The Tribulation of Life
[W]e must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. -Acts 14:22b
This is not to say that our salvation is earned through difficulties, but rather, that those who are bound for the kingdom of God will be subject to many roadblocks and oppositions from the enemy along the way.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. -2 Timothy 3:12
A spiritual war
In many ways, spiritual resistance and persecution can be seen as a good thing. It means that Satan views us as a threat to his own kingdom: he sees us as being relevant. If we were never born again, and never sought to take any ground from the enemy for God’s kingdom, then we would have an easy and unobstructed path. Yet, it is an easy path to hell.
The very fact that persecution arises ought to signal to us that we are doing something right. As Jesus has encouraged us:
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. -Luke 6:22-23
Related posts:
Leave a Reply