Good morning,
God never wastes trouble. If this little statement is true, what is God doing when he allows his people to face persecution in the face of their faith in God? It helps us to remember that persecution has been a common thread in the life of God’s people since the very beginning of time. The story of persecution for the faithful men and women from Abel to Jesus was a part of God’s plan before the founding of what we call the Church, the body of Christ. Very soon after Pentecost God’s enemies were doing their best to stamp out these followers of the “Way” and the suffering of the saints was a constant reality during the whole writing of the New Testament. Persecution has ebbed and flowed since then, and it has become quite clear that our world is now facing a fire storm of hate from those who love the Enemy of God’s faithful family. So what’s God up to in letting this painful and even deadly attack go on against his chosen sons and daughters?
Paul addressed this issue when he was writing to the Thessalonians as they struggled with this painful reality in their own lives. He pointed out that God would use their persecution to show his justice and make them worthy of God’s kingdom. He reminded them that because God is just, he would pay back anyone who treated his children with such cruelty. Our generation today has so fallen in love with the idea of God’s love, that the idea that God would punish people for hurting us isn’t a part of our picture of how God handles those who have rebelled against him. God really does love the world, but he always keeps track of those who refuse to accept his offer of forgiveness and salvation. He will be coming back as both Savior and Judge. He promises to bring his powerful angels with him, and then in flaming fire to bring unimaginable pain on those who would dare treat his family members with such indifference and hate. Those who live and act in hate have given clear proof that God is right in giving them the judgment that they have earned. Dear Lord, please help us not to give up in the face of the purifying fire of our present persecution, knowing that you will some day deal with the injustice that has helped us to grow up looking more and more like Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 1:5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 6 In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. 7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.
Roy Wisner
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