The Testing of our Faith

In my last article I made mention of the fact that the root cause of this pandemic is the futility of man`s wisdom, it is something that went drastically wrong, but not without premeditation and evil intentions.  First of all, these things are not accidental; they are premeditated but accidentally went wrong during the application. One must first bear in mind the fact that the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one and the time has come when the heavens and those who dwell in them are rejoicing because Satan has been thrown down from heaven, but in the interim we have been warned saying; “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time" (Revelations 12:12)!

What is happening globally today is designed to test of our faith, as to whether we are establishing our faith in the wisdom of men or in the power of God. Believers! We have been given the assurance saying; “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

.The good about this pandemic for believers is to help us build our spiritual house, for in a great house we are told that, “there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:20-21).

Our faith, without which it is impossible to please God, because he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, has to be tested just as gold is tested, because the principal objective of the free gift of life which we all have received it is to build our spiritual house, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

For this reason we have been duly admonished saying: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1Corinthians 3:16-17).

 Therefore as the future temple of God, our building material has to be tested, and so we have been given the assurance saying, “In this (the trial of our faith) you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith --- the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:6-9).

The testing of our faith is very critical especially in this present pandemic we are now facing which came about due the futility of man`s wisdom, in order that, “that our faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” And so the consolation is, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man supposes that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:2-8).

One cannot afford to be double- minded or unstable in this situation because the option is limited to either having faith in the wisdom of men, or having faith in the power of God. This pandemic is leading to a one world order where everyone will be compelled to take a vaccination which will mutate the genes or chromosomes of mankind, resulting in a new feature or character that will appear suddenly and be inherited.

One very important thing to note is that, when it comes to the obedience to the laws God has ordained for mankind, everyone one wants to claim their human rights, so that everyone is free to walk after the imagination of their own hearts and do what seems right in their own eyes: But please take note of what is going to happen when this one world order will come into effect.

 It is prophesied that; “He (the beast which appears like a two horned lamb but speaks like the dragon) was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666” (Revelations 11: 15-18).

This will be a huge decision that we all will have to make, my humble advice is that, we all take heed to the voice of the third angel who warned us with a loud voice saying, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name" (Revelation 14:9-11).

But the question is, are we taking heed! Are we gearing and training our mind to make that one critical choice of not having our faith in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God! The choice is yours.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph