Every Christian is expected to drink from the same cup that Christ drank fully at calvary. This Cup, known in the Passover as "The Cup of Suffering" sits before us daily and at night. We speak of it with pomp and pride, saying, "I shall suffer for His namesake." We join the Apostle Peter who in the Upper Room proclaimed, "I shall die for you." (Mark 14:31, Paraphrase). But how aware are we at what cup we have chosen? We talk, yes, oft we talk of suffering, but when it comes how strong does our resolve seem? Do not mistake me, I am not doubting the fervor of any saint, nor myself. Like the disciples we cry out to Christ who asks if we shall leave Him, "How can we, you have the words of life." (John 6:68). Indeed, Christ is life, "I AM the way, the truth, and life," (John 14:6) and "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." (John 1:3-4). It is not cowardice, nor is it ill advised to contemplate the coming cup of Suffering and the Gethsemane that awaits most Christians (exceptions see Revelation 3:10) in this age. We can take heart that God Himself felt the power of that programming He put in us to want to stay alive, that instinctive "save yourself at all cost." Jesus even said, "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." (Luke 22:42, cross ref. Matthew 26:39).
Every Christian must prepare to down the Cup. In China, Syria, India, and even now Russia, our brothers and sisters in Christ have been drinking the cup, even drowning in it. Those of us in more privileged places, perhaps the Americas, have read about the cup and proclaimed our zealous desire to drink it, but now the cup is coming in angel gilded hands for our land. Like Peter, we swore "I shall die for you," but when rooster crows on this nation, will many weep for denial? I have no doubt many Johns are in the church, who will stand with cup in hand and beholding crucifixion; but these times call for Christians to be ready to drink the Cup of Suffering. I grew up in a country that was predominately Christian and persecution was rare. Now, the forces in politics, economics, and even religion have endeavored to turn America into next great inquisition against Christians. They seek to offer us the cup, and I ask, who is ready?
Perhaps you believe like Dutch Sheets, that there will be no persecution. That America will return to the Alpha and Omega, and this country as Donald Trump says, "Will Be Great Again." Such hope is against hope, for this nation has already been radically changed. The Cup of Suffering, not Comfort, is before many countries. Sanctuary will be hard to find. Before us Gethsemane, the choice, and beyond.. Calvary and the Crucifixion of persecution. I urge you to stand firm, for the "cloud of witnesses," (Hebrews 12:1) which includes Peter, Paul, John, James, Mary Magdalene, Nympha, Julia, and Mary the Mother is crying inaudible to us, "carry on ye saints a little longer, for the Son of Man is soon to return!" The Cup is before us, and we must drink it, even drown ourselves if necessary (as martyrs). The respite is over, the enemy has mobilized his pawns and is preparing all out persecution. Russia has enforced a policy that prevents house churches and only meetings in religious sites and sanctioned by religious institution (Russian Orthodox Church), China has closed its doors to missionaries and declares them as agents of insurrection (the President of China proclaimed this, CBN News), Syria has expelled Christians who seek asylum but are rubbing shoulders with ISIS soldiers, in providences of India Christians are openly beaten in public and fined (CBN News) , and in Iran many Christians are living in caves like in early days of persecution.
Soon the Savior will separate the Sheep from the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46), the saints from the sinners. The axis of God's axe is persecution, and this cup shall reveal who are the true believers and who are the posers who only gave allegiance because of prosperity doctrine and promises of stress free life. Do not be proud if you find the flames that come to test leave you unblemished, "If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames." (1 Corinthians 3:14-15). Why, many will ask, does the Lord seek to test us? Some will even argue He could spare us and simply draw us homeward and thus not risk losing any sheep. The truth is that the cup of suffering shows who are sheep and who are goats, but in addition it is when Christian as Christ did chooses God's Will rather than their own. God could call everyone home before the trial, but many would still engulf in flame, for their faith was pinned to promises of wealth and power by false teachers, rather than to Christ Jesus. The Lord does not test us for amusement, but rather is subjecting us to same requirements He held for Himself. Jesus Christ was presented with a Cup of Suffering, and He even showed us not to be ashamed if your flesh and desire to preserve your life pulls at you. What mattes is if you can utter, "But Thy will, not My Will, be done."
The Fall of Mankind (Genesis 3) has been redeemed in a unique way. While it was wrong of man to rebel and disobey God, in the plan of redemption God the Trinity has received a devotion and love from man that would not have been possible without the fall and redemptive plan. Had man remained constrained to goodness and obedience he then could love God easily from his heart and would already be obligated to seek the Lord, but the fact that a man or woman, a Christian, can decide to love God back in a fallen world, and in spite of the propensities of the old sinful nature is a miracle in itself. God now has a love from man that is more genuine [tested. tried, and true], for we know the cup of suffering is part of the package, and despite all the doubts, devils, and deep seeded dark desires that seek to divide us from our God, we sill remain His disciples. Our love is tested daily in our minds, hearts, and spirits; and as we endure we proclaim to Jesus Christ who endured on our behalf, "I love you back! I partake of this cup with you!" It would have been easy to say we love Emmanuel in Eden, with sinless bodies, and eternal bliss. But we say we love Him as we endure entropy on Earth, with sinful bodies, and evil all around us. We have eternal life through Christ Jesus [thru believing Jesus Christ died for his sins and rose from the dead; that Jesus is God who came in a body, John 3:16, Romans 10:9], and the promise of heaven, and a new body (2 Corinthians 5), but these gifts are for those who endure (Matthew 24:13), who keep loving, following, and trusting in Jesus Christ; for those who keep drinking of the Cup of suffering for His namesake (Matthew 10:22).
Jesus has given us every reason to love Him. For He died on the cross, and rose from dead to save us. He gave His life and drank the Cup of Suffering tell it was dry and He even said, "I thirst," (John 19:28) so He could drink it more. Our God and Lord is not asking us to do anything He has not done, and this is comfort while we drink our cup, that we can look to Christ who still bears the wounds of His Crucifixion Cup and feel encouraged to endure. He even does not leave us to drink alone, for it is written, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin," (Hebrews 4:15), "Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted," (Hebrews 2:18), and "I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20). We do not drink this cup alone, but with Christ! Our Eucharist, Communion is not without Christ but with Him and in honor of Him. Perhaps not Transubstantiation, but certainly Christ drinks with us when we remember His death until His coming (1 Corinthians 11:26) and we drink daily the cup of suffering, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23).
Take heart, for this Cup is for every Christian. Drink it, and endure. For while the agony and pains of this life may make our bodies ache, our spirits are strong, "We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed; Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies. For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death. Thus death is actively at work in us, but [it is in order that [c]our] life [may be actively at work] in you." (2 Corinthians 4:8-12, AMPC). The Lord Jesus Christ is coming (Revelation 1:7) and we must be drinking the cup He drank from, one of suffering.
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