” and a "thorough
study" of the scriptures (which we would not be searching in this manner if we were
never faced with the adversity which Satan uses as a temptation for us to doubt God) . . . After this time of soul searching - after the clouds have finally gone away – the sun shines brighter for us than it ever did
before.
The trial of our faith – is not for God’s benefit to
see whether or not we are faithful . . . the trial of our faith is for OUR BENEFIT
. . . and it’s
purpose is not to harm us in any way at all – but it’s purpose is to
make us stronger.
Let’s consider something as simple as teaching a class
. . . if you are shy and have no confidence – then the first time you stand in
front of a class is not a pleasant experience at all . . .
But after it is over – after you realize that you did
not "die" in the process of speaking in fronto of others – you gain the confidence
you need to teach
other lessons . . . which you would not have had the ability
to do – if you had not undergone the “trial” of having to stumble through those
first few lessons.
The athlete who sacrifices to achieve a particular
goal as he practices every day . . . when it is game day - he has the knowledge
and the skills to perform because of how he suffered through the daily
exercises in practice . . .
4 But let patience have her
perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
This is telling us to put up with all of the trials –
and with all of the adversities of life just like an athlete puts up with all
of the daily practices . . . so that in the end – we will complete and mature
Christians.
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