Frequently after wars, there emerges a class of people called “the war rich’; those who seize the opportunity and improve their own conditions. This is exactly what happened after the war in Lebanon.
But what about God’s children? Do we accept the hard times as opportunities to prove the genuineness of our faith which is more precious than gold, so we might receive the crown of life?
Believers in Lebanon benefited much from passing through the fire of war. They became “war rich” on the spiritual plane. Those who love God collect spiritual fortunes and plenty of practical experiences. In times of distress the cyclone shakes us so that our dry leaves and rotten fuit fall down. At the same time, trials increase our stability by extending our roots into the depths. After the storm you see believers still holding their hands high, and roses in their hands.
Because, if you see a person who has passed through the valley of terror and reached the land of peace, with a flower plucked from that valley in his hand, then you will know that God was with him and that his soul has kept the freshness of faith.
Dear friend, as long as we are in this wicked world we will never be without enemies, suffering, and pain, but if we remain faithful we can profit from our problems. Let us trust in the great God who promised a “crown of life” to those who “endureth temptation”.
