A portion of the church has lived in comfort for a great period of time. In nations like The United States, there was favor and prosperity granted to Christians. Even culture showed a measure of respect at Easter, with The Ten Commandments and King of Kings airing on television. There was Bible stores a plenty and a sense that golden years were ahead. The problem is this is not the natural state of being a follower of Christ. The conditions are not supposed to be comfortable. The Early Church was persecuted severely, Emperor Nero of Rome, only one of the antichrist caesars used Christians as night torches and wore Christian skin as clothing. The End Times prophecies also predict severity for following Christ, “And you will be hated by all on account of My name; but the one having endured to the end, he will be saved,” (Matthew 10:22), “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again,” (Matthew 24:21) “This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12), and “For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.” (John 16:2). Some eschatology scholars might rebuff with “not yet,” well then I would challenge back with data and words of Jesus.
Satanism is the fastest growing religion. Pope Leo is so concerned about this he is commissioning exorcists be placed in every dioceses. While I disagree with Roman Catholic Church on a great deal (see my many blog posts), their alarm stands as signal of the times in which we live. I wrote a prophetic post about all this titled, “The Coming Satanic Age.” That leading up to Antichrist’s reveal will be as the Apostle Paul foretold by the Holy Spirit “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
What is more we are not suppose to follow Christ because of promised comfort and prosperity. No, we are suppose to follow Christ because He is Christ. That can and will mean you follow Him on stormy seas like St. Peters did, and means suffering as He promised, “Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me,” (Luke 9:23) and “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many tribulations, trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world..” (John 16:33). Our Lord and Savior did not say we would get to live in proto-paradiso and all be ease in our lives if we follow Him. Actually, if you intend to follow Christ Jesus with greater devotion, zeal, and passion the apostle says, “all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12). In fact the same apostle says, “To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?,” (2 Corinthians 2:16) and “You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.” (Ephesians 2:2). People will hate you because your aroma is death since they reject the Christ and they are filled with His chief enemy Satan’s spirit.
We have to get past following Jesus and loving Him if all goes well. Because in actuality all will probably be unwell and head towards trials and hardships (John 16:33). I am reminded in Cobra Kai Season 3 when Johnny goes to talk to his Pastor friend, he says “I tried to do the right thing, teach these kids and everything went wrong and they got hurt. What is the point?” The Pastor looks at him and says “Johnny you don’t do the right thing because it will all work out, you do the right thing because it’s the right thing!” In the same way I say you do not follow Christ because it all will work out and you will be healthy and wealthy, you follow Christ because He is Christ and it is the right thing to do because He is the King of Kings & Lord of All Lords and Savior of Mankind! Remember even His road to ransom and reconcile us was paved in thorns, nails, and a cross!
We have to accept that the era of favoritism towards being a Christian is closing and now is the time of disfavor, the season of popularity like when Jesus was teaching and feeding people is now moving to calvary, to the Road of Suffering and enmity. So prepare yourself, and stand firm at following Christ because He is Christ, not because of the notion all will become paradise and prosperity on this planet because we are His People. As the apostle said, “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering: And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:17). Amen.
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