Predestined to holiness

This post will deal with the topic of  election and predestination a little bit differently than what you might think. I'm not going to get into the argument between the various views on this thorny subject for the purpose of this post. In fact, neither of the two main views on this subject completely satisfy me. I find things that I agree with on both sides, and things that I don't as well. It is a subject, in my opinion, that cannot be put in a nice theological box. I believe there is a bit of mystery to it that is suppose to be there, and I want to keep this simple.

In this post I would like to continue with the theme of sanctification in the life of the believer. And this all begins with the foreknowledge of God, and his calling and election of the individual.

1. To be conformed to the image of Christ.

In Romans chapter eight we read this,

29. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 

30. and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Romans 8:39-30 NASB

What stands out in this passage is the fact that God, according to His foreknowledge, has elected, or predestined individuals to become like Jesus. These same individuals are called to justification as well, which causes me to ask, can one be justified but not become Christ-like?

In First John we read,

The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

1 John 2:6 NASB

We need to be consistent with verses like these. God has called the believer to be conformed to the image of Christ. Therefore, one who has been truly saved is not only justified (in right standing before God), but also becoming more and more like Christ in word and deed.

2. Predestined for obedience to Christ.

Similarly, Peter addresses scattered believers who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood (1 Peter 1:2).

Here again, as in the previous verses quoted, God has elected individuals to something that exceeds what many of us consider salvation to be.

In this verse we see the sprinkling of the blood of Christ, the blood that atones for our sin. Without the shed blood applied to our lives there is no forgiveness, and no right standing with God. But we also see that those who are chosen to be sprinkled with the blood of Christ are chosen to be obedient to Him as well. In what can be considered a trinitarian passage we read that it is the Holy Spirit who brings this about in the lives of those chosen, or elected, by God the Father.

So again, if we are not obedient to Jesus (conformed to His image), is His blood applied to our lives? Is the Holy Spirit at work in us, or have we quenched Him? 

7. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

8. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NASB

But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7 NASB

This is sanctification, to be like Jesus in our conduct: walking in the light. Our cooperation with the Holy Spirit and resulting Christ -likeness is just as much a part of our salvation as the forgiveness we receive from Him. They cannot be separated. 

3. Salvation through sanctification.

13. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

14. It is for this that He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 NASB

Believers have been chosen for salvation according to God's foreknowledge. However this salvation, from beginning to end is brought about through the sanctification of the one who believes. God does not save us in our sin, but from our sin.

Imagine suffering from a fatal illness and going to a doctor for help. He gives you a pill to relieve your pain, but does nothing to cure the illness behind the pain. When God saves an individual He transforms that individual from the inside out. He not only forgives our past sin, but through the power of the Holy Spirit we find deliverance from sinning as well.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB

Peter refers to this in his first epistle as well,

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4. to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

5. who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5 NASB 

As we read in Romans 8:30 those who are called are also glorified, just as Paul states in 2 Thessalonians 2:14, which is quoted above. We are elected to a salvation that involves justification, and ultimately ends in our glorification, but here in this lifetime we must be sanctified.

When Paul exhorts us to "work out our salvation" he is speaking of this very same thing. In speaking of Christ; his humility and incarnation, Paul urges us to take on the same mindset that Christ had. One day we will all bow before Him,

12. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

13. for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:12-13 NASB 

These three "predestination" passages that I have touched on here are all saying the same thing. Predestination and election encompass more than many understand them to mean. When God in His foreknowledge elects an individual it is an election to a transformed person, one who in word, thought and deed looks like Jesus. 

The Blessedness of Obedience

1. How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.

2. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.

3. They also do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways.

4. You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently. 

5. Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes!

6. Then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all your commandments.

7. I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgements.

8. I shall keep your statutes; do not forsake me utterly!

9. How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

10. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. 

11. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.

12. Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.

13. With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth.

14. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.

15. I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.

16. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.

Psalm 119:1-16 NASB

The 119th Psalm reveals the cry of the psalmist's heart for holiness. I have only quoted 16 verses out of 176 here for the sake of brevity, but these few verses make the point clear.

When one reads this Psalm he or she can see the passion that the author has for the law of God. And not for the law only, but for the Lord God Himself, the giver of that law which flows out of His righteous character.

Our true happiness can only be found when we are in a right relationship with the Holy God who has given us His law to obey. This relationship is based upon an obedient submission to our God who has called us to be holy, just as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Lest there be any misunderstanding, this holiness is a way of life: it is lived out in our day to day conduct. I'm not talking about a righteousness that comes from following a law, but righteousness that comes from an obedient, loving faith in God. Following His commandments flow out of true faith, if our faith is real (see James 2:14-26).

In our passage above we read that we keep ourselves pure by following God's word. Salvation is so much more than the forgiveness we receive for our sin against God. While this is essential to our restoration to the God we all have offended, we are responsible to walk in obedience to His commands. If we are disobedient, we allow sin to stain our hearts once again. 

It's like a child taking a bath and then going outside to play. He knows he will get dirty if he plays in the mud. Does he disobey his mother and avoid what might make him dirty once again, or obey and stay clean?

As Christians we face a battle of right and wrong. We are often our own worst enemies, getting in the way of obedience. How often do we do the very thing we do not want to do, because we allow our flesh to dictate our choices (see Romans 7:14-25, Galatians 5:16-18). Just as the psalmist cried out to be steadfast in obedience, Paul the apostle cried out for deliverance from this body of "sin and death." Our victory comes from Christ, and by his grace we must walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do we treasure the word of God as much as we treasure our "riches"? Are we desperate to know what pleases the Lord, and then diligently do it? This is what we read in this passage. His word is to be treasured, studied, and meditated upon if we are to live in obedience to our Lord.

Again, we are not following the law as an end in itself, so that we may be blessed. Our true happiness will only come when our love for Christ excels our love for "things" and compels us to obey Him at all cost. Then we will not be ashamed when we look at His commandments.

There are numerous passages dealing with the topic of sanctification, or holiness of life and conduct. I would like to go through many of them in separate posts for the sake of keeping them simple. It is my hope that these posts will encourage all of us to press forward in the calling that God has placed upon us, to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).

God's Concern For the Stranger

If one looks back at the history of immigration you will find people have been migrating from one country to another since the beginning. They have been motivated by many things; war, famine, oppression, persecution, and the chance for a better life, are just some of the things that come to mind.

While some have been welcomed into their new countries, many more have not. Again, history reveals a common attitude of hatred and rejection of those who are now among us but are not like us 

One only needs to look at the backlash in America when the Irish came, then the Chinese came. And these are only two examples of prejudice against immigrants in America's history. It hasn't even been one hundred years since the Holocaust when multitudes of Jews sought refuge here in this country. While desperate Jews were seeking a precious few visas in an attempt to flee Europe, lawmakers were busy passing immigration laws ensuring that they would be kept out of this country. Why? "They will take our jobs, the economic condition of the nation, Nazis will come in among them," were the reasons. And history proves that a large majority of them were denied entry into this country.

God has put human government in place to provide safety and stability for people to live in the nations they live in. In a fallen world where the majority of people are living lives apart from Christ something is needed to keep some semblance of order and to restrain evil. In the best case scenario we would find people living decent lives under a government who cares for, and protects them. Sadly, so many leaders past, and present do not.

This sets up the conflict. People leave one place to enter another, again, for various reasons. And as part of their responsibilities towards the people they are entrusted to protect, governments need some form of security over their borders, and as they are morally responsible individuals (as we all are) the care for people coming into these countries must be considered as well. In a perfect world this should work well. However we do not live in a perfect world. We live in a fallen world ruled by fallen leaders, and this sets up an "us versus them" system that ultimately hurts people who have been made in the image of God.

Before I continue I would like to reiterate that governments do have a responsibility to ensure the well-being of its citizens, and border security is part of that. I have no issue with that. This nation is struggling with this presently, and unless everyone can get together to work out a plan that would ensure the safety of the nation while at the same time addressing the  plight and concerns of so many who are entering this nation, nothing will be fixed.

My intent in writing this is not to look at the politics of this issue so much as it is to view this from a Biblical perspective. What does God have to say about the foreigners among us, and how should that affect our views on immigration and how we should treat immigrants.

When God brought up Israel from Egypt He gave them a law. They were to be living examples to the nations around them of what a righteous nation looked like (Deut 4:5-8). A common theme throughout the law reflected God's care for the poor and marginalized among them, including the stranger. 

"You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."

Exodus 22:21 NASB

"You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt."

Exodus 23:9 NASB

A stranger was a foreigner living among the Israelites. This individual may or may not have rights granted them. Either way, God was concerned that they were welcomed and treated kindly. He reminds Israel of their former status as slaves in Egypt. They knew what it was like to be foreigners and a land not their own. They experienced oppression, and as such they should have some empathy towards someone who now was a stranger in Israel.

"When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God."

Leviticus 19:33-34 NASB

Just as they were to love their neighbor as themselves, they were to love the stranger among them in the same way (Leviticus 19:18). 

In that culture and time if one was widowed or orphaned there were very little means of support. God made provision for the care of these individuals in His law to ensure their well-being. We find several places in the Old Testament where this is true. It is worthy to note that the "stranger" is often included with them.

"You shall not pervert the justice due an alien or an orphan, nor take a widow's garment in pledge. But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and that the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I am commanding you to do this thing. When you reap your harvest in your field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this thing."

Deuteronomy 24:17-22 NASB

The story of Ruth shows this "law" in action. When Naomi, an Israelite, and Ruth, her daughter in law, a Moabitess, are widowed, they return from Moab to Israel. In order to survive, Ruth goes to a field to gather up what was left behind by the reapers at harvest time. She is accepted by her new "countrymen" and ends up in the genealogy of King David, and ultimately that ofJesus.

You cannot legislate compassion, it must come from the heart. When one looks back at where we have come from, what we have experienced, we then can identify with the experience of others. This is carried into the teaching of the New Testament where we are told to "forgive as we have been forgiven" (Col 3:10-13).

Jesus tells of a man who had been graciously forgiven of a very large debt. However he apparently was disconnected from the reality of the grace shown towards him, as he proceeded to angrily demand payment from an individual who owed him considerably less (see Matt 18:22-35). We need, by the Spirit of God, a deep comprehension of the depth of our sin, and the richness of God's mercy before this saying is true in our lives: "He who is forgiven much loves much" (see Luke 7:36-47).

This is not merely some Old Testament law that was valid for Israel only, and now we under grace are exempt from putting it into practice. From the beginning, the New Testament Church took the care of the poor and needy seriously. It goes beyond an Old Covenant command, ultimately finding its expression in the law of Love. Jesus confirms the law of Love as that which fulfills the law (Matt 7:12).

Love demands that we treat others in the same way we would be treated. Love knows no racial distinctions. Jesus made that quite clear in the parable of the good Samaritan (see Luke 19:30-37). Regardless of what  stand the politicians might take, and regardless of what the unbelieving world might think about this issue, we as followers of Christ must look at this through the eyes of Jesus.

Those of us who are Gentile believers would do well to look at where we have come from to be brought into the kingdom of Christ,

Remember that you were at that time seperate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:12-13 NASB

God chose a people to whom He revealed Himself. They received the law, the temple, and sacrificial system of worship, the covenants and promises. It was to Israel that Jesus Christ came, and it was also to Israel that the gospel came first. We Gentiles have been grafted into this vine (Roman 11:17) God has graciously offered salvation to us as well through the blood of Christ. 

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are if God's household.

Ephesians 2:19 NASB

Notice how at one time we who are  Gentiles were "strangers" alienated from the covenants and promises that were given to Israel. But now we are no longer strangers and aliens, but citizens of the kingdom of God. And all of those who belong to God's kingdom, whether Jew or Gentile, are now strangers and aliens in this world. Our citizenship is in heaven (John 17:14, Phil 4:20). Our allegiance has changed, we are answerable to a higher authority.

We should be able to identify with the stranger among us. Instead of fear and distrust we should be willing and able to welcome the sojourner, just as we have been welcomed into the family of God. The vast majority of people migrating to America are coming to find a better life for themselves and their families. As I have previously stated, people are desperate to escape war, oppression, poverty, famine, among other things. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We, as His followers can make a difference in their lives. 

What about illegal immigration? There are many undocumented immigrants in this country, with many more that come over illegally. What should a Christian do in this situation? The Bible also instructs us to submit to the governing authorities. 

I am in no way encouraging illegal entry into this or any country. However, loving our neighbor as ourselves can come into conflict with obeying the government. Remember, we as citizens of heaven have a higher authority. Are we to police the immigrants we may come in contact with, or are we to simply love them. I understand that sometimes dangerous people do come into this country, and that's something different. What I mean is this- we don't know the the situations that cause many to enter illegally. People are desperate. All I ask is that as Christians we could show some compassion. Immigrant status should not make a difference in how we treat someone.

It was illegal to give any sort of help to a Jew in Nazi occupied Europe during WW2. While there were many people who risked their lives to protect Jews during this time, most did not. In fact, Christians were encouraged by their pastors to obey the governing authorities, who in this case was ultimately Adoph Hitler. How many more Jews could have been saved,  (at a high cost to those who helped them perhaps), if the higher law of Love was adhered to instead?

God's concern for the alien is so great that there are consequences for disobedience. In a passage condemning Idolatry, the dishonoring of one's parents, property theft,  sexual sin and bribery ( see Deut 27:15-26) we find this,

Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow...

Deuteronomy 27:19

Again, marginalized people are vulnerable. They make easy targets, and God condemns this. The unbelievers around us may get caught up in this, but let us who follow Christ be different.

Some day Jesus will return in judgement, and all of the rhetoric and mistreatment of the alien will be dealt with.

"Then I will draw near to you for judgement; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me." Says the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:5 NASB

To push away the alien, refusing to help them in their need, is just as serious as sorcery and adultery in God's eyes. It is evidence of a lack of the fear of the Lord. I want to be clear that a secure border is a necessary thing, and I am fine with that. However what history has shown to be true right up to the present is that for many, foreigners are not welcome. We see this played out in the news, in politics, and on social media. Again, we would expect this from the "world", but not from a Christian who claims to follow Jesus.

I recently watched a video in which an individual was asked if Jesus would be welcomed if He came to America. I was shocked, but not really surprised by the response, "If He came legally."

I would say that Jesus has come to multiple countries, including America, multiple times. 

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in...

This is the separation of the sheep and goats found in Matthew 25:31-46.

According to Jesus' words our willingness to welcome a stranger, as well as our refusal to welcome a stranger, matter to Him. He takes it personally, as if it were done, or not done unto Him! 

I believe that what we have a tremendous opportunity today to reach people with the gospel who have been unreachable before. A few years ago missionary organizations talked about the 10/40 window, an area including North Africa, the Middle East into Asia. This is an incredibly dangerous and difficult area to bring the gospel. It's amazing to see so many refugees fleeing these countries and coming into countries where the gospel is readily available. Are we up to the task?

I wrote about this nine years ago. You can read that post here.

And here is a link to a previous post as well. You can read it here.

Paul and a Theology of Martyrdom

As I have previously written, I believe that the Church today desperately needs to recover a "theology of martyrdom." Here is a link to that post.

Recovering a Theology of Martyrdom

In this post I would like to look specifically at the life and writings of the apostle Paul and elaborate on what he has to say about building the kingdom of God in the face of persecution and martyrdom.

The story of Paul begins in the book of Acts with the stoning of Stephen. The men who stoned him laid down their garments at the feet of a man named Saul (Acts 7:57-60). This event sparked a great persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, with Saul as a driving force behind it ( Acts 8:1-3). 

In his zeal to destroy the Church, Saul left for Damascus looking for any Christians that he might arrest and bring back to Jerusalem. It was on this road that he was stopped by Jesus Himself,

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Acts 9:4-6 KJV

This event led to the conversion of Saul, who we also know as Paul. He was led to the house of a man named Judas on Straight street in Damascus where Annanias, who was sent by Jesus, placed his hands on him so that his sight would be restored and he would be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:8-18). In a vision Annanias was told this, about God's calling upon the life of Saul,

"Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

Acts 9:15-16 KJV 

Previous to this event, as Saul persecuted the Church, he was likely    deeply convicted by the Holy Spirit, by what he witnessed when Stephen was martyred. To kick against the pricks was to resist guidance. Pricks (KJV) or goads were used to guide oxen. If one rebelled against this they were said to "kick against the goads."  According to Robertson's word pictures this became a proverb of that time period to refer to one who was rebellious. It is not a stretch to consider that Saul's rabid drive to stamp out the Church was at least in part, his attempt to shut out the voice of the Holy Spirit. I know from my own life, when I came under conviction, I ran long and hard in the opposite direction, trying to drown out my conscience. 

From the very beginning of Paul's Christian life hardship was a normal part. Indeed, he was to see how much suffering he was to endure for the sake of Christ. Within days of his conversion he openly proclaimed Christ to the Jews in Damascus. As a result, a plot was formed to kill him and he was lowered over the wall to escape this threat (Acts 9:19-25). The man who once persecuted the Church was now persecuted himself.

In 2 Corinthians 11:24-33 we read a list of Paul's physical suffering in his service to Christ. He was beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, faced dangers in his travels, faced hunger and the elements. He endured all of these things for Christ with a willingness that I fear is lacking among many professing Christians today in this country.

As he was on his way back to Jerusalem he sent for the elders from Ephesus to see them one final time. He had this to say to them,

    And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there.

Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

But none of these things move me,neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify of the grace of God.

Acts 20:22-24 KJV

And the next chapter records a prophetic word warning Paul that he would be bound and turned over to the Gentiles when he arrived in Jerusalem (Acts 21:19-12). Here is his reply,

     Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and break my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 21:13 KJV

Look at the boldness and determination in the heart of the apostle. His was a life thoroughly transformed by the Holy Ghost. His focus was on one thing, the completion of his service to God. Nothing else mattered, he would let nothing stand in the way, even willing to die in the process, if it came to that.

