Because the Israelites continually disobeyed Him, the Lord said, “I’m going to allow their enemies to remain.” Thus, the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Girgashites, Ammonites, and the Amorites served as instruments whereby the Lord could test His people. So too, 1 Corinthians talks about the testings we face. You see, many of the problems we go through are the result of our own stupidity. Many of the difficulties we encounter are the direct result of our own disobedience. Yet the Lord will use those very difficulties and problems in order to test us, to prove us, to show us where we stand.

You will be tested, gang, and it is during the time of testing - when fire sweeps through your life, your marriage, your family - that you will discover whether you have been building with wood, hay, and stubble, or with gold, silver, and precious stones. If everything burns in the time of testing, then you need to deal with it, saying, “Father, I have been building with the wrong material. Correct me.”

Whenever fire sweeps through your life, don’t try to put the fire out. You’ll only get burned. Instead, let the fire go. Let it burn. And then when it’s over, come back and poke around. See in the midst of the ashes if there’s any gold, silver, or precious stones - and rebuild with them. I believe it is crucial for us not to be those who try to put out fires in our church, in our marriages, or at our jobs. Don’t be one who puts out fires. It won’t work. Oh, you might delay the fire a bit. Or you might diffuse it somewhat - but only for a while. Instead, let the fire burn because you will never know what you’re building with in life, in ministry, or in your occupation until the day of trial comes and the fire is unleashed.

That’s why, as Christians, we must never be defensive. We must never answer accusations or protect ourselves in any area. We must welcome the fires that sweep through our lives, our families, our ministries, and our jobs in order that in the light of the flames, we might see clearly the true nature of our building materials.

Let the fire rage. Let the Canaanites - those who might be attacking you, misunderstanding you, or accusing you - stand, for through them, you’ll be able to see exactly where you’re at, how you’re developing, how you’re maturing.

That’s what Jesus did. If there was ever anyone who would have been justified in getting tough and taking a stand, it would have been Him. If there was ever a time for someone to say, “This isn’t right, and it must not happen,” it was when His enemies accused and cursed Him. But He didn’t. He submitted. He went to the Cross.

How can you stop a man who doesn’t fight back? How can you stop a church who will embrace difficult times? How can you stop a family or a marriage that actually welcomes fires? How can you stop people like that?

You can’t.