Page 38 - The Road from Babylon to Zion

be striking, our self-pity is an expression of discontent for the difficulties the Father
has chosen for us to endure.

I am amazed as I think that men such as Moses and Elijah could walk in such
intimacy and faithfulness with Yahweh. They could demonstrate faithfulness when
all others were unfaithful. They could have revelation and understanding of
Yahweh’s ways, and yet they could still fall prey to the peril of self-pity. It seems that
those who endure the very most must at the end face this subtle enemy. Those who
never walk in faith and who never know what it is to be called to stand alone will
never know what it is to be tempted by this peril. Only those who have walked down
long and difficult paths face this evil.

It would be very grievous for any of Yahweh’s overcomers to be hindered by this after
all they have passed through. Father has told us that we must give place to wrath, for
vengeance is His and His alone. We will never be justified in acting out of personal
hurt, nor of harboring pity for the difficulties and pains present in our lives. We must
turn the other cheek, and speak a blessing when we are reviled; we must endure
when we are persecuted; we must conciliate when we are slandered.

We are to count it all joy when we are persecuted and slandered for the sake of
righteousness, for great is our reward in heaven. As Paul, we must concur that these
are but momentary and light afflictions and they are not worthy to be compared with
the glory to be revealed in us.

Selah

I wrote these words nearly a year ago, but I find that I am still troubled by this peril.
I must daily fight to not give in to self-pity. As I was thinking of some current trials
I am facing that cause me great annoyance, and which have once more brought me
to battle with this evil, I was reminded of a movie I have viewed on more than one
occasion. The movie is “Lawrence of Arabia”.

This movie relates the story of a British officer during one of the World Wars who
was sent to the Middle East to enlist the help of the Arab peoples in the fight against
the Turks. He met with much success, and it was in a great way attributable to a
certain character trait that he exhibited.

Early in the movie we are shown Lawrence with some other British officers in a
lounge, and he is demonstrating what others think to be some kind of parlor trick.
Lawrence takes a match and holds it between finger and thumb until it burns all the
way down and is finally extinguished. He then asks another officer to try it and when
the match burns down to his fingers, this fellow British officer throws the match
down with an exclamation of pain.