If They Could, We Can

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

The word used most often in the New Testament and translated as ‘Temptation’ generally has the idea of a testing or a trial permitted or sent by God to demonstrate and to mature one's character, faith, and holiness.

For example, Romans 5:3-5 – “[W]e exult (revel, rejoice) in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Now James 1:2-4: “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” 

Contrary to what many false teachers feed their congregations, God does not promise His children born through the blood of Jesus a proverbial Rose Garden. He did not promise us a carefree, trouble-free walk through life. In fact, He promised just the opposite: “All those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3).” “It has been granted to us in Christ Jesus to not only believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake (Philippians 1),” Do not be surprised at the fiery trial which is to try you . . .” (1 Peter 4).

But in it all and through it all, Jesus promised to walk WITH us. He promised He would not permit us to be tried or tested above what He knows each of us are able to endure – and would provide us the means to escape so that we will be able to endure it.  But – and this is important –sometimes the means of escape is His empowerment to cheerfully and obediently carry our cross even to our own Calvary Hill.

Speaking of Calvary, the prayer of our Lord in the Gethsemane garden is among the best known and most oft quoted passages in the New Testament. And that’s why it’s so very possible to gloss over the utter anguish that frames this scene.

The Lord Jesus told His closest friends, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death.”  A moment later He looked toward heaven and used the most intimate form of address for ‘Father.’ He said ‘Abba.’  

We would say, ‘Daddy.’ 

“Please remove this cup from me. But I choose your will over mine. Do with me what you wish. I place myself into your hands.”

Listen! Jesus was scared. ‘Terrified’ is probably more accurate. 

We’re told in another place His sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Medical science calls it ‘hematidrosis’ – an uncommon, yet not unknown physiological response to extreme physical or emotional stress. 

Jesus is our example of how to live, and even how to die. We know it intellectually. We hear it from pulpits and read it in literature. Most of us have no difficulty understanding that concept. 

But have tears ever crushed you to your knees? Has gut-wrenching fear or loss ever shaken you to your core? If so, you can better understand the profound level of trust Jesus had in His Abba – His ‘Daddy.’

Yes, Jesus is our example of how to live, and how to die. But only through the supernatural aid of God can that intellectual concept become a living reality in our life. 

That is why, on this weekend of All Saints Day, I want to remind us of some of the giants of faith on whose shoulders we stand – many of whom endured terrible trials – but through them all, God walked with them and strengthened them to see their trials through to the end.

The first I want to mention are the 40 Roman soldiers who died a slow and torturous death for their faith. In the winter of 320 AD in Armenia, the 40 had given their hearts to Jesus. Shortly thereafter the Roman governor demanded of all his troops to make an offering to Roman gods. When he learned of the 40, he threatened them with execution unless they recanted their faith in Jesus.

When the men still refused to bow to false gods, the governor – probably to save face before his own superiors, futilely offered them money and imperial honors. Finally, he threatened them with torments and torture, but the 40 responded:

“You offer us money that remains behind and glory that fades away. You seek to make us friends of the Emperor but alienate us from the true King. We desire one gift, the crown of righteousness. We are anxious for one glory, the glory of the heavenly kingdom. We love honors, those of heaven. You threaten fearful torments and call our godliness a crime, but you will not find us fainthearted or attached to this life or easily stricken with terror. For the love of God, we are prepared to endure any kind of torture.”

The enraged governor had the men stripped naked and herded to the middle of a frozen lake. He set soldiers around the perimeter to prevent any from escaping. Hoping to weaken their resolve, he placed baths of hot water at the shore and told them they could come into the hot baths when they were ready to deny their faith. In the end, one of the forty weakened, came off the ice, and got into a warm bath.

But the climax to this story occurred when one of the guards on shore saw the soldier desert. He threw off his clothes and ran to join the naked ones on the ice, shouting aloud, “I am a Christian!”

The second faithful Christian we must know about is Father Ragheed Ganni. In 2007, after celebrating Mass in a small town in Iraq, several armed men demanded he close the church. Ganni replied, "How can I close the house of God?" The gunmen then demanded he and the three deacons with him convert to Islam. When they refused, they were immediately gunned down.

The third martyr we need to know about died in 1999 during the Columbine High School massacre. Two young male students rampaged through the school, randomly murdering everyone they saw. Seventeen-year-old Rachel Scott knew both young men hated Christians. One found her hiding under a table in the cafeteria and pointed his weapon at her face. He asked if she was a Christian. Rachel knew her confession of faith in Christ would be the last words she ever spoke. But she confessed Christ anyway. He killed her on the spot. 

Not every saint of God dies a martyr’s death, or suffers through decades of trials. Most Christians live quietly and virtually unknown by those around them. They are like the impoverished widow who put her two pennies into the offering plate at the temple. They are like Naomi in the story of Ruth – Naomi, who lost her husband and two sons, but still placed her life into the hands of the God of heaven. They are like Job, the man who in one day lost his fortune, his children, and his health – and yet proclaimed through his anguish, “It is still my consolation, and I rejoice in unsparing pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One” (Job 6:10).

God promises to not give us anything that will destroy us. Yes, circumstances of life may take our health, our family, our finances, even our life – but none of those things mean God has left us alone. Quite the opposite. The mean God is purifying us, molding us more closely into the image of Jesus.

If the forty Roman soldiers could stand for Jesus in the face of death, if Fr. Ganni and the three deacons with him could stand for Jesus in the face of death, if Rachel Scott could stand for Jesus in the face of death – then WE can stand for Jesus, by the same Holy Spirit who empowered them to stare death in the face.

Trust Him. God will always empower you and me to do whatever is necessary to bring honor and glory to His Name. Yes, trust Him. He is always faithful to His word.