Tribulation | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 30, 1883

Tribulation.

"BUT we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Rom. 5:3-5.

Our tribulation is one of the great influences which God, in his providence, uses to fit us for the glory that awaits us. We need a course of training, and experience to educate the mind and heart, before great power is conferred upon us. We need, also, to be weaned from the love of this present earth.

The history of David before he became king of Israel, abounds in scenes of trials and suffering, both in body and mind. After all his long training in adversity, he was exalted to the throne of Israel. But he seems to have forgotten how Saul abused his power in persecuting him, for the abuse of kingly power was also a weakness of David. For his sins while king the Lord punished him severely. We are told to "despise not the chastening of the Almighty," and Paul says, "Whom the Lord loveth he chastiseth." Job 5:17; Heb. 12:6.

But besides the training, tribulation serves other very important purposes. Concerning Job in his prosperity, Satan says to the Lord: "Doth Job fear God for naught? Hast thou not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the works of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land." If God blessed us with peace, plenty, and earthly honor, for being righteous, then the world might join in with Satan, and say that we were Christians only through worldly policy, and selfish considerations.

Again: Our historic evidence of the reality of the Messiahship of Jesus is firmly built upon the tribulation of the Jewish Christians to whom Jesus said, "And you shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem and all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." But what would their testimony have been to us if they had not sealed it in great tribulation, and with their hearts' blood? This is strong evidence that Jesus rose from death, and ascended into Heaven. Would the apostles and Jewish disciples have made their lives a continued scene of tribulation, and finally laid down their lives for the testimony which they held, if they had not known for certain that their testimony was true?

"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!" EPSILON.