We live in a world that is different from thirteen
years ago. The world is different from a generation ago. People speak of how different
things are. They give examples of disrespect to adults and authority. They
speak of fear of crime and wars. They even voice that weather is not the same; it
is more violent. I consider these things and see that, yes, a lack of respect
for authority figures and humans is evident. I live the change of the physical
environment. People are losing heart and faith in humanity.
They are erecting walls around their homes. These people are installing
security systems in their homes, cars, and work places. Security companies
patrol in their personal spheres of living. People are removing their landline
telephones to avoid intrusion into their private lives, but at the same time,
they are more involved in the cyber-world through emails and social networks. People
are afraid, but they are lonely, too, and trying to fill the vacuum from a lack
of relationships. This is America.
Let
us consider worldwide. There is rampant poverty, hunger, crime, wars, and
religious intolerance. There is corruption, abuse, fear, and a breakdown in
human relationships. Consider it this way; everyone experiences trials. Do not think I am
discounting how hard trials are, but consider, everyday types of trials and
severe types of trials affect everyone. When we are going through our
particular hard time, we feel it is the hardest thing to do. It is hard. I very
seldom meet people who are thankful they went through a trial. In time, though,
we look outside ourselves and see other people are having a more difficult time
in life. We see there are harder times people endure, such as mass genocide,
religious persecution, executions, starvation, and becoming separated from
family when fleeing for their lives. We live in this world.
A few
people might say, oh, we must be getting near the end times. People might be
shocked at first, but then gradually return to their jobs or school and forget
what is happening elsewhere. I am not trying to say we are crass and unfeeling.
What I am trying to make understood is that, for the largest number of us,
persecution is a word in our vocabulary that sharply breaks into our mind periodically
with media images and reports, but we do not live persecuted, so we do not take
much notice of it. For millions of people, though, persecuted living is their
reality. They are hunted by military regimes because of their culture or their
faith. They are running in fear through forests, jungles,
or deserts to get away from a present reality of torture, forced military
service, prison, or execution. We each experience our own trials, but many
million are in this world right now experiencing their trials that are “unto
death.”
The
statistics of these trials and persecutions point to areas around the
globe predominantly near the equator, but include China, India, and North Korea,
as well. With the violence, we hear reported from these places, we think the
end times are coming. We do not know that is true; we only understand what is
happening. Jesus stated, "But of that
day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36 NASB). We
may be in the end time or we may not be; what is important is we keep living
and believing in Jesus Christ as our
Savior. Without Jesus, living our lives, wherever we are,
is futile. What is the purpose of living through this?
Let
me offer a thought. God’s purpose for allowing
trials is to
strengthen His children in their faith and character
and their dependence upon Him. His purpose for allowing trials in the lives of
nonbelievers is so they will turn to Him as their Savior and Father in heaven. I
understand our ease to blame bad things on God because He let them happen. What
if we took the positive view, though, and considered that He allowed them to
happen to teach us He will take care of us, to teach us He is stronger than the
situation. We must come to the point where we learn that we must quit fighting
this trial in our own strength and allow God to take charge. When we have come
through the trial, we are stronger Christians. How does that work, though, for
those going through extreme trials and persecution? I do not know exactly. I have
heard a few stories from those surviving extreme trials. We do not often receive
news from those who survived religious persecution through torture,
imprisonment, removal of human rights, and wars. From what I have heard and
read, several persecuted believers say they waited on the Lord and endured
through prayer, reviewing memorized Bible verses,
singing hymns, and talking to other believers in the places where they were held.
God is still God in the midst of persecutions and He works to grow a stronger
believer in these circumstances,
as He does in our lives. Through their prayers, verses, songs, and
encouragements from other believers, they became stronger and endured their
trials while remaining in their faith. Yes, a few people do recant their faith.
There are people who do not recant and are killed or die. A few people do not
recant and live. Either way, these latter two came out of the difficult experience
changed; they are stronger believers.
We each will
go through trials, whether severe or not. God gives us the
opportunity to rely upon our own strength or rely on His strength, which will
take us through the fire and make us stronger. Whichever way we choose to face the
trial, if we relied on God, we are saved to live now
on earth or to live now in His heaven. Either way, God is victorious. If we do
not reply on God, we may survive the trial in our own strength or we may not. What
is important to know, though, is that we have not actually won. Our unbelief has won us a
temporary respite on this earth, but we cannot experience eternal victory in
heaven without God and His plan for salvation through Jesus Christ. John said, “He (Jesus) must increase and I must
decrease.” John trusted Jesus was the one for whom he was making the way. Jesus
is God’s anointed One through whose death and resurrection we can obtain eternal
life. John understood that he was only a man, but Jesus is the One sent by God.
He acknowledged that when he said, "He who comes from
above is above all; he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the
earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. He who has received His testimony
has set his seal to this, that God is true” (John 3:31, 33 NASB).
John and others came to
believe that God is true. People
from the beginning of the world understood God was true. Consider Adam,
Abraham, Moses, Noah, David, the prophets, and now John the Baptist. They knew
then God was true. John bore witness to the fact Jesus is God’s Son, come to take away the sins of the
world.
If you
had to go through an intense time or trial, what would you do? Would you blame
God for letting that happen to you? Alternatively, would you become strong in
the Lord knowing He has already conquered all things and He will get you
through your time now? The latter will make you into a believer. The former will make you tired and, maybe even quit.
Are you going through a trial now? Are you going to let God be your strength? One
day we may have to fight the extreme trials we hear
of in other countries where Satan’s slaves are creating life-changing problems.
Now is the time to grow in the strength of the Lord, before you go through
horrendous times, so that you can stand strong now and forever more. Right now,
Jesus is offering you a relationship with Him, the relationship of which you have
a void in your life. This relationship is unbounded, unforced, and all loving. God
wants only what is best for you, peace, love, and eternal life with Him
in heaven. He will give you everything you need to live now, on this earth, and
forever…Love, Faith, Hope, and Peace