He elaborates more on this theme in his epistles to various Churches he established during his time of ministry. By looking at some of these we get a glimpse into his heart, and can see the depth of his commitment to Jesus.

     According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Philippians 1:20-24 KJV

Paul's unwavering purpose was to magnify Christ in everyway possible. He desired to show Christ to the world by his actions, attitudes, and speech. He had a calling to proclaim Christ to the Gentiles as we saw in Acts 9:15-16. So in life his passion, the mindset that drove him, was to glorify Christ. To remain alive in the flesh was the opportunity to continue pressing on in his desire to make Christ known to others. Yet death, even violent death for the sake of the gospel, was still yet another way to magnify Christ. 

Persecution has a way of encouraging others to become more bold in the faith. Paul brings this out earlier in this epistle. This letter was written to the Church in Philippi while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. He states that the very fact of his imprisonment has become an opportunity for the furtherance of the gospel. Many fellow believers have become confident due to Paul's bonds, and now speak the word boldly, without fear (Philippians 1:12-14).

So to Paul it did not matter if it was by life or by death, only that Christ was magnified. In fact, he states that he would rather depart and be with Christ. That is the ultimate thing for each one of us. Death, for a believer is only the doorway into the presence of Christ. If we know and love Jesus we have nothing to fear. In 2 Corinthians 5:1-9 Paul speaks of groaning for our heavenly bodies, desiring the day when death is swallowed up by life everlasting. He is confident, and willing to be absent from the body (to die) so that he can be in the presence of the Lord.

In the famous passage found in Philippians 3:7-14 where Paul counts all things as loss for the sake of Christ, we read this,

     That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Philippians 3: 10 -11 KJV

Again, we see that the apostle does not shrink from suffering and even death for the sake of Christ. In fact he embraces it. He desires to partake of the sufferings and even the death of Christ. Just as Jesus suffered and died for us, Paul, in his love for Christ is willing to suffer and die for Him as well. Ultimately Paul realized the truth of the resurrection. Physical death in this life was not the end.

We read this in Colossians 1:24,

     Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God.

We, as the body of Christ now take up the mantle so to speak. Just as Jesus suffered afflictions, even to the point of death, now it is our turn as we carry out the mission He left us with. And yet when we suffer persecution for the cause of Christ it is Christ Himself who is persecuted. When Jesus spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus, he asked, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of he Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

We having the same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 KJV

This passage alone sums up the entire point I am trying to make. The Apostle Paul, as a follower of Christ, we, as followers of Christ, are called to carry on the work of Jesus in our lives. Yes, it is hard work. Persecution is an inevitable result of our visible and active testimony. Why did Jesus ordain that this work should go forward, carried by individuals in fragile, mortal bodies? To show the excellency of the power of God in us! As we die to ourselves in humility, and begin to depend on Christ in our weakness, He becomes strong in us. God has taken what the enemy meant for evil, and turned it into good. This is how Christ continues the work he began. He does it through us, even in the midst of suffering.

Our job is to be faithful in obedience to the great commission, no matter the cost. If we believe, we must speak. And that, will cause a reaction. Like Paul, each one of us must be confident in the truth of the resurrection. Our bodies here are only temporary. They are already wearing out. We are not meant for self preservation, but to be offered up in service to Christ. Whether that ends in martyrdom or not is up to God. Our purpose, like Paul's, is to go, looking at the eternal instead of the temporal. What we face here is minor, compared to the glory of eternity with Jesus. 

For millions of Christ followers down through the centuries persecution and death has been a normal part of serving Jesus. Even today a vast number of Christians suffer and die for their faith. They also consider it normal. 

I recently listened to a radio program where an individual was recounting meeting with some persecuted believers in China. He was asked if he had ever been in prison, to which he replied that he had not. These persecuted believers at first seriously doubted his Christianity. To them it was normal to be persecuted for their faith as well.

Here in America it is kind of unusual. Yes, we have what we call "freedom of religion." We can meet without fear of arrest, and worship whatever we want to worship in freedom. Is this a blessing? Maybe, but I sometimes wonder. If people were more bold with their witness would things change some? I think so. And our freedom today may be gone tomorrow. In fact, the day is coming when there will be no "safe" place to openly proclaim Christ. Will we be willing to shine as lights in a perverse generation when that day comes (Philippians 2:15)?

What we have seen in the life of Paul is an example for us to follow as well,

     For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Philippians 1:29-30 KJV

     

     

 

A Wise Builder In Uncertain Times

Towards the end of His earthly ministry Jesus told a parable of ten virgins. (Matt 25:1-13). The context of this parable is the teaching of Jesus on the end times events leading up to His return. The purpose is to promote watchfulness among His followers.

In this parable we see several things. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The foolish took their lamps, but no extra oil, while the wise had extra oil along with their lamps.

It is interesting to note that as the bridegroom tarried they all became drowsy and slept. This was true for the wise as well as the foolish virgins.

When the cry went out at midnight, "The bridegroom is coming, go out to meet Him", they woke up and trimmed their lamps. Unfortunately the lamps belonging to the foolish virgins had gone out, and they had no extra oil.  Asking the wise to share oil with them, they were told to go and buy some, as there was not enough to share. 

While they went out to buy more oil, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in to the feast, and the door was shut. It was too late for the foolish virgins who were not prepared 

What can we learn from this parable? As I have recently shared, I believe that the Church is about to be blindsided by end times events. It is as though we are for the most part asleep. In a previous post which can be read here, I elaborate on this briefly. 

Although there are many end times teachers, and just as many end times theories, it seems like for most of us the last days and the return of Jesus Christ are something seen as far down the road. I believe the Church to some degree is asleep. Far too many of us are unconcerned about future events. Perhaps many of us have been burned out by all of the "Left Behind books"  and end times movies that we have been inundated with for the last several decades or so. There has been a lot of hype and a lot of failed date settings, and that just turns people off I'm afraid.

Anyway we find that the wise as well as the foolish both fell asleep as the bridegroom delayed His coming.

There is a day coming upon the whole world as a trap (Luke 21:35). Someday these events will be upon us and we will all be forced out of slumber. Whether or not we have a sufficient supply of oil then will be a matter of spiritual life and death.

