Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
Many people on this Earth are loving their lives, and having a great time. Each day is one great day followed by another as they immerse themselves in the possessions, wealth, and pleasures of this world. They surround themselves with friends who adore them, and have everything that they could ever desire. They are filled with great happiness and are living their life to the fullest. But for those who profess to be followers of Christ, this is quite a different place, because it is a world that is filled with persecution, harassment and hatred. We are surrounded by relatives who do evil to us, and wicked wives who depart us. We suffer with brethren who betray us, and liars who falsely accuse us. We deal with suffering and tribulation because we stand up for the teachings of Christ, while others who claim to be believers, completely renounce them.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Many people will enjoy their brief time while here on Earth, but true Christians have a different calling. For true believers, this world is not a place of peace and joy, but one of suffering and grief. But on Judgment Day, those who endured such suffering for His namesake will enter everlasting life, and those who loved their lives while here on the Earth, are going to lose it.
John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
This is a very wicked world that we are passing through, one that will be eventually be destroyed by God. For thousands of years, even dating back to the Old Testament prophets, true believers have had to suffer in this evil place. For a Christian, this isn’t home, nor could it ever be, because we are surrounded on all sides by the wicked works of darkness. We suffer because we believe in goodness, righteousness and Truth. We suffer because we believe in Justice, Mercy, and Faith. Seducers and deceivers are going to wax worse and worse, right up until the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, so for those who think it’s going to get better, they are greatly mistaken. People had better batten down the hatches because they haven’t seen anything yet!
Matthew 24:21-22 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Genuine Spirit-filled Christians are bound in their conscience to the teachings of Christ, which dictates all of your decision making and the things that you speak out against. Because this world is ensnared in lies, those who choose to follow the truth in Christ are going to enter into some type of persecution, and it will come from the hands of false Christians, rebellious unbelievers, and even your closest friends and relatives.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
When you become a christian, don’t expect a pat on the back and hugs and kisses from the impenitent, because those who serve Christ from their hearts are going to be hated by this world.
Luke 21:15-19 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Jesus was hated, the Apostles were hated, the Old Testament prophets were hated, and the disciples were hated. False prophets and those who follow them are living their best life now, and adored by this wicked world. True men of God are soldiers on the front line, who are suffering in battle, without adequate care, hung out to dry, and rejected by a sinful nation, for such is the case for a veteran of Christ.
2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
I was talking to someone many years ago and I told them that those who profess to be Christian will have to go through much tribulation and suffering in order to get to heaven. They told me that if that was the case, it didn’t sound very fun. But this is the very reason why many people will not obtain eternal life. We must endure sufferings in this world, because when we do, we prove to Christ Jesus that no matter what the world throws at us, He is our greatest love of all!
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
There are many demands in the teachings of the New Testament, as it is filled with Spiritual doctrines that we must keep out of faithfulness to Christ and for conscience’s sake. But for many people, they are not going to desire to abide on the strict and narrow path of our faith. They want to enjoy their life and be in control of what they do. Like a wife who doesn’t want to be ruled over by her husband, these people want to rule their own destiny and be answerable to no one. They think that they will find happiness and peace in this world, but the truth is that those things can only be found through obedience towards Christ. Becoming a Christian is very much like enlisting in the military, because once you do, you become a target for the wicked. With frothing foam and shame, they will cast out your name as evil, simply because you shine light upon the darkness. Serving the lord Jesus is going to bring on hatred from the impenitent, which is why many people will depart from the one true faith.They want their best life right now, and they don’t want to involve themselves in anything that will disturb that pursuit. The thought of having to give up the life that they love so much in service to Christ, is just too much for them to bear.
Matthew 13:20-21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
When we refuse to resist evil, we are going to enter into suffering, but it only reveals the full extent of the cruelty and wickedness of others. Jesus could have called upon legions of angels to destroy this world, but He suffered and died on the cross instead. We must consider what Jesus went through when we have such wicked acts perpetrated against us. We must endure them patiently, waiting for the moment that Christ will unleash the fury of his wrath upon the heads of the merciless.
Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Luke 14:25-26 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
To obtain eternal life, one must give selflessly of their time, efforts, and attention to the cause of Christ Jesus, which will require letting go of everything else in this world that you feel is important to you and your own happiness. It is a soldier’s life, as we humbly serve Him on the front lines of our faith; embracing the shame, taking the pain, and even,……
……..Hating Our Own Lives
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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