And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22 NKJV)
You have to cross the finish line to win the race. You will not win if you will not continue to the end. It is the same in our Christian life. There are trials and tribulations in our paths. Some are stumbling blocks that our opponents place on the road we take, to hinder and stop us in our pursuit for holiness and perfection. God permitted these things to come and test our faith. God intends to purify us, as pure as gold. These tests are of different forms and come in different times in our Christian lives. We have to be watchful and prayerful; otherwise, we are caught unaware, resulting to our downfall. Wealth and honor are reasons that many believers fall away. The Bible says, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Beware to make your wealth your idols. Store for you treasures in heaven, instead. We also encounter persecutions, economic or financial problems, and troubles in our family and/or relationships with others, resulting in loneliness, hopelessness, and heartaches. The result is the weakening of faith; worse than that is blaming God for our misfortunes. God has pure intentions. All He does are for the good of those who love Him. God will not test us beyond that which we cannot bear. Moreover, He provides us the way of escape so that we may endure them.
