Real Talk
Have you ever been so tested that you felt you were sinking into a bottomless pit? Or that you were all alone, with no support available? How do you normally respond when situations hold you in a grip that feels like it's choking out your life, making you feel weak in every possible way?
Well, let’s flip the coin a little. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He sweated drops of blood and pleaded with His Father to take the cup of Calvary away, if it was possible. How do you think He was feeling? Was He experiencing any of the emotions we endure when we are hurting deeply? Yes, He was! He felt the combination of all that we have ever gone through because of sin. Yet, His final decision was to pray for God’s will to be done, and His Father answered by sending Him the strength that was needed to endure the trial at Golgotha. Even then, He cried out in anguish while dying: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
His life was on the line, but still He gave it up because of His deep desire to save us from sin and to reunite us with God the Father: in other words, He willingly died for us because of LOVE. This is the reason that He came to earth the first time, and He was determined to carry out His mission. During His ministry, He truthfully told His disciples (then and now) to ‘take up their cross and follow Him’. That was no idle speech. It was “real talk!” No friend of God can be a friend of the Devil, so it therefore means that his hatred for God spills out on God’s children.
We will have trials and temptations – that’s the natural result of sin and its effects. But His promise to all His disciples is that we should “be of good courage because He has overcome the world!” He knows that the road is not easy, because He’s been there and done that! It will never be easy! But we can trust His love and His word to ‘provide a way of escape’ with each trial. Therefore, the question that we should ask ourselves is this: “is my trial worth my salvation?” Your answer will determine your endurance, and that can only be settled through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
A crown of life awaits those who finish the Christian race victoriously. That victory was sealed when He triumphantly declared, “It is finished!”. That victory will mark the end of sin and will be witnessed by all when He comes to earth the second time to reward everyone for the decisions that they have made for eternity. His “well done” will be real talk only for those who endure the trials, as tough as they are. And His sacrifice on the cross makes the trials worthwhile. Let us encourage, strengthen, love, and pray for each other, so that we will all endure to the end and receive the reward of the faithful. Amen!
Contributor: Cloreth Greene
