2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
This passage of scripture teaches us that Christian persecution in the 21st century is scheduled to increase at an alarming rate, especially as the voice of conscience is being silenced by the indulgence of sin, and as the laws and institutions of God are trampled in the dust. The times spoken of in the passage, being referred to as the last days, are not future, but current, and what we are seeing in Kentucky, with the refusal of the Christian clerk to grant marriages to same-sex couples, is just a glimpse of what will transpire across the entire globe in the very near future, and we are not to think that we will be entirely insulated from the assaults of satan upon the sacred precepts of God's word, and upon His people who live thereby.
Wherever the sacred law of God is honored, there we are to expect attacks by the enemy of souls, for the Bible is very specific in stating that his anger is directed, and fine tuned against those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony and faith of Jesus. Thus, beginning with Cain, who slew the righteous Abel just because he chose to obey God rather than men, down to the dark ages when millions of Christians were murdered in cold blood, or were burnt at the stake, and on to our present day, where Christians are being beheaded by Isis and other terrorist groups, or who are otherwise being faced with various strains of social and financial persecution, the agencies of evil are bent on eliminating those who choose to stand firm for righteousness, so that the reign of evil and terror might continue. Let's read:
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
But God has promised that one day soon, truth will triumph over error, and good will be victorious over evil, and therefore as Christians, we are not to become overwhelmed with the evils that are multiplying across the land, but should rather use the remaining moments of time to let others know that the second coming of Jesus is near, even at the doors, and thus, all who will live godly in Christ Jesus should now step up to the plate, by taking a firm stand for the truths of the Bible, in an ever-increasing evil world.
It is of the greatest importance that we now look to heaven, where Christ is wrapping up the final stages of the investigative judgment, for our hopes and aspirations cannot any longer be centered in this world. As Christian persecution expands into new fields, and as it moves from the public arena to the private sector, it is then of critical importance that we be found living in harmony with the entire word of God, regardless of the consequences, for if we cannot stand for anything, we will fall for everything, and thus our salvation may be placed in jeopardy.
Let us therefore be found faithful in that which is least, for when the big one comes around, the decisions that were previously made in favor of truth and duty, will play a very vital role in enabling us to reject the advances of diabolical foes against our consciences. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which gives us courage at this perilous time, for even Christ was victorious over persecution, and all true Christians will be empowered by God to be as firm as The Rock, upon which the Christian's faith is built. Let's read:
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!