Stand Firm In Your Faith

July/August 2014 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Stand Firm In Your Faith

We hear stories about believers who were mistreated because of their stand for the Lord Jesus Christ. They suffered simply because they sought to faithfully follow the Lord according to the truth of Scripture. Many had their belongings destroyed and their jobs taken from them; some were beaten, arrested and imprisoned. Foxe’s Book Of Martyrs lists many who were killed for their faith in Christ.

In the Word of God we read about Jesus Christ and His sufferings at the hands of wicked men. We read of Jeremiah sinking into the mud of a cistern (Jer. 38), Daniel being thrown into the den of lions (Dan. 6) and one unnamed man being put out of the synagogue and therefore ostracized [ignored or shunned] by everyone in his community (Jn. 9). “Others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword, they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground” (Heb. 11:36-38 NASB). God has taken note of every instance when His people have suffered persecution.

The intention for having this topic in the magazine was to provide encouragement to those experiencing such trials. We hope the Lord will use these articles to do just that as they explore the various aspects of persecution. I am reminded of one very precious verse which records Jesus saying, “Observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). Paul encouraged Timothy, after saying how the Lord had delivered him from persecutions and sufferings in three cities, to “continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:14-15). The Holy Spirit’s exhortation to believers, whether suffering persecution or not, is to remain faithful! The day of deliverance is coming soon!

By Paul Alberts