In this Life...

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.  

2 Timothy 3:12

As I was finishing up reading 2 Timothy in my quiet time, this passage really stood out to me and I stopped and re-read it several times.  Then I prayed, and read it again. 

You see, where I live, there is quite a bit of persecution.  I know there are places with much more, but from my American perspective for the first 36 years of my life, there is very obvious persecution here…especially for our fellow believers.

In the past few months and weeks there have been riots, local church leaders killed, church fires and vandalism, violent home break-ins of friends with knives and guns, and fellows workers leaving the field because of cancer and other serious health concerns.  It is so obviously an attack in the spiritual realm, an attack to cause fear and to chase off those faithful ones that are here to spread the news.

Our family has been spared any of these more outrageous attacks, and yet there still has been the occasional thought of “why me?” due to financial strain, health attacks with back pain, shoulder issues and foot problems, overwhelming commitment levels on many fronts, and environmental issues with loss of water and electricity, and flooding on our dirt road so that our home isn’t accessible for a vehicle without 4-wheel drive.

Many of these issues you can probably relate to, as I know they aren’t just relegated to the Third World location in which I live.

And yet, I think - Then why am I complaining? 

I willingly took on this role; it wasn’t a sacrifice, it was something we wanted to do, that we worked and spoke about and saved to be able to do.  We considered it a blessing to be able to be one of the ones that “goes”…we get to do what so many want to do.  We knew going in to this that these kinds of things were a reality.  But, is it really all that different from my life before?

Do people get cancer back in the US…even friends of mine?  Yes.  Do people have break-ins and get hurt where I come from?  Yes, they do.  Have people vandalized buildings and hurt church leaders…why, yes, they have. 

So, I re-read the verse again… "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  It doesn’t say just those in the field will be persecuted…we ALL will be persecuted when we make the decision to follow Jesus.  It’s going to happen, and it isn’t a sacrifice, we choose it, knowing full well what is going to happen.

Then, I say, be ready, be prepared, expect it to happen so that it doesn’t overwhelm you when it comes…yes, even in a comfortable life in a First World country.  You desire to follow the Lord?  Then expect persecution and trouble…BUT, remember this next verse, because just like all scripture is God breathed (2 Tim 3:16 &17), so too is this wonderful truth...

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever.  2 Timothy 4:18

I am so thankful that the Lord’s promises are true.  Will there be trouble and persecution in this life, yes, but, we also have the hope that He is the strong tower that we can run into and be safe! (Prov. 18:10)