We are blessed when persecuted and treated horribly because of Christ and yet we are called to be lights that shine brightly so that they might see our good works and glorify God. To our human thinking, it's kinda scary stuff. We are called to be in the world, shining gospel brightness through our Spirit-infused, good-work walking...with confident hopes and prayers that others will be saved through our testimony and witness, and glorify God themselves. Yet, we are fully aware that the opposite of "glory" might happen and we will be persecuted, mistreated, and maligned. Or, for our western ears, they just might not like us anymore. And, if that happens...what we would call the "worst case scenario"...God says it becomes a reason to rejoice and be glad because we are blessed and are laying up treasure in Heaven.
What an encouragement to our own hearts! When we live for Christ, no matter what happens...salvation or suffering...we are blessed and God gets the glory. We may not always feel blessed. We may not always see how God is getting the glory...but He assures us, through His Word, that that is exactly what is happening.
That's why it is important to remember that our perception of reality and actual reality are often two different things. When we truly understand this, we recognize why it is so critical to know and meditate on the Word of God. We need His Word to renew our minds with truth so that we can properly see our lives in relation to God and then inform our emotions about the true reality of our situation. The Scriptures shed light on everything we face because our sovereign God controls each moment of every day, accomplishing all things for our good and His glory.
Our worst case scenario results in blessed glory.
Our suffering produces blessed glory.
Our tears fall to blessed glory.
Our greatest human accomplishments and our deepest painful moments are both wrapped up in blessed glory. That is real hope. That is true reality.
Comments