Every Christian should be filled with hope–even with joy. In a minute I’ll explain why. I know that it is easy to feel discouraged as we watch our culture abandon God and as we see hatred for Christians grow. But there is no reason to be discouraged! When the Bible pictures the rulers of the world uniting in their opposition to God, it say in Psalm 2:4 that, “He who sits in the heavens laughs…”
If God laughs, then in a sense so should we. Let me begin by highlighting some reasons from the past why we should be optimistic.
In the year 250 AD the emperor Decius started a worldwide persecution of Christians. He commanded that all citizens perform an act of worship to the gods and have a legal certificate proving that they had done so. About 53 years later (303 AD) another emperor, Diocletian, continued the persecution. Historian Bruce Shelly explains that, “Suddenly, the old emperor ordered his army purged of Christians. Imperial edicts followed, commanding officials to destroy church buildings, prohibit Christian worship, and burn the Scriptures. Bishops How did all of that persecution affect the followers of Jesus? A few years later (311 AD) emperor Galerius ended the persecution and admitted that all efforts to wipe out Christianity had failed. By the way, the Roman Empire is nowhere to be found today, but the message of Christ has spread across the globe. Amazing! Here is another example: William Tyndale (1494–1536) was an English scholar who was the first to translate an English Bible directly from the Hebrew and Greek texts. In those days the Roman church opposed any attempts to have the Bible available in English. For example, a Roman Catholic clergyman once criticized Tyndale with the statement, “We are better to be without God’s laws than the Pope’s”. It is reported that Tyndale replied, “I defy the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life ere many years, I will cause the boy that drives the plow to know more of the scriptures than you!” In 1535, he was arrested and jailed for over a year. In 1536 he was convicted of heresy and executed by strangulation, after which his body was burned at the stake. His last words were, “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes.” This prayer was answered just three years later when King Henry VIII commissioned publication of the “Great Bible” which was largely the work of William Tyndale. Today, a huge a memorial to Tyndale stands in the place where he was executed. Yep, God wins! François-Marie Arouet, whose pen name was Voltaire, was an 18th century French atheist who was one of the greatest writers of his time. He not only didn’t believe in God, he was a bitter enemy of Christianity. One day he bragged that, “In twenty years Christianity will be no more. My single hand shall destroy the edifice it took twelve apostles to rear.” He was less arrogant, though, when it came time to die. On his death-bed he wrote that he was “abandoned by God and man.” Shortly after his death, the very house where Voltaire wrote those words became the headquarters of the Geneva Bible Society! I can’t help but smile. This is why Jesus told His followers, “…. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” (Luke 6:21). Christians also have opposition today. In the Middle East ISIS has been slaughtering Christians by the hundreds, and in this country some Christians are being threatened with heavy fines if they hold on to their religious convictions. A good example is the story of Barronelle Stutzman. You can see a great 7 minute video about her situation at https://youtu.be/MDETkcCw63c God laughs at His enemies and so should we. Why? God is eternal and all-powerful. No one will ever resist Him and win. “Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You” (Jeremiah 32:17). David told the Lord, “You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware. Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 2:9–12).
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