Text:

‘Seeing then that we have a great High Priest … Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need’ – Hebrews 4:14-16

Thought:

Jesus was tempted and tested in all points. Thankfully we don’t have to go through such a severe testing, for he did it on our behalf. However, every Christian will face tests, trials and tragedies. Some are God-designed to show off his grace and our faith. Others are engineered by the devil to bring about our downfall but God can intervene as Joseph could testify, ‘You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good’ – Gen 50:20.

The book of Daniel illustrates this clearly. Talk about living life on the edge! Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego it seems, were always within a hairbreadth of death. Firstly they had been taken prisoner to Babylon, although they could so easily have been killed in the siege of Jerusalem. Life goes well for a while until King Nebuchadnezzar has a terrifying dream – Daniel Ch 2. Desperate to know its true interpretation, he demands the impossible from his ‘wise men’. Tell him the dream and interpretation or else. Death threatened, until Daniel and his three friends get a revelation from God that the dream prophesied the next three world empires after the Babylonian – Medo-Persian, Grecian and Roman. An amazing prophecy confirmed by history. Life takes an upturn again with promotion.

Then it’s the turn of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego’s faith to be tested when they refused to bow down to the idol and faced certain death – Daniel Ch 3. “God is able to deliver us, but if he doesn’t, we will not bow down”, was their cry of faith! Thrown into the fiery furnace, Nebuchadnezzar and his officials are startled to see four persons walking around in the furnace totally unharmed, as God stepped in and saved these three brave men. So it’s time to prosper again as more promotion is lavished upon them. Where was Daniel when all this was happening? Surely he hadn’t bowed down to that idol? It’s clear that he hadn’t because later on a similar challenge loomed large.

Daniel, a righteous governor, was being considered for promotion by the king, much to the consternation of the corrupt government officials – Daniel Ch 6. These men tricked the king into issuing a decree that they knew Daniel would ignore, that no one was to call on a god or person other than the king for 30 days. Daniel threw his window open as usual, in full view, praying to God three times that same day, an act punishable by death in the lion’s den. When Daniel was accused, the king realising he had been deceived into decreeing such a law, went to great lengths to save him, but to no avail. However Daniel emerged unhurt by the lions the next morning, and enjoyed more prosperity.

So we see that some trials we’ll face together and some alone. Don’t look down on those struggling through a difficult time, while you are enjoying your promotion! Be an encourager, for you may find yourself in need of encouragement at a later date. The Bible warns, ‘Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall’, but also promises, ‘No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it’ – 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

Always look for the blessing after the battle of testing. Thank God we can come through every trial victorious and enjoy the spoils of warfare and victory.