They will hate you!

“And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.” Matthew 10:22

 Dr. James White commented at the G3 Conference in Northern Virginia that got my attention. He referred to being placed in a Gulag. The History Channel reports, “The Gulag was a system of forced labor camps established during Joseph Stalin’s reign as dictator           of the Soviet Union. The notorious prisons, which incarcerated about 18 million people throughout their history, operated from the 1920s until shortly after Stalin’s death in 1953.” His point was that in the near future, Christians will be persecuted in this country.

If Dr. White had made this statement twenty years ago, I would have ignored it as hyperbole. However, so much has changed in the past twenty years. What used to be considered a perversion is now celebrated. In elementary schools all around the country, drag queens are invited to read to children as young as 4 and 5. In Canada, it is a crime to tell a homosexual or a transgender person that they are in sin and must repent of their sin. If you speak out against homosexuality, you are called a bigot and a homophobe. Who would ever imagine that we would be discussing what a woman is?

Like Dr. White, I believe we are not far away from a time when the government will make it illegal for Christians to practice their faith. As the day draws closer to the return of Christ, the world will continue the downward spiral of sin and depravity. As this occurs, the world will turn more hostile to the things of God. They will hate you because you speak God’s truth. They will hate you because you will point out, in love, their sin and a need to be saved by Jesus.

No matter what the future holds, we know that Christ will return and He will set up His earthly kingdom. So, as His    followers we are called to remain faithful witnesses, to spread Gospel, and be His ambassadors. They will hate you because of the one you love. Let us heed Peter’s warning,

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. But to the degree you are sharing the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you   are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be put to shame, but is to glorify God in this name.” 1 Peter 4:12-16

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark