"Through many tribulations" 

The Bible does not promise Christians an easy and trouble-free life.

Are the rewards that God offers for the personal suffering and trials that Christians face worth it ? 

Jesus Christ said his path is "difficult" and his door "narrow" (Matthew 7:14). God allows Christians to have serious trials and problems, even though we are striving to obey and please Him.

Promise of trials and difficulties

During his first missionary journey, the apostle Paul spoke to those who had been converted, “confirming the spirits of the disciples, exhorting them to remain in the faith, and saying to them: It is necessary that through many tribulations we enter the kingdom of God ”(Acts 14:22, emphasis added).

Jesus also said in John 16:33: “In the world you will have affliction; but trust me, I have defeated the world ”.

In his first epistle the apostle Peter encouraged his readers: “Beloved, do not be surprised by the trial fire that has come upon you, as if something strange is happening to you, but rejoice because you are participants in the sufferings of Christ, so that you too in the revelation of his glory you rejoice with great joy ”(1 Peter 4: 12-13, emphasis added).

The end result of the trial fire is for you to "rejoice with great joy" when Christ appears in his glory and offers similar glory to true Christians.

Why does God allow trials?

There is a vital quality that God wants all human beings to have before allowing them to enter his Kingdom. This crucially important quality, which God cannot instantly create, is a holy and righteous character. This type of character must be developed in every Christian before he can receive the reward of eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

What is a fair character?

Herbert W. Armstrong, one of the most influential voices in biblical education in the 20th century, suggested this definition: “The perfect, holy and just character is the ability, in an independent entity, to come to discern the correct and true path from the false , to surrender voluntarily, totally and unconditionally to God and his perfect way, to obey God and surrender before Him, to decide to live well and to act well even against temptations and desires ... but only after severe tests ”(The Mystery of the Centuries, p. 58).

Trials and tribulations are the primary means by which Christians develop a righteous character. Trials are part of the training process that future children of God must undergo during this physical life (Hebrews 12: 9-11).

The author of Psalms 119 understood the importance of his personal tests: "Before I was humiliated, I went astray, but now I keep your word." Furthermore: “It is good for me to have been humiliated, so that I may learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me, Than thousands of gold and silver ”(Psalms 119: 67, 71-72).

The author of the book of Hebrews was aware that God never corrects or allows Christians to experience trials, except for the good of those involved. He wrote: “and you have already forgotten the exhortation that is addressed to you as children, saying: My son, do not underestimate the discipline of the Lord, nor lose heart when you are rebuked by him; For the Lord disciplines, whom he loves, and scourges everyone he receives for a son. If you endure discipline, God treats you like children; for what son is he whom the father does not discipline? ... It is true that no discipline at present seems to be a cause of joy, but of sadness; but afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained in it ”(Hebrews 12: 5-7, 11, emphasis added).

Produce many fruits

In John 15: 1-2 Jesus Christ used a vine analogy to illustrate the need to become better Christians: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch that does not bear fruit in me, he will take away; and whosoever bears fruit shall cleanse him, that he may bear more fruit ”(emphasis added).

Our Heavenly Father is glorified when we bear much fruit (v. 8). He knows what aspects of our character need to be cleansed so that we can grow further, to reach our incredible potential.

The apostle Paul encouraged the young evangelist Timothy: “This is a faithful word: If we are dead with him [symbolically through the process of repentance and baptism], we will also live with him; If we suffer, we will also reign with him; If we deny him, he will also deny us ”(2 Timothy 2: 11-12, emphasis added). These are promises that we should not ignore!

Salvation and our final reward

The impressive plan that God has designed for humanity shows the love and concern that he has for those who are willing to give their lives to Him. The impressive plan that God has designed for humanity shows the love and concern that he has for those who are willing to give their lives to Him. Let's look at these extraordinary verses from the Bible:

“See what love the Father has given us, so that we may be called children of God; This is why the world does not know us, because it did not know him. Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we are to be has not yet been manifested; but we know that when he appears, we will be like him, because we will see him as he is ”(1 John 3: 1-2, emphasis added).

Discuss the meaning of these verses.

The word "look" basically means "all of you pay special attention to this."

