| "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and | | | | fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and |
| perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set | | | | perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set |
| before him endured the cross... " (Hebrews | | | | before him endured the cross..." (Hebrews |
| 12:2 NIV).The story is told of the little boy | | | | 12:2). Whatever humiliation and suffering |
| who loved to play with toy soldiers. His | | | | there is, it is well worth the effort, for it |
| mother and father gave him a chocolate | | | | is outweighed by the prospects of future real |
| soldier, carefully wrapped in bright red | | | | happiness of eternity with Him who died for |
| foil, for his birthday. The little boy was | | | | us.The Bible is replete with examples of both |
| ecstatic. He took it outside on a very warm | | | | tungsten and chocolate soldiers and even |
| afternoon and placed "General Julius," as he | | | | people of God who were made up of both |
| named his new addition to the family of | | | | materials. The greatest Man of tungsten was |
| soldiers, right up front. He played with his | | | | Jesus: "As the time approached for him to be |
| little army for about an hour when his mother | | | | taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out |
| called him to come into the house to help | | | | for Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51). Jesus knew what |
| her. While he was in the house, his precious | | | | His mission was, and He determined to face |
| little chocolate soldier melted into mush. He | | | | the horror rather than run away. What a |
| was not a strong leader anymore! From might | | | | lesson for us when we are tempted to run a |
| to mush, at the mercy of a muggy and | | | | race in the opposite direction of our |
| merciless heat! When the fires of temptation | | | | problems! Jesus also "fell with his face to |
| and affliction bear down, do we melt? Are we | | | | the ground and prayed, 'Father, if it is |
| made of chocolate or tungsten? Tungsten is a | | | | possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet |
| rare and heavy metal whose melting point | | | | not as I will, but as you will'" (Matthew |
| (3410 degrees centigrade) is higher than that | | | | 26:39). So tungsten men and women may pray |
| of any other metal.Are we chocolate or | | | | for the cup to be removed but the test is |
| tungsten soldiers for Jesus Christ? Do we | | | | accepting God's will, even if it is to drink |
| want to please our Commander or ourselves? | | | | the cup to the bitter dregs.Another tungsten |
| Are we willing to take the cross directly | | | | man was Joseph. "You intended to harm me, but |
| from Jesus, or do we want to pad it with | | | | God intended it for good to accomplish what |
| comforts, the best of health, and always | | | | is now being done..." (Genesis 50:20). |
| doing things our way? Do we want to always | | | | Joseph, firstborn of the barren Rachel, |
| walk in the Garden of Eden and never kneel | | | | Jacob's favorite wife, was the favored of the |
| with our Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane? | | | | twelve sons. Joseph's brothers sold him as a |
| Are we willing to eat the bitter herbs before | | | | slave. Later, when Potiphar placed Joseph in |
| we eat of the fruit of the tree of life? Do | | | | charge of his household, it was Joseph's very |
| we take flight if we see blood or tears on | | | | integrity that led to his imprisonment. That |
| the cross? Are we willing to wipe from our | | | | he was able to remain loyal and kind and |
| hearts with God's grace all traces of revenge | | | | sympathetic through all the injustices in his |
| and lust and bitterness and flattery so that | | | | young life is quite remarkable. But what |
| we may carry the cross with God's weights and | | | | surely proved his mettle and metal was his |
| not our own?We can't cheat, either, by | | | | forgiveness of his brothers' cruel act. Their |
| injecting the steroids of artificial | | | | intentional bane became Joseph's |
| happiness that give a temporary lift, but | | | | unintentional boon and Joseph was able to |
| then attack later to finally destroy us. | | | | forgive them. God rules and overrules in |
| Happiness is deceptive and it is based on | | | | lives. "So then, don't be afraid. I will |
| feeling. It is joy that we seek, and | | | | provide for you and your children. And he |
| sometimes joy is rooted in sorrow. E. Stanley | | | | reassured them and spoke kindly to them" |
| Jones said, "Anyone can have joy on account | | | | (Genesis 50:21). What graciousness! |
| of, but Jesus had joy in spite of." "Let us | | | | |