Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday September 22, 2006

I often write of testing times and on too many occasions, according to one publisher, refer to these times as 'Night time experiences.' I believe they really are lessons in the night, as the old poet wrote, "And many a raptured minstrel among the sons of light when asked, 'Whence cometh thy song' will say, 'I learned it in the night.'" So true in my life that the dear and beloved Great Blonde calls me, "Larry of the Night!"

Job wrote:

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10.

This verse has been a favorite of mine since 1990. In the summer of 1990 I preached at several different camps sponsored by Dr. Phil Stringer. Phil had mercy on me and asked me to speak at these camps as he needed a speaker and he knew during that summer that absolutely no one was interested in my services! I am eternally grateful to Phil. Many lives were changed that summer. During the summer a young woman, from an inner city was the featured singer and she led the kids in the regular menu of campfire songs. One went something like:

"Oh, rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistakes He knoweth the end of each path that I take And when I am tried and purified I shall come forth as Gold."

I don't recall the young ladies name, but I will always hear, in the inner sanctum of my mind, the haunting melody that did so much to encourage me during that terribly long summer.

Trouble always becomes more bearable when you can focus on the fact that though dark be the night, God is not slumbering in apathetic ignorance of your plight, but is controlling the temperature of the furnace of affliction to bring the desired result, and you will come forth as gold. 1John 3:2-3.

In earlier years I had the notion that some of the peaceful, refined and mature people that I knew were that way due to the fact that they were 'moneyed' had never known any sort of suffering and thus their even demeanor. Of course nothing could be farther from the truth. A person who has never known any form of suffering would a cold, callused twit. The adage is true, "Trouble can do one of two things to you, it can make you bitter or better and the choice is yours." When we are trusting Jesus, the choice will always be for better.

Someone insightfully wrote:

"Spiritual maturity does not develop in comfortable surroundings."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit

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