Since the inception of Christ’s Church, Christians have suffered for the sake of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Satan has always hated the message that God, in Jesus, came down to man and died, was buried and rose again that all who would come to Jesus in true repentance and belief would be saved from Satan’s clutches and be rewarded with a home in Heaven.
Any who have ever read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs by John Foxe can attest to the persecution that was foisted upon the Church in the early days. It is unbelievable what diabolical torture man can impose upon other men simply because they don’t like what they believe. We can also travel through the pages of the Old Testament, reaching all the way back to Cain and Abel, and see the hate one man can have toward another, simply because of their obedience to Almighty God.
Reaching forward through the pages of time to our day, nothing has changed. Those who love Jesus are hated by Satan, and misery of every form is being dealt out as punishment. Those of us who live in the United States of America have been very fortunate to be able to worship our Lord in peace without worry of retribution, but we are quickly losing that luxury.
Jesus’ soon return is advancing closer and closer, and Satan is boiling mad. Why is this so? It is so because he knows his time is quickly running out, and hell is his destination and will be his place of residence throughout eternity. He lost the battle with God before it even started, and his eyes were opened to that reality at the cross and the empty tomb. He thought he had won when the Son of God hung upon that tree, but he was soon shown there is no power like the power of Almighty God. So, he continues today in attempting to cause as much misery and havoc upon those who claim the name of Jesus Christ … Christians, the bride of Christ.
In this country, which was founded upon the holy Word of God, we Christians are starting to get a taste of Satan’s relentless evil, and it is worsening by the day. More and more, the rats are climbing out of the sewers and invading the land that God initiated to be a light to the world and a defender of the apple of His eye … Israel.
Who would have believed that, just in my lifetime, we would see such evil in this once great country?
IN MY LIFETIME
Bible
The Bible was once respected as the Word of God and shown due respect even by non-believers. Today it is mocked and hated. The ACLU and other entities have worked zealously in having it and its message removed from every corner of life.
Jesus
Jesus, the author and person of God’s holy Word, was once at least respected, again, even by non-believers, but today His precious name is used daily as a curse word. Think about it; no other person’s name has ever been used as a curse word, except the name of Jesus. He provides the one and only lifeline to God and eternal life, and it is cursed and ridiculed.
Abortion
The murder of babies was once illegal in this country, but today is afforded respectability by calling it pro-choice, a woman’s right. Israel and Judah were judged very harshly by God for offering their babies as a sacrifice to false gods. They murdered thousands. We have murdered millions. Do we really think God is just going to look the other way?
Sexual Perversion
Homosexuality, previously a “closet” sin, was once illegal and frowned upon by most everyone, even non-believers. Today, homosexuality has been elevated to normalcy by our Supreme Court and accepted as so by society in general. Even some churches ordain homosexuals and call them pastors.
Transgenderism is another affront to our Creator God who made mankind male and female. I have stated in a previous article, “The Bible makes it clear that we are born male or female. We are either one or the other. Science agrees. Males are born with one Y chromosome and one X chromosome. Females are born with two X chromosomes. If you have one Y chromosome and one X chromosome, you are a male. If you have two X chromosomes, you are a female. We are either male or female when we are born. That cannot be debated.”
Sexual promiscuity is running rampant in our society. I can remember a time when it was a disgrace to have sex outside of marriage.
Entertainment
Satan’s influence has so affected the entertainment fields (Hollywood, music, sports, etc.), respectability has plunged to the depths of the open sewers of men’s minds.
Churches
The Word of God was once preached from most pulpits in America, but now there is mostly just liberal false gospel, opinions of mindless minions of Satan.
Political
Our political field has grown so corrupt they would be most comfortable in the decadent era of Rome.
SO, WHERE AM I GOING WITH THIS?
First of all, for true believers, it is disheartening when we behold the evil all around us, especially for those of us who are old enough to know that it hasn’t always been like this. There was a time, even though sin was evident, Jesus, His message, and His people were respected. Yes, today that is gone, but listen to what Jesus says in the following two Scripture passages.
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).
In the days we are living, the insane are running the asylum, but don’t be discouraged; this earthly life is but a fleeting second. Our eternal home is with Jesus, and nothing impure will ever be in our presence again.
“and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).
Yes, we are aliens in a strange land, but the journey is short. In the meantime, even though we are hated as Christians because we love God and His Word, let us not faint.
“For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come” (Hebrews 13:14).
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12).
This country and the world will soon be judged by Jesus personally. Currently, the Devil’s crowd is having a rip-roaring celebration since they seemingly have thrown off the yoke of God’s Word, but soon those who love Jesus will be ecstatic with joy … and not just for a few short years, but for eternity. Those who are celebrating now will face His wrath. They need our prayers and our witness to them.
The final Scripture I would like to share should also give us much joy. It really doesn’t matter what is going on around us if Jesus is the Savior of our soul and the Lord of our life. In Him we have everything and more.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).
Grant Phillips
Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html