Has it occurred to you that Christians are like tea bags? You know, a tea bag isn’t worth too much until it’s been through some hot water! While adversity to us is an unpleasant thought, yet as we live the Christian life, it becomes necessary-seldom is there gain without pain!
One of the besetting sins of saints is earthliness. We become engrossed in the rat-race of activity, business, pleasure, and the accumulation of material possessions. And thus at times God permits adversity to come our way to divert our attention from that which is earthly and transitory, and has us center our thoughts on that which is heavenly and eternal.
I was attending a service some years ago at a cathedral-type church. When I was approaching the church building, the stained glass windows caught my eye. While I was seated in the service, I kept marveling at the beauty and magnificence of the windows. I thought-from the outside those windows weren’t particularly beautiful, but from the inside looking out, they’re simply majestic. There is undoubtedly a parallel here as we reflect on the trials and adversity each of us experiences in his daily walk. While we are here on earth, in a sense we are on the outside looking in-and while we can turn to God’s Word and get a glimpse of the purposes of adversity–yet in many cases we’ll really never understand God’s purposes until we’re on the inside of heaven looking out!
There are parts of a ship which left to themselves would sink. The engine, the shafts, the steel girders, all taken out of the ship would settle to the bottom of the sea. But when those heavy steel parts are built into the frame of the ship, the vessel floats. In comparison, the loss of a loved one.. .the pain and disease you are called upon to bear.. .the waywardness of one of your children…the failure you experienced in business. . .such sorrows and adversities taken singly would sink us; but when fitted into the framework of life, they keep us afloat!
As tea-bag Christians, let’s not resist the “hot water” of adversity, but patiently wait on Him who promises us a glorious harvest if we faint not (Galatians 6:9).