We will be sorely mistaken if we
think that by being a Christian, we will only experience health and wealth. Influenced
by the prosperity Gospel, many think Christianity will ensure a smooth sailing
life. For sure God is not here to make our life miserable. He still wants us to
experience His miracles and will bring healing when we need them. He will meet
the needs of our life when we live by Biblical principles. Living righteously can
certainly help us to avoid some pain and tough hurdles in life. But spiritual
life is not always a bed of roses. Many live in a world of make believe. What
are some realistic expectations we must have in living as believers in a fallen
world? We must expect trials and pressure in this world. We must know that the world
is a hostile place. Every day we are besieged by hostile people.
The Lord did not mince His words. He
said that we believers will be hated. He gave several reasons for their hatred.
Firstly, it is because they hate Jesus. Why do they hate Jesus? Verses 22-25
show us why. Jesus through His
words and works has revealed how sinful humanity is. Thus, it comes as no
surprise that those who would not accept Him would hate and detest Him for
that. He had called off the bluff of their false religiosity and outward show
to please God. His Word, like a mirror placed before them, showed them their true
condition, but they could not accept it. So they turned extremely hostile
toward Him.
In verse 19, Jesus gave us the
second reason, why the world will hate us, believers. It is because we don’t belong
to them. Jesus explicitly said, “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.”
The word “world” is referring to the sinful system of the world. Believers are
hated because they are not part of the world system that opposes all who would
not conform to it. Persecution do not always come in the form of violence. It
shows itself through the attitude of disapproval or indifference. Other times
believers are treated as a non-entity or be by-passed in promotions. Many times
hatred would reveal itself through animosity.
The third reason Jesus tells us is that if
they did not spare Him, they will certainly not spare those who belong to Him. He
reminded us that, “A slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted
Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”
The degree we bear our testimony for Christ will be the degree we will be
treated. The absence of trail is not an indication that God is pleased with our
life. Neither does it mean that a tough life is a godly life. That’s because
some trials are self-invited stupidity. We need to know that a life pleasing to
God is one that demonstrates the righteousness of Christ, by obeying His word
and walking in His footsteps.
How should we respond in a world of
hostility? 1 Peter 2:12 exhorts us to “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.” In other
words, we don’t lose our focus in living for Christ. We keep faith with Him through
difficult times. God can use our tolerance to their unkindness to create a thirst
in their hearts, and cause them to turn to Him. Let’s be God’s faithful
witnesses by living right!
No comments:
Post a Comment