Holiness is not a state of freedom from temptation. This is a world of trial, of conflict with principalities and powers, darkness and terrible evil. The holy soul who is in the forefront of the conflict may expect the fiercest assaults of the devil and the heaviest, most perplexing and prolonged temptations. Our blessed Lord was tried and tempted for 40 days and 40 nights by the devil, and the servant must not be surprised if he is as his Master. Paul tells us that Jesus was tempted at all points as we are, and that He is able to sympathize with us when we are tempted. It is no sin to be tempted. In fact, the Apostle James tells us to rejoice when we are subjected to all kinds of temptations, for the resulting trial of our faith will produce in us strength and force of holy character, so that we shall be lacking nothing (James 1:2-4). he low water mark in the experience of a holy person is one of perfect peace—the high water mark is up in the third heaven somewhere. t In the Epistle to the Hebrews 4;15, we are told that Jesus was “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” We may be faulty in memory, in judgment, in understanding; we may have many weaknesses of body and mind, but God looks upon the purity of the heart, the singleness of the eye and the loyalty of our affection, and if He does not find us faulty there, He counts us perfect men and women. It is not in the mere natural perfection that the power and glory of God are manifested, but rather in goodness, purity, love, humility and longsuffering shining forth through weaknesses of the flesh and imperfections of mind. Holiness is not a state of sible. Or it may have been a stammering tongue, for he tells us he was accounted rude of speech. Anyway, it was a weakness which he longed to be rid of, doubtless feeling that it interfered with his usefulness, and three times he prayed to the Lord for deliverance, but instead of getting the prayed-for deliverance, the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Then Paul cried out, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). freedom from suffering. The saints of all ages have been chosen “in the furnace of affliction’ (Isaiah 48:10). Job, Jeremiah, Daniel, Paul and the mighty army of martyrs have, and shall always, come up through great difficulty. It is not God’s purpose to take us to heaven on flowery beds of ease, clothe us in purple and fine linen and keep a lollipop in our mouths all the time. That would not develop strength of character nor cultivate simplicity and purity of heart. Nor in that case could we really know Jesus and the fellowship of His sufferings. It is in the furnace of fire, the lion’s den and the dungeon cell that He most freely reveals Himself to His people. Other things being equal, the holy man is less liable to suffering than the sinner. He does not run into the Holiness is not a state of freedom from weakness. It does not produce a perfect head, but a perfect heart! The saints have always been surrounded with weaknesses that have proved a source of great trial, but when patiently endured for His dear sake, such travail has also proved a source of great blessing. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, an infirmity, a messenger of Satan to attack him. Possibly it was weak eyes, for he was once stoned and dragged out of the city and left for dead, and in writing to the Galatians, he says they would have plucked out their eyes and given them to him had it been pos10 The War Cry | JUNE 2013