One can know all of the end times events, the signs and timelines, but to know these things is no guarantee that one will survive spiritually. We need to cultivate our relationship with Jesus, and we need to be doing that now.

I believe that this is the difference between the wise and foolish virgins referenced in this parable. Oil is used symbolically of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. To be lacking "oil" in this sense when we reach the point of no return in the last days will be tragic. 

A saving relationship with Jesus is more than correct understanding of biblical doctrine. While studying the scriptures and discovering the doctrines found therein is fun and exciting, head knowledge by itself is insufficient. If what we learn does not transform our lives it is all in vain.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.

John 14:15-17 KJV

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself unto him.

John 14:21 KJV

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come into him, and make our abode with him.

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

John 14:23-24 KJV

Here we see it, or rather hear it in the very words of Jesus. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is dependent in a large measure upon our obedience. Don't misunderstand this. This is not about a checklist that we can cross off every time we have obeyed a commandment, as if we can somehow earn the presence of the Holy Spirit. We receive the Spirit by faith, not by the works of the law (Gal 3:1-3, 14), yet salvation is a deliverance from sinning. We must take these words of God to heart as well,

     We are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Acts 5:32

Obedience flows out of our love for Christ. It is the outflow of our faith (Gal 5:6). 

Through a careless, disobedient lifestyle we can grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). Think of the example of Sampson in the Old Testament. He flirted with sin, presuming that his strength would always be there. One day he woke up, only to discover that the LORD had departed from him, and his strength was gone ( see Judges 16:4-20). 

Jesus questioned if He would find faith on the earth at His return (Luke 18:8). He gives this warning in His Olivet discourse,

     "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved."

(Matt 24:12-13)

Days are coming when the deception and treachery will be unparalleled.  The Bible warns of a great falling away in the last days (2 Thess 2:3-12). It will take everything to stand firm in our faith. We do not want to wake up like Sampson, and find out our strength is gone. If it is imperative that we are filled with the Holy Spirit in our lives today, how much more when that day arrives.

I firmly believe that scripture interprets scripture. Earlier in His ministry Jesus spoke of another pair of men (see Matt 7:23-27). One was wise, and the other foolish. They both built houses, the wise man built upon a rock, and the foolish man built his house on sand. When disaster struck we can guess what happened. The wise man's house stood firm, while the house of the foolish man collapsed.

Jesus likened the wise man to one who hears His teaching and puts it into practice, while the foolish man is one who does not obey. We can see by this that obedience to Jesus is foundational to maintaining our relationship with Him. An open channel allows the "oil" of the Spirit to flow through our lives and give light to those around us. Sin in the life of a believer will block this flow, hinder our fellowship, and weaken our faith. Confession and repentance is the way to restoration. 

Keep the channels open. Do not allow disobedience to block the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life. The day will come when there will be no time to "buy" more oil. The bridegroom will come and the door will be shut. When disaster comes will your house stand?

 

 

     

Recovering a Theology of Martyrdom

Here in America we have things pretty easy concerning our freedom to practice our faith. We have easy access to Bibles, Churches on every corner, and the ability to meet in any of those Churches without fear of persecution. While this makes it easier for us to gather to worship freely, and we count it a blessing, it also has it's downside as well.

I believe that after decades, centuries actually, of religious freedom in this country, we have lost a key part of what it means to follow Jesus. In his instructions to Timothy, Paul exhorts him to "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 Tim:2:3) While most of us would agree that persecution and suffering for Jesus is a real thing, I believe that there are those who relegate it to believers in third world countries, or those living under oppressive regimes. Unable to relate to what so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer around the world we envision persecution here as the advancement of "woke" policies or "attacks" on Christmas. The claim that we as Christians are losing our rights, and unless something happens we won't be able to be Christians here in America, has been "shouted from the rooftops" for some time now. But how does this reasoning line up with scripture? 

Persecution is promised.

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

If you were of the world, then the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also  persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.....

These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.

They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me."

John 15:19-22, 16:1-3 NASB

As followers of Jesus we are not exempt from persecution and even death for our testimony. Even now,  people throughout the world are suffering greatly for their faith. Of course here we have relative freedom to practice our faith openly with very little threat, but I believe the day is coming when that will change, and we need to get ready now.

Freedom of religion is not something that any laws can guarantee. However we don't need laws to protect our commitment to Jesus either. Absolutely no one can take that away from you. It might cost you something, but you are free to be a Christian anywhere in this world. As Nik Ripken states,

     Believers in persecution remind us of a possible lie inherent in Western Christian cultures. We sometimes thank God that we live in countries where we are "free to worship." It is interesting that public prayers are rarely uttered thanking God that we are "free to witness"! Significantly, witnessing to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has little to do with political freedom. Believers are as free to share Jesus in Saudi Arabia as they are in St. Louis. Believers are as free to share Jesus in Somalia as they are in Kentucky.

     Being a witness for Jesus has little to do with political freedom. On the contrary, our willingness to witness has everything to do with obedience and courage. 

( Nik Ripken

The insanity of Obedience ©2014

P 30)

This should step on toes. We do not have to go looking for persecution, if we are open with our witness, it will naturally come in one form or another. As we read in the verses above, we as believers are hated by the world in the same way the world hates Jesus. How long will that be "restrained" in America? 

What about my rights?

Here in this country we make a big deal about our rights. And to be sure, we have many rights that others do not have. But how far do we go to defend and fight for our rights? 

The call of Jesus is exacting. He says some very hard things. It is not about us at all, but His ultimate purpose for our lives.

     And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."

Mark 8:34-35 NASB

"So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions."

Luke 14:33 NASB

A transaction is made when we make the decision to follow Christ. Ownership of our lives, our possessions, our plans and purposes, comforts and fears transfer from us and our control, to Christ. We are in a very real sense not our own. We have been bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20).

This is what the lordship of Jesus means. He is now our master, and we are his "bond slaves." This term is used throughout the epistles. Paul understood the concept well. You sold yourself into the service of another for economic survival. You now lived to serve your master. Your personal decisions didn't count for much anymore 

Jesus tells us to deny ourselves and come after Him with our crosses on our backs. This is the same principle explained in another graphic way.

Crucifixion, under the Roman occupation, was a common scene for most people of the time. It would have been a common sight to see beaten and bloodied individuals struggling under the weight of a heavy beam on their way to a excruciating death. These men were "dead men walking." literally, their lives were over. Their plans and purposes, possessions, comforts and fears, meant absolutely nothing to them at this point. They were about to be fastened on a cross, completely helpless, waiting only to die.

Jesus, Himself, experienced the very same thing, and He used this as a metaphor for us to follow Him in "death to ourselves." Our lives, plans, purposes, comforts and fears, are no longer in our control. Jesus is calling the shots at this point. Our lives belong to Him, our job is to follow in obedience, no matter the cost. And for many, the cost of that obedience ends in martyrdom, the ultimate price to follow Jesus.

But what about Paul's appeal to his rights?

There are three instances recorded in scripture where Paul mentions his rights as a Roman citizen. People bring these up on occasion as a justification of the need to fight for our rights as American Christians.

In Acts 16:16-39 Paul and Silas are beaten and thrown into prison, without a trial, for casting a demon out of a slave girl in the Roman province of Philippi. It was unlawful to beat an uncondemned Roman Citizen. The next day when they were about to be released, Paul made the magistrates aware of this, causing some consternation among them. They no doubt were afraid that it might come back on them.

In Acts 22:24-30 Paul again appeals to his Roman citizenship when he is about to be scourged to find out why a mob had broken out against him. He then brought up the fact that it was unlawful to beat an uncondemned Roman citizen. Once it was determined that he was indeed a Roman citizen he was immediately untied, and again, the commander was afraid of what might happen as a result.

The third instance is Paul's appeal to appear before Caesar (Acts 25:1-10). Wishing to appease the Jews, the Roman governor Festus asked Paul if he would stand trial before him in Jerusalem. Paul, knowing it was all a sham, appealed to stand before Caesar in Rome, where he ought to be tried as a Roman citizen. 

What we can draw from these passages is that there may be times when it is okay to take advantage of  certain rights conferred on one by the government. For example prayer in school. As far as I know, prayer is allowed in school as long as a teacher is not leading a class in prayer. What if a teacher was simply praying over his or her lunch, by themselves, and the school board threatened disciplinary action? Would it be alright to remind them that prayer in this instance is not a prohibited action? I would think this would be fine, and might put the issue to rest.

However, the belief  that we as Christians are called to fight for our rights cannot be found in the New Testament teachings. There were plenty of instances in the life and ministry of the apostle Paul where he did suffer wrong and did not pursue recourse. That night in the Philippian jail Paul and Silas were singing and praising God in spite of the beating they had just received. I find it hard to believe that they were planning to turn in those responsible for breaking the  Roman law that forbid beating an uncondemned citizen.

Jesus is the example of the opposite. He taught and lived humility. His message was one of forgiveness and turning the other cheek. Going the extra mile demanded a lot of grace from a people living under Roman occupation. And the mandate to make disciples in every nation is a huge undertaking itself. There is no time or energy to be spent on things that detract from that mission. While it may be fine to take advantage of freedoms we have, we have no guarantee that we will have those freedoms tomorrow. When that day comes our mission still remains the same, only now the consequences change. We are better off preparing now for when that time comes, than occupying our time and energy in a battle to maintain our rights.

Martyrdom has a purpose.

It has been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. This is a true statement, that can be proven by history. 

Stephen is the first recorded martyr for Christ in the New Testament. The man holding the cloaks of those throwing the stones was named Saul. This began a severe persecution that scattered the believers throughout the known world. Saul was driven by his zeal, and was relentless in his pursuit of Christians. When he was divinely stopped on the road to Damascus we read that he had been kicking against the goads. In other words, something happened when he witnessed Stephen's death that haunted him on the inside. The conviction of the Holy Spirit was getting the best of him.  (Acts 7:54-8:1, 26:9-18). Saul, also known as Paul was saved and went on to be incredibly used by God in the establishment of His Kingdom.

Reformation history records the terrible persecution and death that the Anabaptist Christians suffered for their faith. The missionaries they sent out were quickly arrested, tortured, and killed in the most inhuman ways, only to be just as quickly replaced with more. They spread the gospel to hungry people desperate for the truth, with little regard for their own comfort. It was indeed a movement fueled by persecution, that could not be stopped. I recommend getting a copy of the Martyrs Mirror, which chronicles the suffering and martyrdom of these courageous people.

Or how about the five missionaries who were killed in 1956 trying to make contact with the Waodani tribesmen, a fierce, unreached people deep in the jungles of Ecuador. While the world might think that this was a tragic waste of life, it turned out quite the opposite. In a unforseen twist of events, the widows and families of these men ended up forgiving, befriending, and living among the very same people who had killed their husbands. People were saved, a Church was planted. A people group who were for all practical purposes unreachable, were brought to Christ as a result. The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church.

What Satan means for evil God can turn around for good. In fact God's kingdom can be referred to as an "upside down kingdom" as it operates on opposite principles than that of the world. While the world looks at suffering and death as a defeat, it is in reality a victory for those who follow Jesus.

     And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Revelation 12:11 NASB

Consider the words of Jesus found in John 12:23-26,

     And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.

If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Jesus is the ultimate example for us. By His death and resurrection He has truly born much fruit. He speaks in no uncertain terms. We must follow Him, even unto death. If our bearing fruit means martyrdom we dare not shrink back. If we seek to preserve our lives we will lose them in the end. Self preservation stands in opposition to the greater purpose of God. 

What is a martyr?

The Greek word translated witness, or witnesses is Martus. It is found 34 times in the King James New Testament. This word is used of people who give witness or testimony of something. A variant of the word, martureo is in verb form, to give testimony of something, and the word marturia refers to the testimony itself. This is where our word martyr comes from

While this testimony, or witness can be that of anything, it was often used in the witness of one's faith in Christ, the resurrected Lord. This witness often led to the death of the one giving this testimony of the truth of the gospel.

And when the blood of your witness (martus) Stephen was being shed....

Acts 21:20

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness (martus), the first born of the dead, and the ruler of the Kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood...

