Dear child, if you are preparing to serve the Lord God, ready your soul for trials: govern your heart, practice patience, and do not be disheartened during the time of guidance: hold fast to it and do not surrender, so that you may endure in the end. Those gathered here at the vineyard, who worked diligently for the Lord during their lifetime, have received from Him a generous eternal reward that has allowed them to continually provide from its riches for all who truly seek without pretense. They have come, without a doubt, seeking assistance and guidance in their own service to the Lord, hoping to receive the gift of salvation and joy. Those who have already achieved initial victories in their service to God and are being ‘led’ toward ‘completion’, we leave to the secret wisdom and guidance of this God-inspired Master, who communicates spirit to spirit, ‘and to the anointing’ of the Spirit of God that is shared between Him and them, which ‘teaches’ them ‘about all things’. Given our own frailty while entrusted with the duty to serve the truth, we will share our humble thoughts with those who are still at the stage of grasping the ‘initial teachings of Christ’; while many may have started their journey long ago, not everyone finds themselves truly ‘prepared’ for the work of salvation. Our aim here is not to share arbitrary ideas, but to offer the wisdom of an experienced teacher: ‘Child, if you begin to work for the Lord God, prepare your soul for trials’. This teaching may be unpleasant and even unwelcome! Some might assume that entering God's service involves preparing for notable feats, rather than challenges, and certainly for comfort, joy, and happiness: because the Almighty God sees those who labor for Him, draws near to them, supports them, encourages them, and rewards them. Yes, this is true; it is a valid hope, and we must cling to it; yet we should recognize that on the path to reward and joy, amid the field of endeavors, and right at the entrance, trials often arise, and at times, are unavoidable; thus, we must be prepared for such encounters. ‘If you are about to work for the Lord God, prepare your soul to be tested.’ What does “temptation” entail?—It is a trial, a means through which we discern strength or weakness; it reveals character, often hidden beyond exterior appearances. As Scripture clearly explains: ‘As silver and gold are tested in the furnace, so the chosen heart is tested by the Lord’. An object that looks like gold may indeed be pure, or it may be impure or entirely devoid of gold. The fire purifies the gold, separating impurities, and exposing falsity. Likewise, human virtue can be pure and steadfast through God’s workings, or it can be tainted with vanity, self-interest, or insincerity; in the furnace of trials, true purity is elevated, impurities are sifted out, and insincerity is revealed. Some might argue that we test material things because we cannot always see what lies within; but for God, whose omniscient gaze covers all and penetrates deep within, what need is there to test the hearts of men? Let anyone confused by this note that just as an artisan subjects pure gold or silver to fire not only to confirm its authenticity, but also to eliminate impurities and attain purer, more valuable metal; God, who requires no special trials to discern hearts, permits, and perhaps even instigates, certain temptations for the sake of His creation. Through temptations, He can rebuke false virtues, freeing individuals from harmful self-admiration and encouraging a path toward true repentance and renewal. By means of trials, He elevates false virtue toward authentic purity, strength, and wholeness, echoing the scriptural insight: ‘Let the holy one be sanctified still’, for according to Christ’s promise, ‘the pure in heart shall see God’, and ‘the one who overcomes shall inherit all things’. Eventually, through temptations, genuine faith, perfected virtue, and divine love, which dwells within a humble heart, are unveiled, so that they may be recognized, cherished, aspired to, and glorified by God as both exemplar and inspiration.
