Articles
We've Had It Easy
While there are plenty of TV and radio preachers, and many in pulpits across this country, who tell believers and potential believers, "God wants you to be comfortable and happy," and while this message is wildly popular in this materialistic world, the message God actually sent to mankind was something quite different. As much as men would like to believe becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ means life becomes one big pursuit of happiness through whatever means one decides, and nothing changes except one's eternal destination, such an idea of discipleship and eternal salvation is not just wrong — it is a flat-out lie that is believed by far too many people in this country. And should it be surprising that the father of all lies is behind it?
You see, our spiritual adversary indeed “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8), but we should not be lulled into thinking we are safe because of luxuries and comforts; we must not be ignorant of all his devices (cf. 2 Cor. 2:11). Some of his tactics include trials and persecutions, but he also uses comforts and luxuries to lure others away from God. In fact, he quite often uses the old one-two punch of luxurious and comfortable enticements, and once men get used to those, hits them with discomforts and deprivation. The one who has enjoyed luxuries and comforts, all along believing that he has benefited from these luxuries and comforts because he was pleasing to God, when those luxuries and comforts are taken away, will get angry with God and question the fairness of God because he continues to live as he always had and can see no reason why God would strip him of such things without justification. Meanwhile, the devil just sits back and laughs because he was behind it all!
There are, of course, those who enjoyed comforts and luxuries and material wealth, but served God anyway [Job, Abraham]; we even have an example of one of those men losing just about everything he had, but remaining faithful to God [Job; Job 2:10; Job 42:7]. The devil falsely believed Job would curse God when his material goods were taken away (Job 1:9-11), or when his health faltered (Job 2:4, 5). Job was exceptional, however; many men today would curse God because they have believed the devil's lie — coming out of the mouths of preachers — that wealth equals righteousness. When those material things are taken away, so is their belief in a 'just' God — one who will ensure their comfort and happiness. The problem is, God never promised the life of the faithful disciple would be one of comfort, luxury, and ease. The very idea should, in fact, be repulsive to the true and dedicated believer; are we to believe those in third-world countries who are faithfully serving God are much less righteous than their brethren luxuriating here in the United States? Who would believe it?
So, what has God promised the faithful? What kind of life should we expect when we repent of the sinful life and humbly submit to Him in obedience? What does the Bible say? Let's take a look at a few passages to get the real picture of what we should expect, should we decide to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus concluded the portion we know as 'the beatitudes' by telling His audience, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake” (Matt. 5:11); Luke's record has Jesus saying, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake” (Luke 6:22), indicating such was to be expected.
Expect people to hate you, revile you exclude you, say evil about you, and persecute you.
Jesus told His apostles, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18, 19), and, “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service” (John 16:2), and, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). There is no mincing of words with Jesus; He plainly told them their lives would be filled with hardships.
Expect people to hate you, throw you out of churches, make your life extremely difficult, and maybe even kill you.
Jesus saved His most severe criticism and condemnation for the religious leaders, saying to them, “I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city” (Matt. 23:34). He told the disciples, before they were sent out on the 'limited commission,' “you will be hated by all for My name’s sake…persecute you… If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!” (Matt. 10:22-25).
Expect people to hate you and physically oppose you and attack you [even in your worship assembly], persecute you, and malign you.
Peter told the early disciples, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you…If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed…if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed” (1 Pet. 4:12-16; ESV).
Expect to suffer some extremely difficult trials, to suffer for just being a Christian, and to be insulted for your faith.
Paul told the disciples in Thessalonica, “no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation” (1 Thess. 3:3, 4), and he told Timothy, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Note that Paul said the faithful one “will” suffer persecution, not 'might.'
Expect to face afflictions, tribulations, and persecutions.
Now, having noted all these passages, let's take a look at self: Have we suffered any of these things?? Probably! Maybe we haven't suffered to the same degree as the early disciples but, friends and brethren, these passages aren't being preached on TV or on the radio because no one wants to hear that! What we hear from TV and radio preachers aligns more with what Paul warned Timothy about near the end of his earthly life: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Tim. 4:3, 4). Will you desire to hear the truth of what the Bible actually says, or do the fables preached on TV appeal to you?
Yes, we've had it easy in this country for a long, long time; but that should not lull us into complacency, expecting a life of ease when we follow Jesus.
When the trials come, will we continue to follow Him? — Steven Harper
