“In the world ye shall have tribulation.” — John 16:33
Art thou asking the reason of this, believer? Look upward to thy heavenly Father, and behold Him pure and holy. Dost thou know that thou art one day to be like Him? Wilt thou easily be conformed to His image? Wilt thou not require much refining in the furnace of affliction to purify thee? Will it be an easy thing to get rid of thy corruptions, and make thee perfect even as thy Father which is in heaven is perfect? Next, Christian, turn thine eye downward. Dost thou know what foes thou hast beneath thy feet? Thou wast once a servant of Satan, and no king will willingly lose his subjects. Dost thou think that…
Satan will let thee alone? No, he will be always atthee, for he “goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”Expect trouble, therefore, Christian, when thou lookest beneath thee. Thenlook around thee. Where art thou? Thou art in an enemy’s country, astranger and a sojourner. The world is not thy friend. If it be, then thou artnot God’s friend, for he who is the friend of the world is the enemy ofGod. Be assured that thou shalt find foe-men everywhere. When thousleepest, think that thou art resting on the battlefield; when thou walkest,suspect an ambush in every hedge. As mosquitoes are said to bite strangersmore than natives, so will the trials of earth be sharpest to you. Lastly,look within thee, into thine own heart and observe what is there. Sin andself are still within. Ah! if thou hadst no devil to tempt thee, no enemies tofight thee, and no world to ensnare thee, thou wouldst still find in thyselfevil enough to be a sore trouble to thee, for “the heart is deceitful above allthings, and desperately wicked.” Expect trouble then, but despond not onaccount of it, for God is with thee to help and to strengthen thee. He hathsaid, “I will be with thee in trouble; I will deliver thee and honour thee.”
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Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen