| Followers of Jesus Face a Life-and-Death Struggle |
Today's Text:
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1, 2
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The Message:
As the cars [of the train] glided slowly along we had a fine opportunity of seeing the country [Switzerland] through which we passed....
Here among the rocks and caverns of the earth the Lord has provided a hiding place for His people. These chapels, built so high upon the precipitous rocks that seem inaccessible to humans, were thus arranged for safety and protection. They testify to us that there was a time when the people of God were suffering because they, like Daniel of old, purposed in their hearts that they would worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. They could not consent that any person should be conscience for them, and they felt more secure in the wildness of rocks and mountains, where the wild beasts make their home from the snare of the fowler, than to trust themselves to the mercy of human beings who were infected with an erroneous religion and satanic zeal to maintain human customs and traditions that were in direct opposition to the religion of the Bible. These were cruel as bloodthirsty wolves to extirpate all who should dare to differ with the doctrines of papists-men and women who would take the Bible and the Bible alone as their foundation, until its glorious beams scattered human tradition from their path, making clear the way of the Lord. The prince of darkness has marked these men as he marked Jesus the Light of the world.
The man of sin is Satan's agent. He sets his inventive powers to work, and Satan plans; then the followers of Jesus must prepare for a life-and-death struggle. The authority of the church, combined with the authorities of the nation, set themselves to work to cripple the conscience-to be themselves conscience for everybody. For anyone to differ, and stand in opposition to these great men of the world in their religious faith and worship, would raise endless questions, and they could not keep this light to themselves. The more they pondered the question, the more they saw was involved in turning from old traditions to the Word of God. But they must face the conflict, harness for battle, rise above human littleness, and not have thoughts of self-preservation detain them in the prospect of unmeasurable danger and peril. The world's Redeemer had given them in His life an example of what they must do and what they must be in order to win eternal life. This Jesus was a man of sorrows. He had suffered hunger and thirst and met the temptations of Satan with "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." [Matthew 4:4.] Jesus had told His followers that they must be ready to lose their lives if necessary for the truth's sake. -Manuscript 52, 1886.
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Commentary:
My friend, make no mistake "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12). When we put ourselves on the side of Christ, we are placing ourselves in opposition to the power of Satan, and he will do all that God allows to persecute and silence our voices. But like the martyrs in the dark ages, our voices will not be silenced.
Persecution will come to us in many forms, but we have this promise from Jesus "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Jesus never said that He would save us from trials and temptations, but that through them, He would be with us. His last words were "... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20). When trails and persecution comes, He is there with us by His Spirit, guiding, strengthening, and comforting us.
The truth about God presented to the church is not a popular message, for it reveals that the church is truly in the Laodicean condition. It show that they are worshiping the false god of Babylon, and are truly "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Revelation 3:17). Those that reject this message of love, put themselves in opposition to the Word of God, for they love darkness rather than light. Of this Jesus said "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19).
To give the straight message of the Faithful and True Witness of God, will put all who give it in opposition to the powers of darkness. We are in a life-and-death struggle against the forces of evil, and unless we are held fast in the arms of Jesus, we will be overcome by the devices of Satan.
My friend, do not be discouraged by the trails and persecution that comes into your life, for it is an evidence that you are on the side of Christ. Surrender your heart to the Lord and seek after His righteousness and you will be blessed in persecution. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:10-12).
God bless,
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Video of the Week
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| Sin, Jesus & You - Nader Mansour |
These three words summarize the Gospel message. In this study Nader explores the practical aspects of how our understanding shapes our experience.
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