May 27, 2013
All that will live
godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12.
As Christ was hated without cause, so will His people be hated because they are
obedient to the commandments of God. If He who was
pure, holy, and undefiled, who did good and only good in our world, was treated
as a base criminal and condemned to death, His disciples must expect but
similar treatment, however faultless may be their life and blameless their
character.
Human enactments, laws
manufactured by satanic agencies under a plea of goodness and restriction of
evil, will be exalted, while God's holy commandments are despised and trampled
underfoot. And all who prove their loyalty by obedience to the law of Jehovah
must be prepared to be arrested, to be brought before councils that have not
for their standard the high and holy law of God.
Those who live during the
last days of this earth's history will know what it means to be persecuted for
the truth's sake. In the courts injustice will prevail. The judges will refuse
to listen to the reasons of those who are loyal to the commandments of God,
because they know that arguments in favor of the fourth commandment are
unanswerable. They will say, "We have a law, and by our law he ought to
die." God's law is nothing to them. "Our law" with them is
supreme. Those who respect this human law will be favored, but those who will
not bow to the idol sabbath
will have no favors shown them.
In summer there is no
noticeable difference between evergreens and other trees; but when the blasts
of winter come, the evergreens remain unchanged, while other trees are stripped
of their foliage. So the falsehearted professor may not now be distinguished
from the real Christian, but the time is just upon us when the difference will
be apparent. Let opposition arise, let bigotry and intolerance again bear sway,
let persecution be kindled, and the halfhearted and hypocritical will waver and
yield the faith; but the true Christian will stand firm as a rock, his faith
stronger, his hope brighter, than in days of prosperity.