Introduction
There is much talk about religious
freedom and exemptions in America today being ripped away only
because of how one believes. Yet, this event seems to target the Christian
faith. Why?
Individuals with no firm root in
God’s Word will fall at the first sign of trouble. Persecution of any type is frankly
a gift from God as He thought the individual worthy to suffer for Him. The God
of creation also knew the individual would come out on the other end triumphant,
giving God all the glory.
Matthew teaches us this from the parable of
the Sower, a great lesson.
But there is one who will fail God.
Matthew 13:20-21 says,
The one on whom seed was sown in the rocky
places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with
joy; yet he has no firm root in himself but is only temporary, and when
affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls
away.
I believe that the poison jab that
governments worldwide are trying to force on individuals is a precursor to the
mark one will receive to buy or sell anything at the end of the age. These individuals
(the rocky places) give up without a fight.
In contrast to the individual who fails,
now we see the one who pleases God.
Mathew 13:23 says,
And the one on whom seed was sown on the
good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed
bears fruit and brings forth some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
The ones that fell away were people who
wanted all the benefits of being a Christian but not the maltreatment
resulting from being a Christian, either verbal or physical.
Persecution on a grand scale is
about to enter the United States and the world, and if the Christians is not
ready, they face great danger of rejection by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 12:8-9 says,
And I tell you, everyone who
confesses Me before men, the Son of Man, will confess him also before the
angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels
of God.
The author believes that a genuine
follower of Jesus Christ cannot deny the Lord. That is why we must overcome the
world as Scripture teaches. We must overcome the world to the end; that is the end of our life; to this
author, it means death.
1 John 5:4-5 says,
Whatever is born of God overcomes the
world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is
the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of
God?
Dear fellow believers, are you
willing to give up everything for the Lord Jesus Christ? Of course, in reality,
you give up nothing because all things on earth have only a temporal value. But
your salvation has eternal value and is bought with the blood of Jesus Christ.
Paradise is only for those who
overcome. Remember the marriage feast in Matthew’s Gospel? Scripture teaches God
calls many, but He chooses few.
Matthew 22:14 says,
For many are called, but few are
chosen.
The faith of individuals in America has
not seen the ultimate testing. Now the time has come for that challenge. Are
you ready? Will one overcome the world and enter paradise and be with the Lord
Jesus Christ for all eternity? If one believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and
gives themselves to Him, they will overcome this world.
We must keep on with our faith to
receive the reward God has promised us. Seven times throughout the book of
Revelation, it states, “he who overcomes,” the Lord says, “I will grant” salvation.
Salvation is a gift given to us now, yet we must be overcomers standing firm
for the Gospel and keeping faith in Jesus Christ.
Revelation 2:7b says,
To him who overcomes, I will grant
to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
Revelation 2:11b says,
He who overcomes will not be hurt by
the second death.
Revelation 2:17b says,
To him who overcomes, I will give
some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone and a new name
written on the stone, which no one knows but he who receives it.
Revelation 2:26 says,
He who overcomes and keeps My deeds
until the end, to him, I will give authority over the nations.
Revelation 3:5 says,
He who overcomes will thus be
clothed in white garments, and I will not erase his name from the book of life,
and I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.
Revelation 3:12 says,
He who overcomes, I will make him a
pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I
will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the
new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
Revelation 3:21 says,
He who overcomes, I will grant him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My
Father on His throne.
These are the things God vowed to
give us if we believe and stay the course to the end. That is death. But these
are the things God will provide us with if we “overcome.”
Romans 8:35 says,
Who will separate us from the love
of Christ? Will tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril,
or sword?
My dear fellow believer, understand
that no place in the Holy Scripture guarantees us this freedom. The only thing we
have is the power of God, who will fight on our behalf if we believe. Thus, the
United States Constitution may grant us religious freedoms. However, the
amending of the Constitution can take place. Therefore, we can lose those
freedoms in a heartbeat with very little say in the matter.
2 Timothy 3:12 says,
Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted.
NO RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS found anywhere in this Bible verse
is there. But believers will see persecution in this life. It speaks of abuse
because we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:7 says,
He who overcomes will inherit these
things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.
Luke 18:8b says,
When the Son of Man comes, will He
find faith on the earth?
A word of encouragement: stand firm.
It will be worth it all in the end. We will suffer persecution, so stop crying
and wanting to escape it. God is on our side; remember, Jesus Christ won the
battle; it is over, and now the triumphal entry into God’s Kingdom.
Sola Scriptura–By Scripture Alone
Sola Fide–By Faith Alone
Sola Gratia–By Grace Alone
Solus Christus–By Christ Alone
Soli Deo Gloria–Glory to God Alone
Copyright
Dr. George L Gallant, ©2017
New American Standard
Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995)
