Yeah... that sounded pretty depressing, didn't it? Well, I just want to say a few things today that might be a little encouragement to you. Sure, I'm afraid of what God might do to the people who disobey Him, but I have no reason to doubt that He will take care of His people. No matter what the evil people around us try to do to Christians, we shoudln't lose heart. Being tested makes us stronger. This is good training for us, a wonderful opportunity to prove our courage and love for Christ.
"Therefore we do not lose heart, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exeeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1)
"And he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." (2 Corinthians 4:7-10)
Like Joshua and the children of Isreal, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, we also need to stand strong, especially when in hot water and put to the test:
"And the people said to Joshua, 'The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!" (Joshua 24:24)
"If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)
We are the light of the world, and we should never be ashamed of that! I love this verse: "For we are to God the frangrance of Christ among those who are being saved among those who are perishing." (Romans 1:16)
We must remember never to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, no matter the cost.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. ...Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." (1 Corinthians 15:58; 16:13)
"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2 Timothy 2:3)
And if we remain strong, we can boldly say, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."
My thoughts may have been a bit jumbled today, but I hope you got my main point. Even if you're the last person on earth who stands for God's word and His truth, don't be afraid. Don't worry, because He will always be with you, no matter what.
Have a wonderful day!
~Courtney
