Trials by Fire

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

– Matthew 6:34

It’s been about 2,000 years since Jesus’ first disciples heard this great declaration of truth and wisdom. And isn’t it just as relevant to modern-day Christ-followers? Surf the web and turn on the TV, and just try to avoid the stormy headlines about political scandals, natural disasters, and military conflicts.

Whether they’re literal or figurative, we’re always facing a storm of one kind or another. And there’s no escape — even after we’ve switched off the smartphone and changed the TV channel. For some people it might mean a job loss or financial setback. For others it’s a chronic illness or the prospect of major surgery. Or maybe your trouble involves family or relationship issues like a divorce or the loss of a loved one. In our fallen world, these trials by fire are a facet of the human experience.

Christ-followers, however, have the hope of better days ahead. That’s because we worship a God who’s much greater than our circumstances, no matter how discouraging they may be. Ours is a Creator who literally spoke the universe into existence, formed great mountain ranges with his hands, and parted the seas with a breath.

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” asks the writer of Genesis, the first book of the Bible.

So, let’s take God at his word. His hopeful message is that he works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purposes. But let’s also keep in mind that we’re not exempt from personal storms once we turn over our lives to Jesus. What does change, however, is that eternal assurance that helps us endure any difficulty or trial — trivial or immense. 

“Why are you afraid?” Christ asked his followers. “Do you still have no faith?"

In one form or another, the storms of life surround everyone. The lightning flashes and the thunder rumbles. But for Christ-followers, it's blue skies on the horizon as our trials by fire refine our faith.

The Speed of Light

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

– John 8:12

Nicknamed The Greatest, three-time heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali was known for his lightning-fast punches. “I'm so fast,” he once bragged, “that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.” 

Ali’s quickness was legendary, but he was obviously exaggerating. The actual speed of light is 186,000 miles per second, which many physicists believe is an unsurpassable barrier. And what does that kind of speed look like? A few years ago, researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) answered the question by filming a laser beam at 10 trillion frames per second passing through a bottle of milk. And as depicted in a 2019 YouTube video produced by The Slow Mo Guys, the resulting footage showed photons streaking through the milk in a blue blur as the laser traveled across the screen. Milk molecules helped scatter the photons in the laser beam, much like how clouds of cosmic dust diffuse the light from otherwise-invisible stars.

So far racking up more than 39 million views, this remarkable footage sheds new light on long-held notions about the universe. Likewise, the teachings of Jesus illuminate the distorted — but long-accepted — ways of the world against the perfection of God’s Kingdom. For example, society teaches us to beat the competition, climb the corporate ladder, and keep up with our neighbors (and then leave them in our dust). We always need the biggest, the fastest, and the shiniest. And most of all, it’s not bragging if we can back it all up.

But Christ teaches something quite different: 

His followers are the light of the world. And to be first, we must be last. 

That’s a revolutionary perspective that’s unacceptable to most people these days. And that’s just the point. After all, how much better would the world be if we were to convey this idea by adopting a servant’s attitude and putting the interests of others before our own? The Bible reports that in the early days of the church, it was a contagious message that spread like wildfire. Thousands of people were baptized and began following this remarkable movement known 2,000 years ago as The Way.

What about for you and me today? 

It all starts by accepting Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. Moreover, we must embrace the fact that we’re nothing without him — and we can do even less by ourselves. But when we fully surrender our lives to Christ, it’s through this brilliant point of light that we can find our true purpose and play our role in advancing God’s Kingdom, one person at a time.

In God We Trust

Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

– 2 Corinthians 5:5

If you’ve inspected your pocket change recently, you may have noticed a different look for some of your quarters. Beginning in 2022 and continuing through 2025, the U.S. Mint will each year issue up to five new reverse-side designs for the 25-cent piece — all to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women toward America’s development and history. Also, the obverse (heads side) of each coin maintains the likeness of George Washington, but now it faces to the right.

The familiar In God We Trust inscription is something that has not changed on the revamped quarter. And for more than 150 years, American coins — and later paper currency — have displayed the credo. According to the US Treasury, a Pennsylvania minister in 1861 recommended to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase that American coins should “recognize Almighty God in some form.” Chase agreed and instructed the director of the Philadelphia Mint to prepare an appropriate motto. 

“No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense,” he wrote. “The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.”

In 1864, In God We Trust made its first appearance on the two-cent coin. How ironic is it that “Godless” money should cite such an important reminder about the real source of our security? But if we’re honest with ourselves, perhaps the motto should read, In GOLD We Trust. After all, when life gets tough, it’s only natural to rely on our money, riches, and possessions rather than the One who makes it possible to earn a living in the first place. Experience shows that reliance on job security and the stock market is foolhardy at best — particularly in these days of high inflation and economic uncertainty. 

It’s an inconvenient truth: Our bank accounts are no defense against life’s hard realities. Terminal illnesses strike, relationships fail, and that which seemed solid turns to dust in our hands. What we desperately need is something — or Someone — who embodies rock-solid certainty and trust.

Jesus paints a vivid picture of this universal quest through his story about a foolish man who built a house on shifting sands. When the storm struck, the rains came and the winds blew with fury. It’s no surprise that the flimsy structure collapsed with a crash. But in comparison the wise man built his house on a foundation of solid rock. So, when the storm clouds of life boiled on the horizon, that house withstood even the heaviest downpour.

This leads us to the obvious question: Are you counting on your uncertain finances to save you when the realities of life happen? If so, why not trust in God: The One who not only made you, but knew everything about you before you were born. 

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust,” we read in Psalms, “who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.”

In God We Trust is much more than a motto found on money. It’s solid truth that we can take to the bank!

Extra Innings

Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

– 1 Samuel 18:5

With the 2022 Major League Baseball season well underway, it’s a great time to remember one of the all-time greats of America’s Pastime: Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.

Nicknamed Iron Man, Ripkin was an outstanding shortstop who combined power with average. His 20-year career with the Baltimore Orioles reflects American League Rookie of the Year honors, two Gold Glove Awards, 12 seasons with at least 20 home runs, and 3,184 hits. He was also selected for the All-Star Game 19 times. But he’s likely best remembered as breaking New York Yankee legend Lou Gehrig’s record of 2,130 consecutive games played by logging a remarkable streak of 2,632 of his own.

Ripkin no doubt played an inning or two of his remarkable career while hurt, sick or even exhausted. But he always carried on for the good of his team. And his persistence, dedication, and love of the game even helped the Orioles win the 1983 World Series. Ripkin succeeded in baseball for two decades because he had the strength and willpower to go the extra inning. Likewise, it’s in much the same way that God’s grace (undeserved kindness) sustains every Christ-follower throughout their extended journeys of faith. 

A misconception among some Believers is that God only presents his grace to them the moment they give their lives to Jesus. After that, they reason, he steps back into the cosmos to watch in silence. But the Bible tells us that our Creator remains by our side. And it’s a good thing. Because from time to time, we all need spiritual renewal as we grow in what it means to follow in Jesus’ steps. Even the apostles — the ones who personally witnessed Christ’s life-changing miracles — had to ask the Lord to increase their faith.

The apostles were both physically and spiritually drained after abandoning their livelihoods and then following Jesus for three years. And when their Master was arrested, tried and crucified, they scattered in fear for their lives — just as he had predicted. But they soon experienced revival the night Christ reappeared to them. Here’s how John’s gospel describes the remarkable scene:

In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples had met together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood right in the middle of them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he showed them his hands and his side, and when they saw the Lord, the disciples were overjoyed. Jesus said to them again, “Yes, peace be with you! Just as the Father sent me, so I am now going to send you.”

These early Believers could now continue their world-changing mission, empowered by their renewed confidence in Christ alone. It was through him that they had the faith and power to both accomplish their tasks and endure until the end. 

Like a beleaguered baseball team that relies on their tenacity to finally clinch the league championship, Christ-followers depend on a special Power, which enables them to persist through those difficult extra innings of life. And it’s this same Power that guarantees believers like you and me that we’ll one day be safe at home.

The Real Deal

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

– John 4:23

For many tourists in New York City, buying a fake Rolex watch or Gucci handbag from a street vendor is as big a part of their trip as visiting the Empire State Building or taking the Staten Island Ferry. Picking up a bargain is always fun. And who knows? Your friends just might think your inexpensive bling is the real deal.

However, it turns out that buying counterfeit goods is hardly a harmless diversion. A 2021 study for the Buy Safe America Coalition reveals that imports of phony products cost U.S. retailers about $54 billion per year in lost sales. What’s more, there’s also a huge problem — particularly in low- and middle- income nations — with counterfeit pharmaceuticals containing sketchy ingredients that can kill.

There are obvious parallels between the dangers of counterfeit goods and God’s warnings about idolatry, or what we might call fake worship. When it comes to buying clothing, jewelry, auto parts, or medicine, we’re often quick to look the other way and settle for cheap imitations. The truth is that we idolize expensive luxury goods. But we’d rather avoid paying the real price for authenticity.

This comparison is no exaggeration. First, let’s consider that an idol is anyone or anything that means more to us than following God and his true ways. Likewise, idolatry means settling for the illicit rather than the real deal. For example, pleasure is one of God’s gifts that we can easily idolize. The entertainment industry’s message is that if it feels good, it’s OK to do it. Watch almost any popular TV show or movie these days and you’ll see pleasurable — but destructive — behaviors and lifestyles that God expressly condemns. Since society no longer shuns adultery and other long-prohibited relationships, we’re told that they’re private activities that hurt no one. But if Christ-followers dare to say otherwise, they’re likely branded as intolerant, bigoted, or narrow-minded. After all, the advocates of such progressive behaviors ask, “What does the Bible have to do with living in the 21st century?”

Quite a bit, it turns out.

In fact, the Creator’s word to us through Scripture reveals that things haven’t changed much over the years when it comes to illicit relationships and the destruction they render. Just as our ancestors did centuries before us, we’ll often look the other way to accept and justify our behaviors and those we fear to offend. Meanwhile, we might also claim that we want God in our lives. But we actually want him to share the throne of our heart with what’s cheap, gaudy, and second-rate.

This approach is totally unacceptable to our Maker. After all, he holds a jealous love for his children. And he also wants only the very best for us. So, what should be our response? To fully acknowledge his love, we must simply turn away from our false idols — those things, attitudes, behaviors, or people — that hold us back from worshiping him. It’s when we finally change our priorities and focus on God that we’ll find true pleasure — one that’s both lasting and the real deal.

 

The Pride Before the Fall

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 

– 2 Corinthians 3: 4-5

According to Proverbs 16:18, “Pride comes before disaster, and arrogance before a fall.” And that's certainly true for individuals and organizations alike. For example, you're probably familiar with Microsoft Word, the popular word-processing software found on millions of personal computers and other devices around the world. But what about WordPerfect? 

Back in the 1980s and early ‘90s, it was the dominant word processer until Microsoft introduced its game-changing Windows 95 operating system. WordPerfect, which operated on the old DOS operating system, suddenly became obsolete. And although subsequent Windows-based versions of the software were released, there were compatibility issues. Microsoft Word eventually overthrew the once-invincible WordPerfect. And in 1996, Norvell — the owner — sold it for just 10% of what it had paid just two years earlier.

The resulting multi-million-dollar loss was, to say the least, a disturbing reality check for Norvell. Arguably, its management of WordPerfect and the employees who created it represent a textbook example of corporate pride and arrogance. Likewise, Christ-followers must never forget that pride and hubris can also cripple and destroy when they're overlooked.

At pride’s root is our love of the world’s values rather than our devotion to God. And pride happens to be a disease with some nasty side effects. One symptom is far-sightedness. That’s because we tend to see it in others but not in ourselves. Our heads then grow, and our minds shrink. And eventually, we reach the point where we think we’re strong and smart enough to do it all — all while forgetting that God is the only true power and source of our successes. We become arrogant, vain, stubborn, and defensive. And we may even develop a strange sense of satisfaction when others, often our closest friends, face difficulties or tragedies in their lives.

These painful symptoms can last for days or even years. But we’ll eventually reach the point where God lets us crumble and fall flat after some unforeseen situation or circumstance. It’s the pride before the fall. And it’s only when we’re struggling helplessly in the debris that we finally regain our senses and return to our Creator.

Like the common cold, we’re all bound to catch the pride bug occasionally. So, what’s the best way to battle the illness once it has set in? First, the remedy doesn’t call for adopting an artificially low self-esteem or a terminal woe-is-me attitude. Instead, we’ll heal by replacing deceptive self-confidence with reliable Christ-confidence. And the prescription is to always put God first in our lives and remember that we can do nothing without him. We should always give him the credit for our blessings and successes, and focus on helping others through their struggles. Moreover, we must understand that God chooses and uses humble people to do great things in the world. 

The Bible sums it all up with some solid advice: 

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

Ambassadors of Light

My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don't do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you?

– James 2:14

It’s in dark, troubling times like these that we most need to remember Jesus’ admonition to some of his earliest followers — those who daily faced much more than unkind words, unflattering social media posts or slanderous motion pictures:

“Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.”

What does Jesus mean by light? Maybe one way to think of it is that “spark” or inner power that God grants each Believer for demonstrating his goodness through their words and deeds. It might be helping an elderly neighbor by running a much-needed errand or volunteering to manage a co-worker’s project when they’re struggling to finish an earlier assignment. Or it might even involve cleaning up a community park or visiting residents at a local assisted living center. The possibilities are endless.

Ultimately, our mission as Christ-followers is to be Jesus’ ambassadors to our neighbors both near and far while we wait for his return — or that day when he calls us back home (whichever comes first). And until then, we’re to help prepare God’s kingdom by using the various gifts and talents he’s given us to make the world a better place. It’s in Matthew’s gospel that we find our Savior’s example:

“In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

Since we’re ambassadors of light, it’s not about us. Instead, it’s about him and his creation. So as Christ-followers, let’s turn our faith into action by accepting Jesus’ invitation to help brighten a dark, dying world that’s so much in need of his guidance, truth, and love.