THE OBJECT OF TRIALS by H. F. Phelps

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 29, 1879

THE OBJECT OF TRIALS.

By H. F. Phelps

IN the 73rd psalm we read that the wicked “are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men,” and, “these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world;” but, of God’s people, “waters of a full cup are wrung out of them.” Now, we ask, Why this difference? Why do the wicked prosper, and why are God’s people chastened? Why do the wicked have more than heart can wish, and their eyes stand out with fatness, while to the righteous are given a full cup of trials, want, privations, temptations, trouble, and even persecution?

Ah! there must be some good reason for all this. Our kind heavenly Father doth not willingly afflict. We love our children, and would not punish them needlessly. But God’s love for his people cannot be measured by the love of poor finite mortals. It can only be measured by the fact that God gave his only begotten Son to die for us; and “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Is the servant above his master? He was tried. Are we above our Lord? He was tempted in all points like as we are. Indeed, we read that the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering. Perfection, then, comes through suffering and trial. This is not all. Paul gives us to understand that “we fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ.” Christ has suffered; but something is left behind for his people to bear. We may be “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him.” Then this heirship comes through suffering. Our Master “learned obedience by the things which he suffered.” Are we such dull scholars that we cannot learn by the same means?

And Peter adds his testimony: “The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” He further says, “Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.”

How easy to rejoice in prosperity; but here is danger. How hard to rejoice in suffering and trial; but here is safety. Partakers of Christ’s sufferings! Exalted privilege! And Paul tells us, that our light afflictions work for us “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

By suffering, then, we become more nearly allied to Christ and Heaven, and a bright

prospect of eternal glory awaits us, if we only bear these trials as we ought. There are two sides to all our trials. If we come out on the right side of them we shall be nearer Heaven, and better prepared to do God’s will; if on the wrong side, we shall be farther away from God, and nearer our great foe. Which will we do?

H. F. PHELPS.