Two years ago, I remember having a conversation with a pastor and we were discussing the readying of the people for persecution. It seemed that many anointed leaders in the Church were preparing the people for persecution. Sometimes like the weeping prophet, giving a voice to something no one wants to hear and making the teacher look like an end time doomsday freak.
Friend, it is coming. So get ready. What you believe will be tested. It probably already has.
Persecution is rampant in our world. ISIS is after annihilation of anyone who does not abide to the caliphate and sharia law. Please hear me, annihilation. Then there is Boko Haram and other terror organizations. Increasingly, there is hatred of Christians in America.
Persecution of Christians is nothing new but what will be new will be with greater force and authority and hatred for that which we stand on by those in our own country. Increasingly, those under the Lordship of Jesus will live in opposition to our countries leaders. Our lives will be obviously against the cultural grain. We will increasingly be foreigners and exiles on this earth. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20) This push back against the culture will be labeled hatred and intolerant. If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)
We are all sinners. We are all created in God's image. We are sinners by birth and by choice. We have fallen hearts and flesh turns toward sin, all kinds of sin. How do we know what sin is? The Bible, the revealed Word of God states it clearly. He would not leave us wondering what is good and bad and how we should live. We are called by God to turn away from sin and seek after Him. Why? He loves us. Heaven and hell are real and eternity is forever. There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end is death. (Proverbs 14:12) What may be seen as our individual freedom will bring people into bondage of sin. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) Jesus says, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) His way is better. The message is the same to all of us no matter what the sin is. Repent and believe the gospel. By grace we are saved through faith. How do we know about grace? The revealed Word of God. Don't celebrate sin, rationalize or justify it. Turn from sin and trust Him. Trust that Jesus is the Son of God who came into the world to save sinners. Sinners like me. He rose from the grave, defeating death, sin and hell so we could be with Him forever. God takes sin seriously. Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ..but the life you live, live to God. So you must also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6) You can sow to your flesh or sow to the Spirit. You must choose one and fight the other. But fight! He is a gracious loving God and when we fall, the call is the same, repent, trust God, get back up and get in the fight.
I have wasted so much time living in the flesh. I don't have this thing figured out but I know that Jesus is life and I want to walk in knowledge and wisdom of The Lord. Each day is a struggle to "create in me a clean heart and renew an upright spirit within me." I fail, sometimes in big ways, but by His grace, I ask to be used as a living sacrifice unto the Lord. Sometimes I think, how could He use someone who has denied Him and sinned against Him. But He picks me up, turns me around and places my feet on solid ground. His mercy is there waiting and He is teaching me what it means to follow Him. The same grace that taught my heart to fear and brought me safe thus far is the same grace that will lead me home.
This is a fight that is not easy. Salvation is a free gift. Living is a disciple of Jesus, it is costly. Then He said to them all, "If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11-12)
The only thing that will carry us through this time, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His revelation to us through the Truth of His Word. The grace that saves, is the grace that sustains. The grace that accepts you just as you are, will not leave you as you are but will transform you from the inside out. That same grace will carry you when you face a decision and choose to obey God rather than men. The same grace through the power of the Holy Spirit will give you strength to speak the word with all boldness. It will be a fight but as the circumstances, temptations, persecutions, around us pull our eyes downward and the world grows increasingly dark, may we lift our eyes to the heavens, our help comes from the Lord. Encourage each other to Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12)
We are here, in this time and in this place to make Jesus known. We are here as the light in an increasingly dark world to point to the Savior King, Jesus Christ and His Kingdom that has no end. By His grace, may we do our part to push back the kingdom of darkness and be faithful to what He has entrusted us with and live as both salt and light to our families, workplaces and communities. God's purposes will prevail. All of history is moving to the day when Jesus returns. He is preparing His Bride. I don't want to live deceived and I don't want you to either. These are days of drawing near. "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8 Brothers and sisters, be ready. Jesus is King and will be worshipped. He is coming to judge the living and the dead.
"I am coming soon. Hold on to to what you have so that no one will take your crown." Revelation 3:11
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