In a survey a group of college Seniors were asked this question and the overwhelming response was not what you might think: not riches, not fame, not lottery.
Jesus prayed that if it was Gods will, that the cup of suffering be taken from him. Quite often we pray that God spare us from hardship or trial; that we never have to face temptation. And yet, God allows us to experience those things so that his greater purpose can be accomplished
Is God able. Yes he is. But the greater miracle is to stand firm in the midst of such trial.
Andrew Wyermann tells the story of Bishop Lajos Ordass of the Lutheran Church of Hungary. Shortly after the communist takeover of that country, he protested the governments confiscation of Christian schools and churches and was arrested and placed in solitary confinement. For six years his home was a tiny six foot by eight foot cell with no windows and completely soundproofed. He was entirely cut off from any sensory perceptions and human contact. The communists hoped to break down his resistance if they thought he was alone. He says, "They were wrong. The risen Christ was present in that room and in communion with him I was able to prevail With The risen Christ, god is able to make you stand firm in the midst of temptation and trial.
Jude expresses it this way. He is able to make you stand. William Barclay paints a vivid picture of the meaning of these phrases. First, to keep us from slipping, we see the picture of a sure-footed horse, traveling up a trail with loose wet rock. He may plod along, but he does not slip. The Scottish Psalter says Thy foot he'll not let slide." To know the Risen Christ and to walk with him throughout life is to walk in safety even in the most perilous and uncertain conditions. Like a group of mountaineers climbing a glacial field, they are roped together so that the stronger climber is able to keep the weaker, less experienced climber from losing his footing and sliding off the side of the mountain. Secondly the phrase carries the meaning of standing blameless. Do you remember the experience of being called on in a class and not being prepared. You hadn't read your homework assignment or worked the problems and you hoped with every ounce of hope that the teacher wouldn't call on you. But she did and you had to stand. You were embarrassed, ashamed, angry, and your grade was marked down. But most of the time, you were ready and she called on you. Do you remember the feeling of standing with confidence and, knowing that you had nothing to be shamed of. You were ready. You had the answer. You were equipped. God is able to make you stand blameless. Blameless and unashamed before this world as you give an answer for the hope that is in you and most of all, blameless before your God when you will hear him say, You are a faithful servant. You have done well. You have stood firm and strong with my help. You not only didn't slip or fall, you stood and you stand now. GOD IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM SLIPPING AND CAN MAKE YOU TO STAND BLAMELESS.
This last week, someone sent me this story over the internet. I don't know for sure, but I believe it to be true. Nonetheless, it illustrates the point I would make this morning. It seems a professor of philosophy at USC who was a committed atheist. In one class, he was notorious for spending the entire term trying to disprove god. No one ever went against him for if they did, he would ridicule them and badger them until they recanted. On the last day of the term, he would always take a piece of chalk , hold it in the air and drop it. He would then say that anyone who believed that God was a fool for if god existed, he could stop the piece of chalk from breaking. Every year, it was the same. No one stood up to challenge him. He would drop the chalk. It would hit the tile floor and break into a hundred different pieces. Most students accepted his logic.
Those who were believers were too afraid to stand against him until on year a freshman had the courage to stand up when he asked, Who believed that God could prevent the chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. The professor ridiculed him and called him a fool. As he was wildly gesturing, the chalk slipped out of his hand, hit the cuff of his sleeve, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg, off his shoe and harmlessly onto the floor where it did not break. The professor ran out of the room embarrassed, but the young man who had the courage to stand stood before the class and was able to witness to his faith in the risen Christ for the next half hour. 3. God is able to bring you into his presence with exultant joy There is not a better picture of exultant joy than an Olympic champion standing on the highest platform, receiving the gold medal and hearing his or her national anthem played. When you finish the race and you are brought into the presence of God, there will be such exultation and joy as you have never known. The angels and the saints who have preceded you will all be cheering and there in front of you is the Risen Christ who will place the victors crown of righteousness on you. There around you are your beloved family and friends, all the saints of the Old and New Testament. People who you hadn't seen for years. High Fives, Hugs, slaps on the back and handshakes will abound. There will be great joy in heaven when God brings you into his presence and only God is able to do it. But God is faithful. And God is able and he will do it. My spiritual mentor and friend died of Lou Gherig's Disease. One of the last times we saw him alive, I asked him if he feared the future of his disease progressing. His answer is one I will