Chapter 10
The Reward Of Temptation
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (Jas. 1:12; 2 Cor. 4:17). Not only do temptations, when overcome, develop the soul fiber and enrich us in patience, faith and grace, and a general increase of capital with which we may the better carry on for God — and thus serve our day and generation more effectually — but by reason of the same, we shall receive greater blessedness in the world to come. They “work for us;” that means, we shall receive greater honors and a larger pension when the war is over.
The soldier who never endured hardness, and suffered no loss, cannot hope to receive the same considerations at the close of the war as does the battle-scarred soldier who returns from the conflict with an armless sleeve or some ghastly wound. And of course there is no pension at all for the man who is shot in the back while fleeing from the foe. The laurels of the victor are determined by the fierceness of the battle and the faithfulness of the soldier. Yes, even now, great trials and temptations make way for great grace — for, “as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation” (2 Cor. 1:7) — and then, after we have thus suffered with Him, we shall be “joint-heirs with Christ,” and “shall also reign with him” (Rom. 8:17; 2 Tim. 2:12).
The promised rewards to the “overcomer,” are simply beyond human computation, or finite comprehension. Read the promises given to the “overcomers” in the seven churches of Asia:
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7).
“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life, He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death” (Rev. 2:10,11).
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it” (Rev. 2:17).
“He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron . . . and I will give him the morning star” (Rev. 2:26-28).
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” (Rev. 3:5).
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name” (Rev. 3:12).
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Rev. 3:21).
No wonder the Apostle Paul said, “I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).
In heaven we shall doubtless thank God for every temptation and trial He permitted us to suffer down here.
THE END