The Crucible and the Crown

Part Two

“He shall receive the crown of life…promised”
James 1:22

“The greatest helpers of humanity have been its cross-bearers. The leaders of men have suffered in loneliness; the prophets have learned their lessons in the school of pain. Ease has not produced greatness. Men who have had to struggle with an unfavourable environment, to fight cold, to buffet the storm, to blast the rock or wring a livelihood from a impotent soil, have won character by their pains.

The bird rises against a strong headwind, not only in spite of the wind, but because of it.

The opposing force becomes a lifting force if faced at the right angle.

The storm may buffet ships and rend the rigging, but it makes strong hands and brave hearts. Oh, fellow-voyager amid the storms and calms of life’s wide sea,
“spread thy sails to catch the favouring breezes of adversity.”

If the greatest character of all time, even HE Who was the very touchstone of destiny, could be made perfect only through suffering, is it not probable that you and I must be also?”
– Mrs. Charles E Cowman

“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
Hebrews 2:10

The best things all lie beyond some battle-plain: you must fight your way across the field to get to them!

“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare“
1 Timothy 1:18

The promises of God require the warfare of the Spirit and the tenacity of faith to lay hold of their fulfillment.

“To him that overcometh will I give…”