“We are hard
pressed on every
side, but not
crushed;
perplexed, but
not in despair;
persecuted, but
not abandoned;
struck down, but
not destroyed.
We always carry
around in our
body the death
of Jesus, so
that the life of
Jesus may also
be revealed in
our body” (2
Corinthians
4:8-10).
You ever feel
pressed,
perplexed,
persecuted, or
struck down by
people? I have.
It’s hard. It
seems like some
days are just
too hard, too
much working
against us in
our walk with
Jesus.
Satan
attacks us from
every possible
angle you can
imagine. He is
always there
waiting to
pounce on us, to
tear us away
from Jesus. He
is always there
to keep people
away from Jesus
using every
trick he has in
his handbag to
keep people from
coming to Christ
and being part
of the plan of
salvation.
We are pressed
on all sides. We
must be strong
in these times.
The enemy is
working harder
than ever to
keep people from
Christ. The
world is
pressing on us
in every
possible way.
Satan is using
the world and
worldly people
against us to
keep us from our
calling─to be
with Jesus.
Satan uses the
world to entice
us away through
media, through
unsaved people,
and
anti-Christ’s
that twist the
word of the Lord
to try to make
us think that
the Word is
irrelevant and
useless in
today’s world.
We are pressed
but not crushed.
We can overcome
the wiles of
Satan by being
strong in Lord
Jesus. Through
our faith we can
overcome the
pressing of evil
that is upon us.
We can overcome
anything that
Satan throws in
our path. To do
this we need to
pray always,
seek the Lord
daily, and renew
our relationship
with Jesus every
day, every hour,
every minute of
our lives.
By doing
this, keeping
Jesus and his
commands in the
forefront of our
minds, we can
overcome and not
be swayed by the
tricks and turns
that Satan
throws at us.
Jesus is
stronger than
Satan and His
promises of
overcoming the
world and Satan
are true. We
need to just put
our trust in
Christ and hold
on to our faith.
We face
persecution. It
may be subtle,
or it may be
obvious, but we
are all facing
persecution of
the church
today. We are
being
marginalized by
the world, as a
fringe group of
fanatics that
won’t conform to
what the world
is saying is now
normal: gay
marriage,
abortion,
worshiping other
god’s
(entertainment
industry,
hobbies, etc.).
When
things are
happening in our
country, in our
communities, in
our churches
that are
contrary to what
the Lord has
written in His
Word; that is
subtle
persecution of
true believers
and followers of
Jesus Christ.
When the
government says
that gay
marriage is now
the law of the
land, we are
being
persecuted. When
late term
abortions are
part of the
norm, we are
being
persecuted. This
is because when
we disagree with
these types of
government
policies and
laws, we are
considered in a
negative way and
are told we are
bigots or
hateful.
Then there are
the obvious
persecutions we
face. When we
are treated
differently
(negatively)
because of our
faith, such as
when we proclaim
to others what
we believe and
are put down
because of what
we believe, we
are being
persecuted. It
isn’t so bad in
this country
because we are
not being killed
or sent to
prison for our
faith, yet.
Nonetheless,
when we are
being treated
negatively or
marginalized for
our faith, we
are still being
persecuted, just
not to the level
that some face
in other
countries. How
long will it be
until true
believers are
marginalized in
this country to
the extent that
we face
imprisonment or
bodily harm?
Just look at the
military and how
they now say
Christians are a
threat to the
military’s good
order and
discipline, and
how expressing
Christian
beliefs to
others can lead
to prosecution
in the military.
How long until
that spreads to
mainstream
America?
Know though that
we are not
abandoned.
Christ is with
us always, even
in the face of
persecution,
whether subtle
or obvious.
Christ is our
Rock that we can
stand on to be
assured that we
are saved with
salvation
through grace to
eternity. Christ
in you works
with you to help
you through the
persecutions you
face. Regardless
of if it is a
bigoted attitude
toward
Christians, or
being killed or
imprisoned for
our faith,
Christ is with
us and we are
assured of our
salvation. There
is nothing to
fear then
because He is
with us always
and will be the
blanket wrapped
around us to
protect us and
be with us in
times of
trouble. We will
face trouble,
but be assured
Christ is with
us during those
times.
