Are You Ready for Persecution?

My previous posts must sound to some like I'm trying to dissuade people from becoming Christians. Warning people of the cost before following the Lord isn't de suasion but full disclosure of the risks and benefits of belonging to Christ.

The fact is that persecution is the lot of all who live righteously. All through the Bible, faithful followers of God have suffered for their stand. Instead of worshipping false gods or adding the God of heaven into a pantheon of deities, they steadfastly remained loyal to the one and only real God.

The first century was particularly known for persecution of Christians. Jesus warned his followers to remain faithful in spite of what others threatened. In Luke 12:11 and 12 (KJV)Christ promised,  "And when they bring you unto the synagogues,  and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what  thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say."
Whatever happens to us, Christ takes it personally. Look at what he did and said to Saul before he was converted. Acts 9:4 (KJV) reads, "And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?'" The man who was blind spiritually became physically blind for three days.

With the words of Christ, and many other marvellous promises from Scripture, we can endure whatever this wicked world throws at us. Even death isn't a loss but a free trip to our true home. Read Hebrews chapter eleven for more inspiring testimonies of faithful believers.

I hope to be writing a new book soon. It will have the same material as I have blogged here but in greater detail. Watch this space for updates.