Dad's Advice: Be Prepared for Persecuion

The world urges us to be "politically correct," but God tells us to be spiritually correct, even at the cost of persecution.

We are living in perilous times. I do not say that frighten or scare. I say it simply to speak the truth. We are living in a day and age where many people are concerned about being politically correct, but it is absolutely essential in these days that we be in line with the living God and spiritually correct. God is calling us to hold up our brothers and sisters around the world in prayer, to be on our knees for the persecuted church, and to recognize that what happens elsewhere can also happen here.

These are uncertain times. And if we focus on the uncertainty we are going to be nervous wrecks. Which is why we need to focus on what God has to say and allow the living God speak into our lives and into our hearts, giving us hope and strength, peace and power in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Persecution has been real throughout history. From the moment Jesus came persecution has been seen. As a baby He was hunted down and it hasn’t stopped since. That persecution has come from a variety of sources and it’s important for us to recognize where the threats come from. I’d like to highlight several of them here this morning. But before I do I’d like to bring a word to you from the apostle Paul. These are things we’ve talked about in our home. I’ve talked about these things with my kids from the time they were young. We’ve talked about believers who have had to face difficult days. We prepared our kids that when they got out of the cocoon of our home, they needed to be ready to stand up for the Lord Jesus and to face opposition because of their faith and their beliefs. These are things we continue to talk about with them even though they are now full grown adults with their own families. These are important things. This comes from a father’s heart. The apostle Paul had that same heart for a young man he considered his spiritual son Timothy. This is what Paul wrote to Timothy. Paul wrote this toward the end of his life. II Timothy 3:10-11 Paul says, “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings- what kinds of things happen to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra.” By the way that’s Timothy’s home stomping ground. That’s where he came from, from Lystra. “The persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.” And then he says, verse 12, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Think about that. That is what the Scriptures have declared all along. Everyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Many of us grew up in a bubble where we were basically protected from anything like persecution. But Jesus said all along, “Folks, the days will come when you will face opposition because you know and believe in me.” Jesus made that very clear. John 15:18-20, listen to these words of our Savior, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.’” What Jesus is saying is don’t walk around with your eyes closed. Be awake, understand the times, understand what he has said all along, recognize what our Savior has taught.