Rev 1:5

I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness (martus), My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Rev 2:13

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses (martus), and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Rev 11:3

And when they have finished their testimony (marturia), the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.

Rev 11:7

And I saw a woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses (martus) of Jesus. When I saw her I wondered greatly.

Rev 17:6

And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony (marturia) of Jesus and because of the word of God...

Rev 20:4

Robertson's word pictures state that by the third century this word, martus, had become synonymous with one who had paid for their witness with their lives.

History is filled with countless numbers of individuals who have paid the ultimate price for the testimony of Jesus. Even today there are thousands of Christians living in countries where persecution and martyrdom are everyday occurrences. Just because we live in a country where there is relative safety to be a Christian does not necessarily make us exempt. The New Testament teaches that persecution is a normal reaction of a hostile world to the testimony of Christ. Ultimately the time is coming when the world will face the greatest crisis it has ever seen. There will be no holding back the tide of evil when that day comes. Are we prepared for what is to come? Will you be a faithful martus?

Counting the cost.

"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

Many false prophets will arise and mislead many.

Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."

Matthew 24:9-13 NASB

Have we as Christians over the years made it too easy? Instead of a deep soul searching leading to a unwavering repentance, and commitment to follow Christ, we now can just slip up a hand with no one looking. I do not wish to offend anyone, but Jesus Himself sets a very hard standard for those who would follow Him. The reformation era Anabaptist Christians knew what the narrow gate meant (Matt 7:13-14). In reference to the terrible suffering they faced for their witness, they said that their skin was torn off as they went through the narrow gate 

Denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, living lives completely sold out to Jesus at all cost, following Him even in death, are the standards of the gospel. Yes, salvation is a free gift. You will not earn it by giving your body to be burned (see 1 Cor 13:3). But faith in Christ is more than believing things. It is living out the reality of what we believe. And if we believe that Jesus died and is now the risen Lord and calls us to follow Him, we must follow Him on His terms or not follow Him at all.

In Luke 14:25-34 Jesus repeats the demands required to be a disciple. He demands our allegiance over all other relationships. He calls on us to count the cost. We must be aware of what it means and what it requires to follow Him. He gives two examples. A man building a tower will calculate his expenses before he begins. If he does not, and he runs out of money after he has begun, he faces humiliation. Or a king going to war better be sure that he actually has the manpower to win. If not he better seek peace instead. 

It is imperative that we also count the cost. A man may begin to build a house and not be able to finish, but that is nothing compared to a person starting out to follow Jesus but falling away when unexpected difficulties arise. Now is the time to think long and hard about what it means to follow Jesus; about what He requires, and what it might cost us. Persecution is not a fun, uplifting subject to talk about, but it is a very real part of being a Christian. It is better to know what may come and be prepared beforehand, then to be taken by surprise and give up.

Blessed are the persecuted.

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the Prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:10-12 NASB

Therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgement so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His angels in flaming fire,

dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and be marvelled at among all who have believed - for our testimony to you was believed.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-10 NASB

Believe it or not, there is a reason to rejoice in the midst of suffering persecution. It is a sign that we are not of this evil world, but are citizens of a heavenly kingdom. We are to rejoice and be glad because our reward is great if we endure.

This can be compared to childbirth. The labor is hard and painful, but the birth of a child is the goal. Countless numbers of women have endured the pain of labor because they are looking forward to the end; the birth of a child. To them it is worth it all.

To be martyred is only a gateway into the presence of Jesus. The pain is only temporary. 

     For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NASB

In Revelation 7:9-17 we read of a great multitude from every tongue, tribe and nation standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes in His blood.

     "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His Tabernacle over them.

They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;

for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Revelation 7:15-17 NASB

All that they have suffered will pale in comparison as they dwell in the very presence of God. All of the pain and suffering will be gone, every tear will be wiped away by God Himself. They will live in His presence for eternity, as opposed to those who have rejected Him in this life.

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgement was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and in their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years 

Revelation 20:4 NASB

No one likes the idea of suffering. The idea of a great tribulation is a terrifying thought. Yet it must come before the return of Christ. As believers we must keep that in focus. To give up, to deny Christ in the face of death is to lose it all. 

So what do we do now?

It is hard to write out a checklist of everything we must do to prepare for possible martyrdom. No one knows how they will react until the moment arrives. We can be like Peter and make rash declarations of our willingness to die for Jesus only to fail miserably in the end.

To be sure we must count the cost and commit ourselves to following Jesus. Now is the time to cultivate our faith. If we cannot grow now while we have so much freedom how can we expect to stand when the evil day comes? 

Our love for Jesus must be unwavering. What parent wouldn't risk running into a burning house to rescue a missing child? In the same way, our love for Christ compels us to live and die for Him. To love Him is to long to be with Him. Unless you or I are alive and remain at His return, death is the doorway into His presence. And during the final great tribulation, martyrdom will be the primary way out. Pray now, be filled with His Spirit continually, and trust Him to give you what you need when you need it.

A common verse about peace is found in Isaiah 26:3.

     The steadfast of mind you will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.

It is interesting to note that the surrounding chapters are prophetic. It is talking about what is referred to as the great tribulation. God is able to give us peace, even in the midst of the severest trouble.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 NASB

This is a hard subject. People do not like to talk about these things. I'm often misunderstood. I do not wish for persecution, I'm not hoping it comes, but only trying to prepare people for the day it does. The Bible is quite clear on this subject, and it is only a matter of time when here in the West we also will experience what so many have already experienced. Will our generation be the ones? If not we must prepare the next one.

      

     

     

Will We be Ready?

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and stand before the Son of man.

                             Luke 21:34-36 KJV

Dark days are coming upon the earth. At some point in time, maybe sooner than we think, biblical prophecy will unfold, and the events of the final seven years of this age will occur. I believe multitudes of professing Christians will be caught by surprise. They will not be ready. 

I have noticed a lack of teaching on these subjects lately. I haven't heard any sermons geared towards preparing people for Earth's final days. These are things Christians are not talking about. One pastor that I recently had a casual conversation with admitted that he didn't know what he believed about the end times. He hadn't really looked into it. I have heard others share the same concerns. They have also noticed a strange silence in their churches as well. 

