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 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: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
