“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.” (Hebrews 10:32–33, NIV84)
When changing your life to align with God, there will be initial trials and temptations. These may come from the world, from family or friends, from evil forces, or from those who hate the faith. There are many things conspiring against true faith in this world. That’s why it is so rare. True faith, like that in you right now, is not something to take lightly. Jesus compared true faith to a pearl that is so precious and unique that it is worth a pearl merchant paying every last cent to obtain it (Matthew 13:46). Still, the world will not accept your faith. Evil will fight it. Those who have manipulated you in the past will not like the new, more faithful you! When you begin to change your life to be closer to God, some things in your life should change. Some things should get better by far. Some things will get worse.
Our scripture for today is a reminder that when you “stand your ground” and side with God, you may soon thereafter face suffering. Evil forces in our world will attack you. Those who don’t understand faith will make fun of you. Sin will not longer be a fun diversion in your life. God will expect sinful behaviors to be rejected. As all these elements are changing in your newly found faith, suffering will come. In the New Testament days when the book of Hebrews was written, the new Christians “were publicly exposed to insult and persecution” (Hebrews 10:33). They suffered taunts and persecution. They saw other faithful ones badly treated. Faithfully, they “stood side by side with those who were so treated”. Like those Christians back then, you may have to stand with those who suffer for being faithful or honest or true. You may also need to lean on those who are at your side during suffering. I wish I could tell you that moving closer to God and living a righteous life brought all happy days and joy. There is joy, but there is also suffering. And during that suffering, you will either give up on your new faith or you will let your faith grow stronger and deeper. Tears can make faith get much stronger and much more relevant. Times of suffering can bring you closer to the God who longs to be with you.
When Abe was in his fifties, he felt a strong urging to find God again. He longed to spend more time with God. Even though nobody in his family wanted to go to church, Abe began attending a neighborhood church. A few months later, he joined the congregation. I saw Abe. He would sit in the second pew from the back on the opposite side from the pulpit. I could tell his faith was growing. I could see him intently listening to the sermon, participating in the singing of hymns, and more. He seldom missed a Sunday. I was excited for him and his newfound faith.
Eighteen month later, Abe found out he had cancer. It was a virulent and deadly form of cancer. He was very sick. During that time, he suffered tremendously. While his family was supportive to an extent, they didn’t pray with him. When I visited, he was always alone. I could tell he was not only suffering physically. He was very lonely spiritually. He couldn’t even talk about his possible death and seeing Jesus face to face with his family. Being so new to the faith, he barely knew how to talk about God with me. I tried to be there with him in his suffering. I tried to help where I could. Still, Abe had some difficult days. Then, at a hospital far away from home, Abe died alone in his room.
Abe had suffered in many ways for his faith. However, I never heard him utter once that his faith was not worth it or that he regretted his worship time with God. I believe Abe had a feeling his life was ending, long before he found out he had cancer. I believe that Abe used those last two years of his life to rekindle his relationship with God, despite his family’s misgivings. Abe’s faith grew through the hardships and disease. He did not regret his time with God. On Judgment Day, Abe can say that he changed his life to align with God in Heaven. Abe was taking a side with God. Suffering did not keep him from faith or worship or prayer time. Abe’s last two years made a statement of how much Jesus and forgiveness and grace and reconciliation and so much more meant to him.
When you take a stand and side with God, expect the suffering to come. Don’t be surprised when evil is unleashed at you or people attempt to steal away your faith. Don’t be surprised if previous sins attempt to lure you back into your old way of doing things. This world is a spiritual battle zone. Spiritual forces are constantly aligned with or against God. You will be caught in the middle.
Will your faith hold up to suffering? Will you hold on to God tightly when temptations and trials come to bear? Faith in God is SO worth it. However, you have to walk through some tough times to find that out. Jesus didn’t fight Satan one on one at the end of his life. Immediately after Jesus was baptized was when Satan chose to challenge him in the wilderness. A new or renewed faith will be attacked by spiritually evil forces and worldly challenges. By being steadfast through the dark times, you show your true witness to God. And you become an inspiration to the rest of us.
Our scripture for today is a reminder that when you “stand your ground” and side with God, you may soon thereafter face suffering. Evil forces in our world will attack you. Those who don’t understand faith will make fun of you. Sin will not longer be a fun diversion in your life. God will expect sinful behaviors to be rejected. As all these elements are changing in your newly found faith, suffering will come. In the New Testament days when the book of Hebrews was written, the new Christians “were publicly exposed to insult and persecution” (Hebrews 10:33). They suffered taunts and persecution. They saw other faithful ones badly treated. Faithfully, they “stood side by side with those who were so treated”. Like those Christians back then, you may have to stand with those who suffer for being faithful or honest or true. You may also need to lean on those who are at your side during suffering. I wish I could tell you that moving closer to God and living a righteous life brought all happy days and joy. There is joy, but there is also suffering. And during that suffering, you will either give up on your new faith or you will let your faith grow stronger and deeper. Tears can make faith get much stronger and much more relevant. Times of suffering can bring you closer to the God who longs to be with you.
When Abe was in his fifties, he felt a strong urging to find God again. He longed to spend more time with God. Even though nobody in his family wanted to go to church, Abe began attending a neighborhood church. A few months later, he joined the congregation. I saw Abe. He would sit in the second pew from the back on the opposite side from the pulpit. I could tell his faith was growing. I could see him intently listening to the sermon, participating in the singing of hymns, and more. He seldom missed a Sunday. I was excited for him and his newfound faith.
Eighteen month later, Abe found out he had cancer. It was a virulent and deadly form of cancer. He was very sick. During that time, he suffered tremendously. While his family was supportive to an extent, they didn’t pray with him. When I visited, he was always alone. I could tell he was not only suffering physically. He was very lonely spiritually. He couldn’t even talk about his possible death and seeing Jesus face to face with his family. Being so new to the faith, he barely knew how to talk about God with me. I tried to be there with him in his suffering. I tried to help where I could. Still, Abe had some difficult days. Then, at a hospital far away from home, Abe died alone in his room.
Abe had suffered in many ways for his faith. However, I never heard him utter once that his faith was not worth it or that he regretted his worship time with God. I believe Abe had a feeling his life was ending, long before he found out he had cancer. I believe that Abe used those last two years of his life to rekindle his relationship with God, despite his family’s misgivings. Abe’s faith grew through the hardships and disease. He did not regret his time with God. On Judgment Day, Abe can say that he changed his life to align with God in Heaven. Abe was taking a side with God. Suffering did not keep him from faith or worship or prayer time. Abe’s last two years made a statement of how much Jesus and forgiveness and grace and reconciliation and so much more meant to him.
When you take a stand and side with God, expect the suffering to come. Don’t be surprised when evil is unleashed at you or people attempt to steal away your faith. Don’t be surprised if previous sins attempt to lure you back into your old way of doing things. This world is a spiritual battle zone. Spiritual forces are constantly aligned with or against God. You will be caught in the middle.
Will your faith hold up to suffering? Will you hold on to God tightly when temptations and trials come to bear? Faith in God is SO worth it. However, you have to walk through some tough times to find that out. Jesus didn’t fight Satan one on one at the end of his life. Immediately after Jesus was baptized was when Satan chose to challenge him in the wilderness. A new or renewed faith will be attacked by spiritually evil forces and worldly challenges. By being steadfast through the dark times, you show your true witness to God. And you become an inspiration to the rest of us.