Standing Up

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. -- Hebrews 12:3

I cannot say that, as a Christian, I have encountered a lot of direct, personal hostility.  I have lived all my life in a majority-Christian nation, associating mostly with people who were, at the very least, cultural Christians.  There does seem to be a sort of sea-change right now, and growing animus aimed at the heart of the Church.  If this anti-Christ movement gains momentum, we should not become discouraged.

I think I would have a hard time welcoming serious persecution, yet, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”   

I don’t know if I can do that. 

Should it become, in what remains of my earthly journey, a crime to follow Christ, to speak His Name, to speak the truth in love, or to live in obedience to the Bible and the dictates of my conscience, the best I could hope is to follow the admonition from Hebrews.  If I cannot rejoice in hostility and oppression, perhaps I can endure without fainting and giving up. 

Christ was victorious.  He will always be victorious.  Those who might hope to eradicate Christianity or, worse, neutralize and pervert it, will find their efforts backfiring on them badly.  They might demolish the churches but the Church will stand stronger and taller than ever.  They might set fire to a building, but we are baptized in fire and the Holy Spirit.  It is our native element. 

Run On

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. -- Hebrews 12:3

As we have said before, it ought to be that when we do the right thing, take the right path, repent, or resolve then things ought to go well for us.  People ought to see that we are doing good or trying to do better and give us support and encouragement, or, at least, not attack us.  It doesn't always happen that way.  There are the Barnabas people out there -- the sons of encouragement who will help us and root for us, and thank God for them.  But a lot of people will be negative and hostile.

We have to expect that.  If we are walking the strait and narrow road, we have to stay on it regardless of opposition and discouragement.  Somebody is going to misunderstand.  Another will be offended.  Others may try to "help" us by telling us that if we were on the right road, it would not be so rough, better take the detour.  No.  

Do you know why they call it the Indianapolis 500?  The guy who is ahead after the first lap may not even be on the track for the 500th lap.  The 24 hours of Le Mans is a lot different than the 24 minutes of Lamar.  Do you know that no one ever won a marathon by being the first runner to complete 26 miles?  You have to run another 385 yards to the finish.

Personally, this is a problem I have.  I want to quit because I'm tired.  I don't seem to be accomplishing much.  I did my part back in '88 or '98 or '08, and I want to call it "good".  But I can't.  I have to keep going.  That's the bad news.

The good news is that tomorrow may not be as tough as today.  Some days you can win just by showing up.  Sometimes the victory is to keep moving. 

The Lord does not expect us to go on without rest and relief and refreshment.  He has rewards for us along the way.  For people like me who have a tendency toward depression, it is important to remember that every day is not the same.  I feel that way sometimes when I get stressed and sleep-deprived -- that it will never change, that the nightmare will never end. 

It does.  My Father has been good to me in so many ways, so many times.  I do get a break now and then before I break.  It could happen today.  Carry on.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  (1 Corinthians 10:13)