Heb. 13:7-8

7 Remember [mnemoneuo] them which have the rule [hegeomai] over you [humon], who [hostis] have spoken [laleo] unto you [humin] the word [logos] of God [theos]: whose [hos] faith [pistis] follow [mimeomai], considering [anathaoreo] the end [ekbasis] of their conversation [anastrophe].

8 Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos] the same [autos] yesterday [chthes], and [kai] to day [semeron], and [kai] for [eis] ever [aion]. KJV-Interlinear

7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever. NASB

This, remembering, is not of people who are still alive, and from whom you have learned truth in one form or another. This is a remembrance of those who have gone before us. Those who have set out a pattern in their life, a pattern of faith, a pattern which we should imitate.

We can look to history to learn. Most folks look into history and it is just another story book. They learn nothing from it. But what we should learn from history is one important truth that Christ is the same both in the past, now, and He will never change in the future.

Jesus Christ is God. We are mankind. Jesus Christ is perfect and trustworthy. We can do very little for ourselves in the long run. Christ provides everything that we will ever need in life.

So, now the test of a life time will come down around your ears sooner or later. What will your response or reaction be?

Will you cry or scream in anger? Or will you maintain some composure and ride the test out. And when the test is over, will you soon forget the experience.

Often times we forget, and move on as though we solved the problem our self.

So God throws a test at us that will make us hurt. Sometimes He squeezes us so that it really hurts. Why? So we won t soon forget.

The folks who are going to go into the Millennium will go through a test that will be the absolute worst pressure placed upon anyone in all of history. The Tribulation will be filled with horrors beyond description. It will be filled with temptations beyond tolerance. Giving in to the temptations will be extremely easy to justify for many.

They will die.

For the very few who make it to the end of the Tribulation, to these will be one of the grandest blessings in all of history. The privilege of living for a thousand years in the Millennium, in an environment of perfect prosperity. Even after the Second Advent, those people will be burying the dead for several months, and they will live off of the land and off of the destroyed military equipment, fuels, rations and so forth, for several years. Why?

So they will remember. So that the memory of the events that had just occurred for them, will never leave their memory. So that they will not slip away from their spiritual life.

So too, you will face difficulties in life. Your difficulties may drag on and on because you are just not getting it, or you are just not getting with your spiritual program. So now we are reminded that there have been many generations in history past. No doubt that we have all read stories of heroes. The Bible has stories of heroes, but then there are many stories outside of the Bible too.

I as recently watching a special on the History channel. A story about the Afghanistan war. Some journalist followed an American unit through the mountains bordering Pakistan. They were repeatedly ambushed by the bad guys.

Several times they would come around a corner (so to speak) and get ambushed. The enemy always outnumbered them, often times it was sixty to twenty. The enemy sent all kinds of fire at our soldiers, spraying bullets and shoulder held rockets everywhere. But in the several months that this journalist was with the unit, no one (of our guys) ever got killed.

The enemy lost lots of folks, but none of our guys ever got killed. Only a couple of them got wounded, and their wounds were not that bad. The Afghan troops (the good ones) that accompanied our troops often shook their heads at the phenomenal luck they had. Must be blessed by Allah.

Why did so few Americans get killed on the beaches of Omaha in WWII, when so many should have been slaughtered as they came ashore?

Now what is the point of all of this. Recall the story of Elisha, when the city was under attack and his companion was afraid. Elisha prayed for their eyes to be opened and behold, they saw angels with flaming swords and fiery chariots encircling the city. The enemy was not going to be able to touch them. In a similar fashion, lots of enemy bullets did not find their target on the beaches of France or even in Afghanistan

Gods protection is not limited to the Red Sea or the Old testament.

We live in a physical world and that is really what most folks see. They do not see beyond the physical. They do not see the spiritual side of life. In our life God is at our side, if, we are obedient toward Him.

Our obedience means maintaining our spiritual status (fellowship) and obeying His mandates (study, learn, apply and so forth).

We have just reviewed some of our responsibilities to strangers, to those who have difficulties in life, to those who have a lesser station in life, to those who have a greater station in life, to our spouses, family, friends, to strangers. This is but the tip of the spiritual iceberg. You must maintain your spiritual status and obedience throughout your entire life.

As for your personal life, there will be times of light difficulty and of severe difficulty. How you react will determine whether you will pass or fail the test.

Your life is not just your interaction with this world, but it is a determination of how you will apply your faith and trust in God.

Weak people get angry at the drop of a pin. Imagine how angry they will get when the big pressure comes along. Weak people will try to invent or cheat their way through their problems.

Daniel went into the lions den. He could have died. But God was not ready to receive him home just yet. Daniel escaped that pressure.

You will face difficulties in life and you can figure your own way out of them, maybe even count yourself lucky or pat yourself on the back if you manage to get free of the trouble. Your self congratulations that will be temporary at best.

Or, you can recall the many folks in history who have held on to their faith, and even though they are no longer with us, they went to heaven with their faith in tact.

Christ will never change. He is reliable and trustworthy. Christ controls history every aspect of it. Do not get upset every time a problem comes along. Christ has a solution for you.

Ex. 14:13

13 But Moses said to the people, Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. NASB

Jer. 33:3

3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things NASB

Now is the time to post a prayer.