We shall refrain from delving into the unique, profound trials faced by those who are already perfected or nearing perfection, such as when ‘God tested Abraham’ by calling for the sacrifice of his promised son; instead, we will focus on the more commonly encountered and initial forms of temptation that every servant of God must be ready to confront. We must acknowledge that the encounter with temptation, which is intended to be beneficial, though challenging, can also prove to be perilous, and sometimes alluring. There exists a malevolent direction to temptation seeking to undermine and diminish the good while elevating evil within us, stirring impurity in thoughts that lead to desires and ultimately to actions, disturbing and disorganizing the soul. Those who aspire to serve God must not underestimate this; be wise and cultivate strength against malice and kindness against wickedness. ‘Prepare your soul.’ To do so, it is essential to understand the origin and nature of temptation. The holy Apostle James warns us: ‘Let no one who is tempted say, I am tempted by God; for God is not tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.’ Some, during temptation, may claim, ‘God has brought this on me,’ forgetting the harm it may inflict on their souls. St. James counters this mindset, urging not to be lulled into complacency by the false notion of being guided by God while ascribing blame to Him for your own difficulties, thinking you are in a holy path while bearing an unfavorable condition masked as temptation; because while God Himself is untouched by evil, His nature utterly denies the evil inclination of temptation, contrary to His goodness. Where, then, does such temptation arise? ‘Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed; and when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin.’ If such self-temptation arises from desires, which may not yet be sinful but possess the potential to lead to sin, it becomes clear that numerous sources of temptation exist. The Apostle reminds us: ‘For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father’, and, as John adds, ‘is of the world’. We should note that the world, crafted by God, is not inherently a source of desire or a mechanism for temptation; it was never intended for such purposes; but rather, it was turned toward this by the disobedience of the first man, incited by the evil one who is the chief ‘tempter’, as the Scriptures call him. If he dared to confront Christ Himself, who was entirely free from sin, how can we not recognize that this infernal force continually stirs up temptation until the appointed sealing of the abyss? Through both overt and subtle means, the devil breathes into the world, attempting to fan every spark of desire within humanity, turning everything towards fuel for this profane fire. There are countless causes for temptation; often subtle yet possessing great danger! Thus, it is unwise to be complacent; vigilance is necessary. One must seek safety, arm oneself against assaults, and be resolute, displaying courage and steadfastness to resist the trials that challenge the good within us, never giving way to those temptations leading to evil. This is not achieved accidentally; if you truly desire to serve the Lord, contemplate this deeply and purposefully; organize your thoughts and intentions. ‘Prepare your soul for trials.’ How do you do this? Here are some further guidelines from my esteemed adviser. First, ‘Govern your heart.’ Do not allow your thoughts and desires to roam unchecked, like a ship without a captain or a horse unbridled. Steer your thoughts towards truth and your desires towards goodness. Restrain the temptations of vanity to prevent the rise of wicked desires that would lead your soul into the depths of sin. Second, ‘Exercise patience and do not be disheartened during times of guidance.’ Impulsivity and instability are equally detrimental enemies of good intentions and serve to propel one toward temptation’s dark side. Impatience distorts the soul’s initial preparations; starting without proper grounding inevitably leads to ruin. The one who remains ‘not swift during guidance’, particularly in the moments of temptation, avoids acting rashly, thus preserving oneself from a misstep that may lead one off the righteous path, allowing time to gather strength and seek assistance. ‘But he who endures to the end,’ according to the unwavering promise, ‘shall be saved.’ Third, ‘Cling to Him and do not depart, that you may endure in the end.’ Remember what the Apostle tells us: ‘God is not tempted by the wicked, nor does He tempt anyone’; thus, the more you hold steadfast to Him, the more firmly you anchor your heart in Him: you find safety from temptation, which cannot reach into God, and hence, cannot disturb you. If temptation that is not from God seeks to entice you towards ‘evil’, causing unrest and stirring impure desires, turn to God, praying for divine guidance: ‘Heavenly Father, lead us not into temptation.’ Conversely, if a trial, under God’s providence, unveils faults within you that you had previously overlooked or weaknesses from which you thought yourself exempt; deepens your awareness and fervor for correction; and leads you to a place of humility: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’
Let us conclude with the encouraging words of the Apostle: ‘Blessed is the man who endures temptation: for when he has been approved, he shall receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.’ Amen.
