“Now the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in Hope, in the power of the Holy Ghost.” — Romans 15:13.

This is a precious promise of Joy and Peace in believing so that we might have Hope of eternal life in Christ. This is a true fact of life in Christ, but exactly how this Joy and Peace comes about in our life is a very needful study in Christian Livose Garden of Faith but  comes with the prickers on the beautiful life offered.

Song Solomon 2:1-2 “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns,…”

Science guesses at the relationship of the rose to the thorn. They think the predominant function of thorns is to serve as protection for the rose bush and help guarantee its survival. They explain that roses have thorns as a natural defense. Thorns protect the leaves and flowers from being eaten by animals that are attracted to their enticing fragrance and taste.

This might be true, yet thorns are used in Scripture many times as part of the punishment for the Fall of Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:18 “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;” The Thorns came from disobedience to Gods plan. Thorns, briars, and thistles are a reminder in his world of fallen man. We see beauty of Gods creation but are warned against a life of disobedience by the thorns.

Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” It is also a visible warning to Christians. Not all will be peace and joy in the physical world. 2Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

If we read our beginning Scripture again we will see it is a spiritual gift, not a physical one. We are going to suffer persecution and tribulation in this world. The god of this world, Satan, does not want it filled with Christians, so Christians suffer. If we become careless of the rose we will get pricked by the thorns. If we become careless in our spiritual lives, he will find an opening to trouble us.

Here is only one occasion the Bible teaches us. ITimothy 5:14 “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” If we live our life in accordance with God’s plan then the adversary (Satan) cannot find an occasion to point out our faults and ruin our reputation in Christ. Let me go on to say, that every thing that happens to an outspoken Christian (one who shares his faith) will anger the adversary. He will then look for occasions to point out we are not as “Christian” as we portray to others. “Look at this guy, World! He tells you one thing and lives another!”

Another source of our Rose Garden analogy is chastisement from God. If a Christians life does not measure up to the plan of God, then God brings thorns into our life to correct our errant behavior. Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Hebrews 12:5-7 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”

Joe South wrote a song first sung by Lynn Anderson in 1972. The title was, “I Beg your Pardon, I never promised you a Rose Garden.” The lyrics to the first verse shows us a truth: I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine there’s gotta be a little rain sometime.

The remainder of the song is as country songs go, but the truth of the first lines are truth in the physical and spiritual world. We will have troubles, trials, chastisement, and pain in this life. We will go through these with peace and joy if we are living by God’s Plan for us. You scoff at that, lost person? Did you know that God knew you before you were even born?

Psalms 139:15-16 “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

I’d like to leave you with that thought… “in thy book all my members were written” You are special to God for He created you. He had a physical plan and a spiritual plan for you. You were born in accordance to what was written in His book, but the spiritual side He left up to you to choose. There are only two choices…Choose Christ or be Lost. And remember this: Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”