"We will be like Him" ​​- molded like Him, both outside and inside - with powerful and dazzling spirit bodies and bright and clear minds. In Philippians 3: 20-21 we are given a description: “But our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; which will transform the body of our humiliation, to be similar to the body of his glory, by the power with which he can also subject himself to all things ”(emphasis added). All things will be under your control.

Verses 1 and 2 of 1 John 3 refer to God as "the Father" and true believers as "sons." Clearly, this represents a family relationship based on love between the Father and his children. Christ taught his disciples how to pray to the Father (Matthew 6: 9). When Christ returns, true Christians will be resurrected to immortality and are called "children of God, being children of the resurrection" (Luke 20:36). They will be endowed with glorified spiritual bodies as members of the family of God.

Furthermore, 1 John 3: 3 states: "And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he [Christ] is pure." Surely there can be no greater motivation for Christians to “purify themselves” than to please the Father and to have a compelling desire to become more like Jesus Christ for all eternity.

Biblical Examples of Faith and Perseverance

The apostle Paul, at the end of his life, had a very clear focus on his incredible reward and potential: “Because I am already to be sacrificed, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. For the rest, the crown of justice is kept for me, which the Lord, just judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who love his coming ”(2 Timothy 4: 6-8, emphasis added).

Abraham is the father of the faithful, "because he waited for the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10). He believed that God was going to fulfill his promise to bring New Jerusalem from heaven to Earth, and that he would have a part in the future government of God, which is to be established in and out of the city (Revelation 21: 10-27 ).

While in Egypt, Moses made a very courageous decision in rejecting “the temporary delights of sin, holding Christ's reproach as greater riches than the treasures of the Egyptians; because he had his sights set on the reward ... because he held himself as seeing the Invisible "(Hebrews 11: 24-27, emphasis added).

Other characters of faith in Hebrews 11 "... all these died without having received what was promised, but looking at it from afar, and believing it, and saluting it, and confessing that they were foreigners and pilgrims on earth" (emphasis added). Instead of setting their aspirations on the things of this world, they clearly implied "that they seek a homeland" —in other words, the place that God has prepared for his faithful servants (vv. 13-16).

The change from physical bodies to spiritual bodies

Job spoke confidently about a future “change” that he expected: “If man dies, will he live again? Every day of my age I will wait, Until my release comes. ” (Job 14:14, emphasis added).

What change?

God gives us the opportunity to be part of his government and his family, which will bring incredible changes. Thousands of years later the apostle Paul, under inspiration, gave an answer. He wrote to the members of the Church of God in Corinth: "But this I say, brothers: that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption."

He continued: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: Not all of us will sleep; but we will all be transformed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the final trumpet [when Christ returns]; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be transformed ”(1 Corinthians 15: 50-52, emphasis added). Yes, a change is coming for faithful Christians.

Then, finally, there will be salvation and victory!

The highest priority in our life

Paul encouraged the elect of God in the city of Rome, called them "heirs of God", but in more dramatic terms: "And if children, also heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we suffer together with him, so that together with him we may be glorified. " He continued: "For I am certain that the afflictions of the present time are not comparable with the coming glory that is to be manifested in us" (Romans 8: 17-18, emphasis added).

Once we understand the amazing purpose of God, we can remember Paul's words when he answers his own question in Romans 8:35: "Who will separate us from the love of Christ?", He answers: "Therefore I am sure that Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor the present, nor what is to come, nor high, nor deep, nor any other created thing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord ”(vv. 38-39, emphasis added).

God gives us the opportunity to be part of his government and his family, which will bring incredible changes. Let's see how he is going to renew all things: “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will be no more death, no more crying, no crying, no pain; because the first things happened ”(Revelation 21: 4).

Whether we understand God's plan and purpose for each of us — our potential and ultimate destiny — is up to us to decide if we want to be part of his plan. God's offer is the greatest opportunity anyone can be offered. Can you think of something that is more amazing and wonderful?

Let us return to the question at the beginning: Are the adversities, sacrifices, and trials that Christians face worthwhile? Yes, of course, if you value and appreciate the reward that God promises to those who are willing to put Him as the highest priority in their lives and to persevere to the end, no matter how narrow and difficult the path is!

The decision you make will have an impact that will last, not only in this life, but for all eternity. You must be a "good and faithful servant" and thus be able to hear the words of Christ on his return: "Enter into the joy of your lord" (Matthew 25:21, 23).