God Tests us If He Loves Us (Argument 5)

I was thinking of all of you again while I was at the Temple with my brother this afternoon. We were discussing one of the laws with a priest, and I was rebuked for misunderstanding one of the commandments in Leviticus. It reminds me of our situation that you will be facing before I return. I just had word that the persecution has been progressing closer to home. Would you believe me if I told you that God was sending us this persecution to mature us into His likeness? We often wonder why God allows evils… well, don’t think of these persecutions as evils, but as tests and situations to build our character and make us better.

Think of Job, who was tested by God Himself. Job was more righteous than any of us and had such a small picture of God’s salvation plan. We have seen this plan completed in Christ, so we need to continue on even stronger than Job with our eyes fixed on the truth. Even righteous Job was corrected by God as a futile human, but Job was grateful for the correction, even though it was painful. Would you not rather be perfect in God’s eyes and have a few scars than come to the end of your time here unscathed, sending a beautiful body to a flaming torture apart from God? Be careful you do not become unfaithful! We’ve been corrected by these imperfect teachers and are so thankful when they set us on the right path, so should we not be all the more thankful for God’s instruction and correction? Doesn’t it make this approaching trial look so much more appealing, so know that God is sending it for our good, and if we persevere, there will be fruits of righteousness produced in our lives?

Like Esau, you and I are among the firstborn (of God, the best Father) and bequeathed an inheritance. However, we have the right to give up that birthright, throw it away, just like Esau did for a hungry belly. Do you want to lose that invaluable blessing of communion and relationship with the Father through the Son by denying His sacrifice on the cross and returning to the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant? The Old Covenant has been nullified, made of no consequence, by the sacrifice of Christ. Being both the full covering for sin and the only sacrifice now accepted by the Father, I implore you not to turn away from truth because of the coming persecution.

I wish I could be with you to encourage you through this time, and I will return as quickly as God allows me. But remember, as I trust you will choose to be faithful to Christ, you can approach God face to face on the Mountain of Zion, rather than be separated through a curtain as on Mount Sinai. Imagine what it would be like if each of us glowed as much as Moses after having come from God’s presence; we would all have to wear veils around even each other, because the brightness of a brother’s face would merely magnify our own reflection. Take comfort in one another, that we all bask together in the glorious presence of our Savior whether near or far apart. I am constantly lifting you up in prayer, that this trial will only prove your faith and approve you in God’s favor.

Beware that you do not let go of that faith in this time of persecution. Think of us all as holding onto the railing of God in His faithfulness, while the persecution is merely a shake from God to see who is really holding onto the rail and who is merely pretending. We have been shaken once and were found faithful holding onto God. But are we ready to really cling to Christ? Prepare yourselves, because the shaking is beginning. Never relinquish the Gospel you first accepted, recognizing it as far superior the Mosaic sacrificial system. Beware, if you consider letting go when the shaking drives your pain to the point of blood and death: God’s consuming fire will devour any who let go. That is a place none of is able or desire to face, the wrath of God upon His own who has denied Him. Do you realize that returning the sacrificial system is denying God?

As you cling to Christ, be careful not to sin. Discipline yourselves to remain true to the lord’s commandments so you may be found blameless like Job. You have not always made mature decisions in terms of your marital fidelity, hospitality and love for one another. Please do not allow the immaturity of your past to disqualify you from making this mature decision to obey out of love for God. As long as you are faithful in clinging to Christ, He will develop in you those fruits of righteousness through your suffering. But if you let go, beware, because you are not falling to the destruction of man, but of God. So not only hold fast in order to be matured, but because God’s wounds cut deeper than man’s and His fire consumes all while man’s merely kills. Man may kill the body, but God holds in His hand our eternal souls.

I wish with all my heart that I could encourage you in person at the time to make the decision. But I fear I will not be with you when the day of persecution arrives. Therefore, be faithful and make the obedient decision. Pray for me too as I am facing my own struggles and desire the encouragement of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. I look forward to persevering through this life with joy alongside you once I have returned to you. Be mindful that Our Lord sees all your deeds, so make sure they are pleasing to Him! I wish I could have written more to you, but time runs short! Timothy might come with if he is able to come to Italy on his way back to Paul, I know you all will be glad to see him. All our relatives here in Jerusalem say “HI!”
I love you all, now stay with God.

Yocheved