Isa. 40:27-31

“My way is hidden from the Lord, and my just claim is passed over by my God.”

Ungodly people seem to be successful and flourish. It is possible to come into circumstances where it seems that the ungodly are the victorious ones. Why am I placed among such people, and why do I come into so many difficult situations? It is so that I can learn to know the death of Christ in a practical way. The knowledge of God is unsearchable, and we are often unable to understand His way of dealing with us. But by faith we understand that God, who is love, intends to save us through all our situations to a deeper degree than we have experienced up to now. This is why we need to go through the refining fire. What we know cannot be compared to what God knows, but He saves us according to His knowledge, not ours.

There was much concerning God’s will that Jesus did not know about in advance. When God’s moment came, then Jesus received revelation. God is faithful to reveal Himself at exactly the right time. Blessed is the one who can remain quiet and wait on the Lord. Our way is not hidden from God. When it concerns us being conformed to the image of the Son, He has the big picture in mind, that is, eternity. Through the trials we understand that the Master is working with us. That is why we should see our situations as an essential part of our education as people destined for eternity.

1 Pet. 1:3-4 and 22-23.

We have heard that God yearns jealously for the spirit that dwells in us. We also read here that we have been born, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible. Jesus suffered and died in order for the new creation to become manifest. He says, “My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.” When our flesh is exposed, it becomes food for the spirit. The incorruptible seed is like a small plant which needs to grow and nourish itself. We find this nourishment in our own flesh. He who finds his life will lose it. The more we are a sacrifice, the more we will thrive spiritually. But if a person blossoms and bears fruit in the flesh, he kills his spiritual life.

Why does walking in the Spirit make us lonely? Because God wants to have us alone with Himself. When we walk alone and are rejected by all the others, we come to quietness. But in this quietness we learn to love God and the brothers. We also learn patience and longsuffering. These qualities remain in our spirit as our new nature. The reason the last Adam became the “Son of Man” was so that we could partake of divine nature in and by His flesh. By receiving the Word, we grow together with it unto a new creation, to an incorruptible and unfading inheritance. We must not be terrified by our adversaries. Even though we come face to face with our own powerlessness, we must not be weak in faith, for God’s power is perfected in our weakness.

The cost of a doctor’s education is about 70,000 kroner. However, the value of what he has gained inwardly cannot be seen in his outward appearance. This education only applies to this short life. Now consider the education that is for eternity. It cannot be purchased for silver or gold, nor can you see it in a person’s outward appearance; we carry this eternal, glorious treasure in earthen vessels. Yet by this education we are qualified to reign with Christ for all eternity, if we are found faithful until the end.