Entering GOD’s KINGDOM through TRIBULATIONS!
November
10 Bible Reading: Acts Chapters 13-15
Entering GOD’s KINGDOM through TRIBULATIONS!
And when they had preached the gospel to
that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and
Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue
in the faith, and saying, "We must
through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." (Acts
14:21-22)
In the above
passage, we read that Paul and Barnabas "returned to Lystra, Iconium, and
Antioch". Their purpose at this time was to “follow-up” on their initial ministries in those cities. They were
not satisfied just to preach the gospel and bringing people to the saving
knowledge of Jesus. They wanted to build up the believers in their most holy
faith, especially by teaching them the truth of the church and its importance
in God’s program in the world. Erdman points out: "A proper missionary program has as its aim the establishing on
the field of self-governing, self-sustaining, self-propagating churches. This
was ever the purpose and the practice of Paul."
Two things can be noted here:
- First, the exact nature of their follow-up work was strengthening the souls of the disciples and establishing the Christians in the faith by instructing them from the word of God. Paul described the process in Colossians 1:28, 29: “We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ Jesus. This is what I am working at all the time, with all the strength that God gives me” (JBP).
- Second, they
exhorted them to continue in the faith, an exhortation especially timely in
view of the widespread persecution then prevalent. With this exhortation went a
reminder that they must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.
This refers to the kingdom of God in its future aspect (or, heaven), when
believers will share Christ’s glory. A person enters the kingdom of God in the
first place through the new birth. Persecutions and tribulations do not have
any saving value. However, those who enter the kingdom of God by faith at the
present time are promised that the pathway to future glory is filled with
tribulations. “If indeed we suffer with
Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Rom. 8:17b).
What we can
understand is that it is important to
continually grow in Christian life. This process of growth will bring us
through continued troubles and sufferings to enter heaven eventually. Earth is
a land of trials, while heaven is the land of joy. Much of our life is getting
through sufferings that are inevitable in this world.
Let is persevere through them as our “will to persevere is often the difference between failure and success.” (David Sarnoff). Let us bear our troubles joyfully remembering what Jesus has told us: "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b)