It's not as though there is a lack of end times information. Vast numbers of books have been written on the subject, the Internet is filled with videos and websites, some good, and others not so good. There are plenty of teachers out there promoting their version of how the last days will play out, and no doubt people are tuning in to see what they have to say. However, when I step into church, I'm not hearing conversations, I'm not hearing sermons, about world events that will someday be upon us.

 I believe we have been set up for failure. On the one hand there is the popular teaching that we will not be here when all hell breaks loose. The main thing is to make sure you are ready for the rapture. The rest, as concerns us as Christians, isn't anything that will affect us.

The other teaching, one, more common than I realized, is that there will be no actual end times tribulation. All of the last days events foretold in biblical prophecy are symbolic, an apocalyptic portrayal of the battle between good and evil. All we as Christians need to do is wait for Jesus to someday come. While persecution has been a real thing all along, an end times Antichrist orchestrating great tribulation is only symbolic. Again, why worry?

What if we are wrong? What if there is indeed a day coming when the events that so many  have spiritualized away into nothingness actually come to pass, and we as a Church are still here, contrary to popular belief?

I don't mean to offend anyone who may hold to any of these teachings. I understand that prophecy is not easy to understand, and a wide range of views are held by Christians throughout the world. I also understand that there are committed Christians who are looking into these things with the same interest and concern that I have. Therefore I am speaking in general terms when I voice my concerns. My intent is not to create heated debate between brothers and sisters, nor is it to belittle the beliefs of others. I write this out of a concern for the Church. I read the scriptures and see hard times coming, and a great falling away from the faith occuring at the same time. 

Speaking of the return of Christ to gather his elect, we read of a great falling away that will occur first, along with the revealing of the "Man of sin" who we know as the Antichrist (2 Thess 2:1-4). This passage that has commonly been used to teach a prettrib rapture event actually teaches quite the opposite. Before Jesus returns to gather His faithful, many professing Christianity, instead of being raptured, will actually apostasize from the faith. This verse is clear, Christians will see the revealing of the Antichrist, and many will not make it. This affirms the words of Jesus, who foretold that the "love of many will grow cold." He admonishes us that one must "endure to the end to be saved" (Matt 24:11-12).

This is what is so tragic. How can we be better prepared to face the future? And if we never live to experience these events, how can we ensure that the future generation who will, is adequately equipped to stand for Jesus during Earth's greatest trial?

I have a few thoughts that I will briefly share. I will put them down here, and perhaps go deeper into them in future posts. 

1. We must recapture the "Maranatha" cry.

The early Church looked for and longed for the return of Christ. It was not so much that they wanted to escape trials and trouble, but they had such an incredible love for Jesus Himself. I fear that many today have entrenched themselves into the affairs of this life. They have made a good life for themselves, and seek to keep up that standard. Like a child who spoils his appetite by eating a cookie before supper, many of us have got it so good here (at least here in America) that we no longer long for eternity with Jesus. We may give the idea of the return of Jesus some fleeting thoughts, but it is not a deep aching reality for a lot of us. We are too content here. At the close of his life the apostle Paul said this,

     Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8 KJV).

Are we numbered with those who "eagerly await Him" (Hebrews 9:28)?

2. We must recover a theology of martyrdom and suffering.

The early Church suffered intense persecution, yet they turned their world upside down for the cause of Christ. To identify with Jesus, to be baptized into His death, took on a literal meaning for them. Countless others have paid the ultimate price for their devotion to Christ down through the centuries. Jesus Himself calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. To save our lives is to lose our lives, while to lose our lives for His sake and the gospel's is to save them in the end (Mark 8:34-35).

We live in a time where we consider it persecution when the cashier at Walmart won't wish us a Merry Christmas. How will we make it when this verse is a reality,

     And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Rev 12:11 KJV emphasis mine).

Martyrdom will be the primary way out of the great tribulation (see Rev 6:9-11, 7:9-17). Are we ready?

3. We need solid biblical teaching on the end times.

The Apostle Paul spent three weeks in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4). During this time souls were saved and a Church was planted. Paul was forced to leave because of persecution. However, in that three week period this group of "baby" Christians were soundly taught enough to thrive in the midst of suffering themselves (1Thess 1:14). They were also taught about the last days (1Thess 5:1-11, 2 Thess 2:5). Can you imagine a class for new converts today, where the main topic is a deep dive into eschatology? Could it be that this enabled them to endure the suffering that they faced? 

Instead of running from prophecy because it is hard to understand, or scary to talk about, we must dig into it, learn it, and pass it on to others. The book of Revelation is perhaps the most misunderstood and therefore neglected book of the Bible. Yet we read this,

     Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Rev 1:3 NASB).

We need solid teaching based upon what the Bible actually says about the events surrounding the last days and the return of Christ. There is way more found throughout both Testaments than most of us realize. From the Prophets to Revelation an end times scenario unfolds. It is here that we learn why the events will unfold the way they do, who are the nations involved, where will the "Beast" come from, and at what point will Jesus return to establish His kingdom. 

There is a lot of prophecy teaching out there, some of it is sound, but so much of it is mere speculation. It must line up with the word of God. Beware of those who have to spiritualize things away to hold to a particular doctrine. Yes there are symbols found in prophecy, but these symbols represent real things. If something can be taken literally, then take it literally. Wading through so much of the stuff out there is like navigating a minefield. It will explode in the end, and take many adherents with it I'm afraid.

We are warned throughout scripture to avoid deception, especially as it concerns those who will go through the last days. We must know and understand the truth. There is no more time to remain ignorant of these things. The Church cannot afford to remain in the dark,

     But you brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober (1 Thess 5:4-6 NASB).

Paul wrote this to the Thessalonian Church. He knew that they had an understanding that went beyond a mere head knowledge, but had entered their hearts. Can we say the same today? 

There are many more things I could say here, but this must suffice for now. Perhaps, God willing, I can expand on this in future posts. There is a day coming when Jesus will return, but before He comes there will be tribulation. If we are the generation to see all of these things come to pass will we be ready?