THERE IS NO SECURITY FROM TEMPTATION IN THIS LIFE
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, in this life you are never safe, and as long as you
live the weapons of the spirit will ever be necessary to you. You
dwell among enemies. You are subject to attack from the right and the
left. If, therefore, you do not guard yourself from every quarter with
the shield of patience, you will not remain long unscathed.
Moreover, if you do not steadily set your heart on Me, with a
firm will to suffer everything for My sake, you will not be able to
bear the heat of this battle or to win the crown of the blessed. You
ought, therefore, to pass through all these things bravely and to
oppose a strong hand to whatever stands in your way. For to him who
triumphs heavenly bread is given, while for him who is too lazy to
fight there remains much misery.
If you look for rest in this life, how will you attain to
everlasting rest? Dispose yourself, then, not for much rest but for
great patience. Seek true peace, not on earth but in heaven; not in
men or in other creatures but in God alone. For love of God you should
undergo all things cheerfully, all labors and sorrows, temptations and
trials, anxieties, weaknesses, necessities, injuries, slanders,
rebukes, humiliations, confusions, corrections, and contempt. For
these are helps to virtue. These are the trials of Christ's recruit.
These form the heavenly crown. For a little brief labor I will give an
everlasting crown, and for passing confusion, glory that is eternal.
Do you think that you will always have spiritual consolations
as you desire? My saints did not always have them. Instead, they had
many afflictions, temptations of various kinds, and great desolation.
Yet they bore them all patiently. They placed their confidence in God
rather than in themselves, knowing that the sufferings of this life
are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to come. And you
-- do you wish to have at once that which others have scarcely
obtained after many tears and great labors?
Wait for the Lord, act bravely, and have courage. Do not lose
trust. Do not turn back but devote your body and soul constantly to
God's glory. I will reward you most plentifully. I will be with you in
every tribulation. |
That there is no security against temptation in
this life
"My Son, thou art never secure in this life, but
thy spiritual armour will always be needful for thee as long as thou
livest. Thou dwellest among foes, and art attacked on the right hand
and on the left. If therefore thou use not on all sides the shield of
patience, thou wilt not remain long unwounded. Above all, if thou
keep not thy heart fixed upon Me with steadfast purpose to bear all
things for My sake, thou shalt not be able to bear the fierceness of
the attack, nor to attain to the victory of the blessed. Therefore
must thou struggle bravely all thy life through, and put forth a
strong hand against those things which oppose thee. For to him that
overcometh is the hidden manna given,(1) but great misery is reserved
for the slothful.
2. "If thou seek rest in this life, how then wilt
thou attain unto the rest which is eternal? Set not thyself to attain
much rest, but much patience. Seek the true peace, not in earth but
in heaven, not in man nor in any created thing, but in God alone. For
the love of God thou must willingly undergo all things, whether
labours or sorrows, temptations, vexations, anxieties, necessities,
infirmities, injuries, gainsayings, rebukes, humiliations, confusions,
corrections, despisings; these things help unto virtue, these things
prove the scholar of Christ; these things fashion the heavenly crown.
I will give thee an eternal reward for short labour, and infinite
glory for transient shame.
3. "Thinkest thou that thou shalt always have
spiritual consolations at thy will? My Saints had never such, but
instead thereof manifold griefs, and divers temptations, and heavy
desolations. But patiently they bore themselves in all, and trusted
in God more than in themselves, knowing that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall
be revealed in us.(2) Wouldst thou have that immediately which many
have hardly attained unto after many tears and hard labours? Wait for
the Lord, quit thyself like a man and be strong; be not faint-hearted,
nor go aside from Me, but constantly devote thy body and soul to the
glory of God. I will reward thee plenteously, I will be with thee in
trouble."(3) |