For those in Christ, if we have health concerns, we know that we ultimately win. If we have lost a loved one, we know that we ultimately win. If we lose our job or income, we know that we ultimately win. For those of us in Christ we will go through trials and tribulations like the rest of the world, but our finish line is not the temporal on earth, but on eternity where we have already been declared victorious. Paul said in Romans 8:37, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

The Messiah has already come, and His name is Jesus. He will come again and many who missed Him at His first coming will embrace Him at His second coming. We read in Jeremiah 30:9, "But they shall serve the Lord their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up for them." Though Jesus came the first time as the Suffering Servant, when He returns, He will come as the conquering King and reign from Jerusalem. Since the time of the Babylonian captivity, which occurred during the time Jeremiah was prophesying, there has not been a descendant of David upon the throne of Israel. This will be fulfilled during the Millennial Kingdom. When this time occurs, 30:22, will come true, "You shall be My people, and I will be your God."

Throughout this portion of Scripture there were aspects of near fulfillment and far fulfillment. We read in Jeremiah 31:11, "For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, And ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he." This speaks of near, but also of far when Jesus defeated Satan, purchasing us for Himself by His own blood. Among the many promises of future blessing, we read a verse which at first appears out of place, in 31:15, "Thus says the Lord: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more." Though this does speak of the time when Babylon was taking their children into captivity, this was directly quoted in Matthew 2:16-18, pointing to the circumstances surrounding our Savior's birth.

We will all face ourselves and encounter others going through a multitude of trials. Giving advice and temporal solutions to their suffering is certainly good. But more important is to seek out opportunities to introduce them to the only source of true hope, Jesus Christ. We are not to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good, but we are not to be so earthly minded that we fail to fulfill the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, given to us by Jesus, Himself. Trials are always difficult, but must be seen by those in Christ as opportunities. It is not a question as to whether or not we will encounter trials, it is only a matter as to when. Trials of health, loss, etc will not escape any of us. For those of us in Christ we can hold onto Him that much tighter and stand on the firm foundation that only He provides (Matthew 7:24-27). For those who do not know Christ, many do not find Him during the mountaintop experiences in life but in the valleys. Our commission is to point them to their Savior during these valleys. May we all be faithful to our calling.