Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, through now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations (1 Peter 1:5, 6).
Do not think that the Christians life is free from temptation. Temptation will come to every Christian. Both the Christian and the one who does not accept Christ as his leader will have trials. The difference is that the latter is serving a tyrant doing his mean drudgery, while Christian is serving the One who died to give him eternal life. Do not look upon trial as something strange, but as the means by which we are to be purified and strengthened. “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations,” James admonishes; “knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1: 2, 3).
In the future life we shall understand things that here greatly perplex us. We shall realize how strong a helper we had and how angels of God were commissioned to guard us as we followed the counsel of the Word of God.
To all who receive Him, Christ will give power to become the sons of God. He is present help in every time of need. Let us be ashamed of our wavering faith. Those who are overcome have only themselves to blame for their failure to resist the enemy. All who choose can come to Christ and find the help they need.
These stands among you the mighty Counselor of ages, inviting you to place your confidence in Him. Shall we turn away from Him to uncertain human beings, who are as wholly dependent on God as we ourselves are? Have we fallen so far below our privileges? Have we not been guilty of expecting so little that we have not asked for God what is longing to give?
“I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel… For He said, ‘Surely they are My people, Children that will not lie.’ So He was their Savior. In all their affliction he was afflicted, the angel of his presence saved them” (Isaiah 63:7-9).
Ellen G. White
from Our Father Cares, p.160
