Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in Heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:12
An organization that tracks persecution of Christians has reports and statistics of such persecution in dozens of the countries of the world, most of them in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. In many of these instances, the persecution involves violence and even death. Some sources say as many as a thousand Christians a day lose their lives because of their faith. Thousands more are mistreated and harassed in many different ways. We cannot help but feel sorry for these dear people, and grieve over their hardships and pain. And we surely should be bearing these persecuted saints before the Throne of Grace on a daily basis. However, the Lord Jesus in today’s text tells us that such persecution is also cause for rejoicing. In fact, great rejoicing!
As great as is the loss of life, property, comfort, and liberty among persecuted Christians, there is no loss in the Glory. Nothing that we can suffer here is to be compared to the comfort and bliss of Heaven. And Jesus reminds His disciples that there is a great reward for being persecuted for His sake. When I was a reporter, I used to be disgusted when the JWs would bring reports to us of how their members were being persecuted in various places. The difference was that they were being persecuted for their religion – for which the Lord Jesus never promised a reward. No, the reward is for being persecuted for Him. For those who – in the face of adversity, threats, and violence – stand for the truth, who witness to saving faith in the cross work of the Lord Jesus, who are faithful to the Word of God, there is a great reward. How comforting to know this as we hear of today’s martyrs!
Will you or I qualify for this great reward? I doubt it. A few in our country suffer some verbal abuse or discrimination in the workplace because of their faith. But seldom are lives in danger or is the danger extreme. That could change in the coming years as those outwardly opposed to Christ gain greater power in high places, and as the tentacles of cruel Mohammedanism make their way into our society. Let us appreciate our liberty but never be dismayed at the prospects of persecution.
The sweetness of anticipating Glory can only be enhanced if we are to suffer for our Saviour’s name. -Jim MacIntosh