The Penn's Grove record., 1911-04-07
Tribulation
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w N THE world ye shall have
.%. tribulation." John 16:33.)
XSN Many are the Affections
AWXNE of the righteous" psalm
~ 34:19.) Man is born unto
trouble as the sparks fly
upward" Cob 5:7.)
Young and old, rich and poor, good
and bad, all suffer tribulation. It Ia
Gods will. 1t is good for US. Joint
heirs with Christ, If SO be that we suf-
fer with him" (Romans 8:17.)
What is tribulation? 1t is inter
esting to note the derivation Of the
term. The word comes from the
Latin, In which language a "tribulum"
meant a heavy wooden sledge that
was used in threshing grain. The
grain was spread upon the hard floor.
Oxen dragged the heavy tribulum
back and forth over the straw. This
forced the precious grain from its
hiding place in the husk. II the
stalk could feel, how hard must have
been the process! But only so could
the best in the stalk be brought
forth.
Words Real Meaning.
What does the word as ap-
piled to our lives? 1t stands for the
toll, the pain, the temptations, the
disappointments that come to every
earnest soul in the discipline of life.
The more consecrated, the more cul-
tured, the greater the tribulation.
Jesus the Christ suffered more ex-
Quisitely both physically and mental
ly than any man can possibly suffer
Why? Because of his higher nature.
The beast in his stall, with plenty
of food, has no tribulation. The spir-
itual being called Christian man.
with physical and mental endowments
passing comprehension. suffers In
tensely in meeting and solving his
problems.
Why does tribulation come? Be-
cause 1t is needed to bring out the
best that Ia in US. True 1t comes be-
cause of sin, but since we are sin
ners 1t is SO arranged that u tribu-
lations shall all be over-ruled for our
good. What man might have been
and how he could have enjoyed
Heaven had he not fallen. we can
only speculate. But we know that the
man who is patient under tribulation
reveals beauties of faith and service
that are most glorious in the realm
and mind and spirit. AS man is now
constituted, tribulation is a blessing.
Uses of TrlbuIatIon.
What are the uses of t%ribulation?
It makes man humble. 1t sends him
to the source of all power. Many a
foolish scoffer cries Good help mel"
in time of sudden distress. 1t makes
man useful. Having suffered and
toiled, man knows how to sympathize
with and how to help his fellowman.
It makes man Christlike. ut doth
not yet appear what VIZ shall be;
but we know that, when we shall ap-
pear, we shall be like him." Il John
3:2.)
The tribulations Of the sinner are
to lead him to repentance. The
tTlUuldtlOub VI Tic I16utSOub dIO "
develop within him the Christian
graces and to fit him to enjoy Heaven.
Wherefore lift up the hands which
hang down and the feeble knees"
(Hebrews 1919
81 beheld, and, 10, a great multi
tude, which no man could number.
of all nations, and kindreds, and peo-
pie, and tongues, stood before the
throne, and before the Lamb, clothed
with white robes, and palms in their
hands. These are they which
came out of great t%ribulation. . !.
The Lamb which Is in the midst of
the throne shall feed them, and shall
lead them unto living fountains of
waters. and God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes" (Revelation
1917 Lutheran Observer.