EVERY TRIAL MUST BE BORNE FOR THE SAKE OF ETERNAL
LIFE
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, do not let the labors which you have taken up for My
sake break you, and do not let troubles, from whatever source, cast
you down; but in everything let My promise strengthen and console you.
I am able to reward you beyond all means and measure.
You will not labor here long, nor will you always be oppressed
by sorrows. Wait a little while and you will see a speedy end of
evils. The hour will come when all labor and trouble shall be no more.
All that passes away with time is trivial.
What you do, do well. Work faithfully in My vineyard. I will be
your reward. Write, read, sing, mourn, keep silence, pray, and bear
hardships like a man. Eternal life is worth all these and greater
battles. Peace will come on a day which is known to the Lord, and then
there shall be no day or night as at present but perpetual light,
infinite brightness, lasting peace, and safe repose. Then you will not
say: "Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" nor will you
cry: "Woe is me, because my sojourn is prolonged." For then death will
be banished, and there will be health unfailing. There will be no
anxiety then, but blessed joy and sweet, noble companionship.
If you could see the everlasting crowns of the saints in
heaven, and the great glory wherein they now rejoice -- they who were
once considered contemptible in this world and, as it were, unworthy
of life itself -- you would certainly humble yourself at once to the
very earth, and seek to be subject to all rather than to command even
one. Nor would you desire the pleasant days of this life, but rather
be glad to suffer for God, considering it your greatest gain to be
counted as nothing among men.
Oh, if these things appealed to you and penetrated deeply into
your heart, how could you dare to complain even once? Ought not all
trials be borne for the sake of everlasting life? In truth, the loss
or gain of God's kingdom is no small matter.
Lift up your countenance to heaven, then. Behold Me, and with
Me all My saints. They had great trials in this life, but now they
rejoice. They are consoled. Now they are safe and at rest. And they
shall abide with Me for all eternity in the kingdom of My Father. |
That all troubles are to be endured for the sake of
eternal life
"My Son, let not the labours which thou hast
undertaken for Me break thee down, nor let tribulations cast thee down
in any wise, but let my promise strengthen and comfort thee in every
event. I am sufficient to reward thee above all measure and extent.
Not long shalt thou labour here, nor always be weighed down with
sorrows. Wait yet a little while, and thou shalt see a speedy end of
thine evils. An hour shall come when all labour and confusion shall
cease. Little and short is all that passeth away with time.
2. "Do earnestly what thou dost; labour
faithfully in My vineyard; I will be thy reward. Write, read, sing,
weep, be silent, pray, endure adversities manfully; eternal life is
worthy of all these conflicts, yea, and of greater. Peace shall come
in one day which is known to the Lord; which shall be neither day nor
night,(1) but light eternal, infinite clearness, steadfast peace, and
undisturbed rest. Thou shalt not say then, Who shall deliver me from
the body of this death?(2) nor cry out, Woe is me, for my sojourning
is prolonged,(3) because death will be utterly destroyed, and there
shall be salvation which can never fail, no more anxiety, happy
delight, sweet and noble society.
3. "Oh, if thou sawest the unfading crowns of the
Saints in heaven, and with what great glory they now rejoice, who
aforetime were reckoned by this world contemptibly and as it were
unworthy of life, truly thou wouldst immediately humble thyself even
to the earth, and wouldst desire rather to be in subjection to all,
than to have authority over one; nor wouldst thou long for pleasant
days of this life, but wouldst more rejoice to be afflicted for God's
sake, and wouldst esteem it gain to be counted for nought amongst men.
4. "Oh, if these things were sweet to thy taste,
and moved thee to the bottom of thine heart, how shouldst thou dare
even once to complain? Are not all laborious things to be endured for
the sake of eternal life? It is no small thing, the losing or gaining
the Kingdom of God. Lift up therefore thy face to heaven. Behold, I
and all My Saints with Me, who in this world had a hard conflict, now
rejoice, are now comforted, are now secure, are now at peace, and
shall remain with Me evermore in the Kingdom of My Father." |