I’ll admit it; I’m a Sci-Fi junkie. I love science fiction
and grew up on the classic 1960s reruns
of Star Trek. I am a bit of a Trekkie at heart – not hard core, but I do enjoy
it. Any Trekkie worth his salt has noticed a tendency that came into popularity
with the new iteration of the Star Trek universe – Star Trek the Next Generation – dumping the warp core. The warp
core is what powers the ships of the Star Trek universe. Without it, their ships
are essentially dead in space; only being able to maneuver with thrusters and
impulse engines, but not being able to travel from galaxy to galaxy with ease.
Told you I was a bit of a Trekkie.
Despite the harrowing experiences that have plagued the
various Star Trek crews, whether Enterprise 1701 A-E, Voyager, Reliant, or even
DS9, the thought of taking such drastic measures has dumping your ship’s warp
core has only been accomplished seven times. On Star Trek: Insurrection, Picard
ordered the dumping of Enterprise-E’s
warp core to seal a tear in subspace. Star Trek’s Voyager ship dumped her core three times in the show’s history –
once to prevent Voyager from entering
a nebula, once to prevent a core breach due to a build-up of tachyon particles,
and once to barter for Captain Janeway’s release. A replica Voyager dumped its core to get the
attention of the real Voyager’s crew in “Course: Oblivion.” Also on ST:
Voyager, the shuttle, Delta Flyer,
dumped its core because the fuel converter given to them was sabotaged.
Finally, in the 2009 movie Star Trek –
a reworking of the classic 1960s story – Enterprise
dumped several warp cores (apparently it takes more than the TV shows implied
to power a ship of that size) to create a shockwave they could use to escape the
black hole that formed in the Narada. Told you I was a Star Trek geek.
Each of these situations has a common thread which guided
the various crews and captains to take such drastic steps to survive. At each
junction, when the decision to make a potentially life threatening, all or
nothing, “hail Mary” play like dumping your main power core was made, the
outcome was seemingly hopeless. Dumping the ship’s core was their last ditch
effort at survival. It was dump the core and helplessly react to what happens next
or die.
In the Christian life, we all face situations when we feel
like it’s all or nothing; like we should make a drastic, potentially hazardous
life decision or we will crash and burn. In my years as a pastor, I’ve seen too
many people decide to dump their cores, hang on, and hope for the best. Those
kinds of decisions might work in a fictional universe, but it’s not what God
wants us to do.
What does God expect from us when life gets seemingly
impossible for us? He wants us to endure. Old theologians used the term persevere. Several New Testament passages
instruct us in this regard.
Paul reminds us that we are to work hard in life, and when
we’re cursed by others, we bless them in return; when we’re persecuted, we
endure it (1 Cor. 4:12). Paul’s term, translated endure, means “to exercise restraint, to tolerate, to patiently put
up with.” It’s also used in Ephesians 4:2, 2 Timothy 4:3, and Hebrews 13:22.
Paul further instructs us that no time of testing is
uniquely particular to us as Christians, but that what we go through is common
to all humanity. Furthermore, God is faithful and won’t let us go through
trials that we can’t endure (1 Cor. 10:31). The word, translated endure here, means, “to bear up under.”
If this is true, how could Paul say in 2 Cor. 1:8 that the suffering he and his
companions experienced were beyond their ability to endure? Don’t forget 1:9.
Paul made it clear that they felt they were going to die as a result of the
severity of their trials, but noted that these were given to them to increase
their faith in God. There’s no contradiction here. Our trials are the same.
Despite their severity, our trials teach us to rely on God and are never
greater than we can endure.
So why would God allow his children to endure hardships in
life? Why not make life easy for us? I believe Scripture gives us a few
reasons. First, our enduring hardship is for the benefit and expanse of the
gospel. Paul endured his hardships so that sinners might hear the gospel and
come to salvation in Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:10). When sinners see how
Christians endure life’s common trials with faith and trust in God and refuse
to simply dump their warp cores, it’s a testimony to the effectiveness of the
gospel and opens doors for its proclamation. Secondly, our enduring hardship in
life is sanctifying; it disciplines us and makes us more like Jesus (Heb.
12:7). Finally, our enduring trials and hardship in this life builds our faith
and secures future heavenly reward (2 Tim. 2:11-13). If we endure and remain
faithful to Jesus in this life we will be rewarded in glory. Truthfully, this
is not an easy thing to hold to when you’re in the middle of a hard trial, but
it is comforting and encouraging.
So, Christian, how do you deal with life’s worst and hardest
trials? Are you once who wants to just dump their core and hold on for dear
life? I hope not. Stick by the stuff. Stay true to the One who redeemed you,
and realize that Jesus is in control and there’s a purpose for your suffering
and trials.
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