Being struck
down is tough. I
think we have
all had a
situation where,
because of our
faith, we have
been knocked
down emotionally
and spiritually.
This is
especially true
when we try to
share our faith
with an
unbeliever. It
is not our job
to change their
hearts, but we
are called to
introduce Jesus
to the unsaved.
The vileness of
some people can
be very hurtful
and
disheartening.
Most
people not
interested in
Jesus are nice
about it to me,
but I have heard
the vileness of
some people that
curse the name
of Jesus because
of their cold
hearts. We are
human and we
hurt when we are
turned away or
shunned because
of our faith.
God is
with us though,
even in these
situations.
Don’t lose heart
because even if
you feel you are
struck down,
beat down, or
set apart
because of your
faith; we cannot
be destroyed if
we are in
Christ. People
cannot destroy
us, nor can
Satan working
through the
world and
unbelievers
destroy us. They
may hurt our
feelings but
they cannot
destroy our
faith and hope
in Christ Jesus.
Jesus is
stronger and
more powerful
than any evil
force in the
universe. We
should not lose
heart when we
are struck down
at times by
others but we
should be made
stronger in our
faith when we
face adversity.
Adversity is
part of being a
Christian. This
is something we
should embrace,
for it will make
us stronger in
Christ Jesus.
For the
unbeliever, if
you are not for
Christ then you
are against us.
If you are
against us, then
you are of the
world and
support the
works of Satan.
You can switch
teams, so to
speak, and be on
the side of
Jesus and
eternity with
Him in heaven.
To be with Jesus
is not easy in
the world we
live in, but the
troubles we face
are minimal as
compared to the
trouble you will
have if you
choose the world
(and Satan) and
spend eternity
in hell instead
of heaven with
Jesus.
Jesus is the
promise of
salvation
through grace.
Believe in Him,
commit yourself
to Him, and
follow Him, and
your eternity
will be heaven,
not hell.
What you,
as an unbeliever
may not know is
that God sent
His only Son,
Jesus, into the
world to be the
sacrifice for
all humanity’s
sins. That means
He was
sacrificed to
cover my sins,
your sins, and
everyone else’s
sin for those
that believe He
is the Son of
God that died on
a cross for us.
This may
be hard to
grasp, but it is
truth and can be
counted on as
truth. If you
believe in Jesus
and put your
trust in Him
(heart, soul,
mind) then when
judgment comes,
you can be
assured that
your sins are
already forgiven
and heaven
awaits your
soul.
If you choose
not to believe
in Jesus, you
will die, just
like everyone
else, but the
difference is
that you will be
accountable for
your sins and
will not have an
advocate for you
when you face
the judgment
seat of God. You
will go to hell.
This may sound
harsh to you,
but it is truth:
Jesus equals
eternal life in
heaven, and not
having Jesus
means eternal
damnation in
hell.
Choose Jesus my
friends. If you
are playing
church and don’t
really believe
in Jesus, it is
time to choose.
If you don’t go
to church but
want eternal
life in heaven,
now is the time
to accept Christ
as your Lord and
Savior. You
cannot earn
heaven, for it
is a gift of God
that was given
by grace through
the sacrifice of
Christ if you
believe on His
name, His life,
His death, and
His
resurrection.
Find a church
that teaches the
foundations
found in the
Bible. Study the
Bible and seek
the Lord for
yourself. More
importantly,
pray to God for
revelation and
assurance that
Jesus is the
real deal. Cry
out to the Lord
that you want
eternity with
Him in heaven
and pray for
Jesus to be part
of your life,
the main part of
your being and
life.
Being part of
the world (and
Satan) isn’t
easy. With
Jesus, you will
face trouble in
the world, but
eternity with
Him is worth it.
I pray that
those reading
this that are
not saved are
touched by the
Holy Spirit and
gain a desire to
seek the Lord
and to learn
about and accept
Jesus as their
Lord and Savior.
Choosing Jesus
is a journey
worth the trip.
You will be
changed and will
see the world
differently from
how you do now.
You will see the
world with Satan
for what he is:
a deceiver. With
Jesus you will
feel a love that
is
indescribable.
Choose wisely,
for your
eternity is at
stake.
God Bless
john_lysaught@yahoo.com