I changed the name of my last post from Marco Polo to “We Have Been Given Eyes To See-Part 1“. In that post I concentrated on Matthew 24: 1-8. I ended with verse 8, in which Jesus said, “These are just the beginning of sorrows.” I promised to write more on this subject “in the near future”, but verse eight alone has had me pondering for several weeks.
Today I will continue on in chapter 24, addressing individual verses and their current effects.
Let’s pick up in verse nine where Jesus says, ” Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” Christians are forced to ask themselves “is this really happening” and “does this include me“? For sure it is really happening. I knew it was. But looking at the chart below really sobered me.
This chart does not show any Christian persecution in the United States, however, if we pay attention to the news at all, we find that it is happening. Many public organizations, businesses, schools, etc, have banned anything and everything to do with Christianity. In verse 10, Jesus said, ” And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” We don’t think about it happening in the U.S. on a large scale, but get on your social media page and post something “christian” and see how many people get offended. Many.
Christianity is not popular. We can expect to be betrayed and hated by those we once thought were friends, perhaps even our closest friends.
Jesus said, “Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Again, pay attention to the news. It is happening. People proclaiming to be Jesus Christ, TV evangelists teaching false doctrine. Many are teaching a “feel good doctrine” that says the Christian doesn’t have to suffer, and, if you are “being good”, or if you are tithing a good amount to their ministry, then God will bless you financially. I’m sorry, but that’s not what my bible says. All we have to do is read 1 Peter 1 and we can see that we should expect trials, tribulations, and suffering. Yet, we are inundated with false teachings and many are swallowing it whole. Are we shrugging our shoulders and deeming it as unimportant? After all, we know better so it doesn’t affect us, right?
Have you been seeing “iniquity abound” or the “love of many waxing cold”?
Jesus said we would. And we are. My simple definition of iniquity is “doing your own thing apart from God.” It’s happening all around us. God forbid we are caught in that trap! The love of many are/have waxed cold. The secular world cares more about abandoned dogs than aborted babies. Go ahead and kill the babies, but save the trees!
Then, in verse 13, Jesus gives us a glimpse of hope. He says, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” His statement implies that there will be some who will endure all of this. There will be some who will complete the race and be saved forever and ever!
Tune in later as we continue on in Matthew 24.
Please feel free to share your thoughts with me in the comment section and thank you for reading.
