William Welty is the Executive Director of the ISV Foundation (translators of the Holy Bible: International Standard Version), which we highly recommend.
William talks about God’s call to embrace our God-ordained adversity, which we experience on earth, as a means to be trained on how to rule for eternity. He encourages believers to learn to be fully entrenched overcomers (Faithful Ones) who have no need of exhortation. He encourages us not to be the cowardly ones who bury their talents in the ground like the Master’s servant did in Matthew 25:14-29.
William is well traveled and also encourages believers to ponder the words of a centuries-old poem carved into the doors of an ancient German church. Translated into English, it reads:
“You call Me eternal, then do not seek Me.
You call Me fair, then do not love Me.
You call Me gracious, then do not trust Me.
You call Me just, then do not fear Me.
You call Me life, then do not choose Me.
You call Me light, then do not see Me.
You call Me Lord, then do not respect Me.
You call Me Master, then do not obey Me.
You call Me merciful, then do not thank Me.
You call Me mighty, then do not honor Me.
You call Me noble, then do not serve Me.
You call Me rich, then do not ask Me.
You call Me Savior, then do not praise Me.
You call Me shepherd, then do not follow Me.
You call Me Way, then do not walk with Me.
You call Me wise, then do not heed Me.
You call Me Son of God, then do not worship Me.
When I sentence you, then do not blame Me.”
William goes on to say: May we all allow God to carry us on to maturity and fitness for ruling together with Him in the coming Kingdom as we rightly respond to the circumstances and adversities of this present life. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
Amen!