Take a moment to read the news reports from the past few weeks. What will you see? You will see a blanket of persecution for our beliefs slowly being pulled over our nation. This may take 50 years or it could swiftly cover us in 5 days...or 5 hours...we do not know. In either case, I urge you...Don't Panic. When Paul was imprisoned, he wrote letters to various churches. In his letter to the Church at Philippi, he wrote of his imprisonment, "Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart [die] and be with Christ, for that is far better. But, to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him, but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have." The gospel is not a call to arms [in the sense of actual weapons and warfare] in the face of persecution, but rather it is a call to remain steadfast in the Word and in the Spirit. It is a call to not lose heart...to persevere in faith knowing that to "live is Christ and to die is gain." There is a song that I have been listening to a lot lately that says, "What are they going do? Murder us? What murder does is send a surge of us to go put churches up!" This should be our manner of living! When persecution comes, it should increase our urgency to proclaim the Greatness of our God to the world around us! We are not violent, and it pleases God that we live peaceably. We are to be submissive to our government. However, if they ever proclaim that we cannot worship our God, then we must respectfully disobey. It should never be the intent of the believer to be a rebel, but nothing should stop the believers from joining in fellowship to worship the God who saves and sanctifies them. If you are imprisoned, rejoice! This gives a unique opportunity to spread the good news of Christ to men who, although criminal and imprisoned, are loved by God as well. If you are killed, teach your families to not seek revenge, but rather increase in the spreading of the Gospel. The advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven [The Kingdom of God] is our purpose. Let us not relent! Don't Panic! God is sovereign over all! Kings and rulers are Kings and rulers because God ordained them to be Kings and rulers! So, we do not cower...we do not cringe in fear, but rather we boldly (by the power of the Spirit) proclaim the good news to all who will hear.
We love to declare, "God is in control." Recently, however, I have noticed that the same ones who declare "God is in control," are also in a frantic state over the state of our nation in relation to our faith. Matthew 10:28 says, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Isaiah 41:10 says, "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Romans 8:31 says, "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Deut. 31:6 says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Isaiah 40:29 says, "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." Isaiah 41:13 says, "For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 50:9 declares, "It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up." Romans 8:38-39 declares, "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
In uncertain times, God is certain. When we cannot see what lies ahead, God sees. When we lose all control, God is still in control. When we are persecuted, God comforts us with His Word. When hope for our nation is gone, continue to hope in God, for He is greater. Don't Panic.
