THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS Are Not Immune to the Trials and Troubles of This World “And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.” Matthew 8:23-25
The health, wealth and happiness advocates who promise their followers immunity from earthly sorrows and sufferings do not get their doctrine from the Bible. Here are the chosen disciples of the Lord Jesus in great anxiety. The faithful little flock which believed is allowed by the Shepherd to be much troubled. The fear of death breaks in upon them like an armed man. The deep water seems likely to go over their souls. Peter, James, and John, the pillars of the Church about to be planted in the world, are much distressed. Serving Christ never did secure a man from all the ills that flesh is heir to, and never will. If you are a believer you must count on having your share of sickness and pain, sorrow and tears, losses and crosses, deaths and griefs, troubles and disappointments, so long as you are in this body. Christ never purposed that you shall get to heaven without these. He has undertaken that all who come to Him shall have all things pertaining to life and Godliness. But He never intended that He will make them prosperous, rich, or healthy, and that death shall never come to their family. I have the privilege of being one of Christ’s ambassadors. In His name I can offer eternal life to any man, woman or child. In His name I do offer pardon, peace, grace, and glory to any sinner who reads this article. But I dare not offer that person worldly prosperity as a part and parcel of the gospel. I dare not offer him long life, an increased income, and freedom from pain. I dare not promise the man who takes up the cross and follows Christ that in following Him he shall never meet with a storm. Many do not like these terms. They would prefer having Christ and good health, plenty of money, no deaths in their family, no wearisome cares, and a perpetual morning without clouds. But they do not like Christ and the cross, Christ and tribulation, Christ and conflict, Christ and the howling wind, Christ and the storm. Is this the thought of your heart? Believe me if it is you are deceived. How should you know who are true Christians if following Christ was the way to be free from trouble? How should we discern the wheat from the chaff, if it were not for the winnowing of trial? How should we know whether men served Christ for His own sake or from selfish motives, if his service brought health and wealth with it as a matter of course? The seasons of winter show us which of the trees are evergreen and which are not. The storms of affliction and care are useful in the same way. They reveal whose faith is real and whose is nothing but profession and form.
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