Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work

Terry liked life in the fast lane.  He was the envy of his peers because he seemed to have everything; college education, great career, wore the latest styles, drove the fastest, newest sports cars and the young ladies flocked around him.

If ever there were a young man who grabbed all of the gusto in life, it was Terry.  He sucked the marrow from the bones of life.  Seemingly invincible; Terry flirted with danger; looking for greater thrills; always outdoing everyone. 

God’s hand was on Terry’s life.  There was a heavenly calling for him that transcended the pleasures of sin for a season.  This is true with all of us whom God has called into the household of faith.  Our human existence is hardly an introduction to the awesome potential that God has waiting for us. 

Zig Ziglar, a motivational speaker points out in his many books, “Man is designed for accomplishment, engineered for success and endowed with the seeds of greatness.”  Mr. Ziglar has lived his life for eternal accomplishment and success.  My friend Terry had only short term thinking and made a bad decision that resulted in a diving accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down.

No longer the suave and debonair ladies man, Terry lives life in a wheel chair.  When we look into the abyss and nothing but darkness is looking back; that is where we find character; the only thing that we will take out of this human experience.  For Terry, he found God and his gift for painting.  Holding the brush in his teeth, the artist in him has emerged which opens doors to witness for the Gospel at his gallery shows.  Terry’s paintings capture a perspective that reflects his life’s journey.

A near fatal accident may have truly saved Terry from the eternal punishment of his lifestyle.  We all need to raise our sights above and beyond this brief mortal life into the eternal Kingdom of God.  The book of James tells us to welcome trials and hard times because they come with a divine purpose..

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  (3)  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  (4)  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  (5)  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  (6)  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  (7)  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  (8)  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” James 1:2-8.

God created us for His good pleasure to commune with Him for all eternity.  We were created with free moral agency, in the flesh; in order to grow in character.  Through pain and suffering, we grow in that character which is pleasing to God.  The Apostle Paul points out; that the value of trials is beyond counting or comparison.

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18)

It is difficult to keep a James 1 or Romans 8 perspective when we are in the midst of a fiery trial that saps every ounce of strength, spiritually, emotionally and physically.  Sometimes we feel totally wrung out.  It is then, in our weakness; we find strength in Christ our Lord.

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:  (43) It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:  (44)  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

We all desire to live forever in the glory of God’s Kingdom; but that can seem elusive when we are war tore from the battlefield of life.  Therefore, we need to remain diligent during the good times and build up our strength through prayer and Bible study while we are able.  We all need to keep our eternal vision alive.

Prayer:  Our gracious Heavenly Father, you are full of mercy.  You have called me to spend eternity in your glorious Kingdom.  Help me to realize that this physical life is not the goal; this is the spring board to the goal.  See me through my trials.  Help me to learn the lessons that I need to build Godly character.  Fashion me for eternal life in your Kingdom.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.