New York. September 11, 2001. Wicked people carried out their evil plans and destroyed the buildings of the World Trade Center. This catastrophe attracted the attention of the entire world. People saw the true face of Satan and what those who are led by demonic spirits do. Yet few blamed the enemy of the human soul. Everyone was interested in learning which people were involved in this event and where they were hiding.
The fire departments began doing their work. Fire engines came from all around, and everyone joined together to extinguish the fire caused by this tragedy. A short time passed, and one piece of firefighting equipment after another began to fail. Engines and water pumps could not withstand continuous operation and broke down at the most inopportune moments. But two German vehicles remained and continued performing the assigned tasks without interruption. The broken equipment was hastily repaired and put back into service, only to fail again, while the German vehicles continued extinguishing the fire without interruption and withstood every strain. New equipment arrived from distant places, but it too lasted only a couple of days, while the two previously unknown vehicles withstood the testing without particular difficulty and extinguished the sources of the fire one by one. After this event, many fire departments throughout the world reviewed their equipment and turned to the German company Metz to purchase new equipment. Until then, this manufacturer had been unknown to anyone and had merely supplied equipment modestly to fire departments in its local region. From the very beginning, the company’s specialists had responsibly approached the development of every component and unit of the complex design, thinking not about profit but about ensuring that what they produced would be able to operate in any situation and withstand any strain. And when the testing came, the whole world learned that there was a small company that made very good products upon which people could rely in a critical situation.
In summer, it is very difficult to determine which trees are evergreen and which are not. But when cold weather and frost come, the difference between them immediately becomes visible.
Tests of our faith and love periodically come in our day as well. It is naïve to suppose that Satan has died or that, amid the turmoil of everything taking place, he has no concern for us. I want to assure you, friends, that we who believe in Jesus and love one another are the cherished target of the spiritual forces of wickedness in high places. They watch us very closely, looking for openings in our words or deeds through which they can exert their influence and destroy us. The fact that we live, move, and have our being in peace, and that all is well with us, is only thanks to God and the entire Heavenly army of God’s angels, who continually attend to our safety and protect us.
In peacetime, it is very difficult to understand why an army, military aviation, and a navy are needed. So much effort and money are spent maintaining them that this money could be used to benefit the whole world. But when military conflicts arise or someone attacks your country, it becomes obvious to everyone that if you do not want to maintain your own army, you will maintain someone else’s.
Love is not very noticeable in favorable times, and studying this science seems unnecessary and useless. There are so many movements, projects, missions, and tasks, and they can be carried out without possessing any special knowledge or making any special effort. Everything has been refined and developed for centuries. Many spiritual things have become traditions and holidays, and there seems to be no need even to think about the meaning of what I observe and what I believe. The main thing is to live like everyone else and do what others do, and then there will be no problems with anyone. But tests of faith come, and the entire structure of my life cannot withstand the excessive strain. My house loses its foundation and begins to collapse, and all my engines fail one after another. My life is shattered, my nerves are frayed and on the verge of breaking—or they have already broken—and I lie amid ruins and fears, not knowing how to go on living. Yet I must live. But how? And why? There is no meaning!
But love and faith feel very well amid every trial and continue their work as usual, withstanding every strain and boldly facing every test of their strength. During cold and drought, darkness and despair, they confidently advance toward the Heavenly goal and bind me firmly to God, without worrying that something may not work out.
Love does not leave the soul at rest, but constantly reveals new faults and gives an understanding of how to correct them during favorable times. And small trials reveal the weak places that should be strengthened with God’s help or removed by God’s grace.
Satan, like a roaring lion, attacks everyone who enters his territory and spreads his enchantments over those who treat their salvation carelessly and do not build a relationship with Jesus. The influence of the enemy of the soul is like water surrounding a submarine immersed in it. The pressure from outside is steady and constant. Even if life inside the vessel proceeds peacefully, the water outside waits continually for a small or large opening through which it can flood the entire submarine cruiser. In the same way, the life of a loving Christian is under the constant surveillance of the forces of darkness, which seek to pour all their temptations through the open windows of the soul and destroy every good planting, or redirect every good ability into the service of the forces of darkness.
Love, faith, knowledge of the truth, and sound judgment in fellowship with God help us withstand every temptation and prepare the soul for coming trials. A continual battle is being waged for God’s children, and God is interested in teaching His children the science of Salvation and Love. He does everything possible to bring the soul to the light. And if a person begins to cooperate with God in this work, he simply enters this battle and moves confidently from victory to victory.
As I have worked in the building trade, I have studied the technologies of constructing buildings, and I know how to build a house so that it can withstand any trial. The essence is as follows. Like a submarine, the building must be protected on every side from water and cold. At the same time, it must withstand the static loads borne by its supporting structures from its own weight and from external forces, while also being comfortable, practical, clean, and beautiful. I compare modern buildings with those erected in the past, and I can very quickly determine what will happen to these houses when a storm, flood, or earthquake comes. When hurricanes struck our area, I noticed afterward, while restoring roofs, that well-designed modern buildings suffered no damage from the natural disaster, while all the old and simple structures were very badly damaged.
A crisis in spiritual life does not solve problems; it only reveals how prepared I am for them.
Love teaches me very good things, and it protects me on every side from dampness, cold, disease, filth, and temptation. It calmly withstands every external and internal strain and works reliably during every trial. I love, and there is something very beautiful in this—something comfortable to live in and pleasant to invite friends and strangers into, so that their hearts may rejoice.
Homework 182
How do you understand the importance of having love in your heart? Why does the Apostle Paul declare that without love I am nothing and gain no benefit from anything? 1 Corinthians 13:1–3. How can I determine whether I have true love if there are no trials? Should I create trials for myself without cause in order to determine whether I love? What should I do if a storm comes and there is no love? Am I ready to face the final crisis in a spirit of love and faith in God’s support? Does this school help you prepare for the events of the last days? Do you believe that the end of everything will soon come and that everything will be destroyed, as the Bible teaches? Please read Luke 8:13–15; Matthew 7:24–27; 1 Peter 2:4–6, 9; Psalm 118:10–24; Isaiah 9:2; Psalm 46:2; 1 Peter 4:12–14; Isaiah 59:19; Hosea 6:3; Isaiah 35:3–4, 10; 61:3–4, 11 in the light of our lesson.