Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 KJV
It is not a popular message these days, but you can't deny its truth. We may not speak of it often, but trials and tough times are part of the package of faith that Jesus laid down. If He only said it and didn't live it out, we could have called him a hypocrite, but as we know, his own life is also a study in tough times. The message in today's extract was part of his teachins as He sat down with his disciples. The crowd was all there, but he spoke to those who had made the decision to follow Him. As it was then, so is it now: he speaks to those who have left the world and are now following His Word.
The Word and the world are on opposite sides of the spectrum of faith. Both follow parallel priorities that can never align, no matter how far you draw them or try to bring them together. The world hates inconvenience, and that is why success and wealth are popular themes in the world. On the opposite side of the Word, success and wealth are also relevant, but the mode of pursuit, as well as the order of priority is quite different. In the plan of God, having all that He desires for us is important, but He does not stop there; He also tells me to prepare for times that will test my heart to see if He or what I hold is more important.
It is this test that is the defining point for those who follow Christ. With all that God blesses us with, He also says that I am blessed when I am persecuted for the sake of righteousness. If I dare stand for God, I must know that the world will fight me. I stand on the opposite side of all that the world holds dear, and it is a must that the world will test to see if I am sincere or not. If I claim to stand on the Word, and at no time am I really tested, I must be careful that I have not learnt compromise or found it easy to be silent, when I am expected to stand for the Word of God.
Persecution must come; it is part of the journey, but it must be based on the nature of God in me, which is His righteousness. If I am punished for sin I have committed, that is not the same as this. If my stand on the Word of God is known, then I must prepare for opposition. God promises me an eternal reward: the kingdom of heaven. I know that whatever it is that God allows down here, is a preparation for the eternal. Nothing I hold or lose down here is more important than the eventual destination of my soul.
Enjoy the world and its promises and provisions, but make sure you also have the Word and its promises and provisions. The latter is the guarantee that all the pain will be worth it eventually. Our troubles in this present world are defined by God as light and momentary; they were not built to last forever. The work that God will do in me by the things He permits is what will work eternal life in me. That must be my daily pursuit and focus. When I stand before God at the end, none of the world's promises or provisions will matter; only that which God wrought in me, by the things He allowed to come my way. God's time of favour is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment