2 Timothy 3:10–12 “You, however, know all about my…endurance, persecutions, sufferings… In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
In a telling discussion, the spiritual leader of Islamic fundamentalist Hezbollah in Lebanon, Ayatollah Fadlallah, said to Brother Andrew: “You Christians have a problem.” “What do you think our problem is?” “You’re not following the life of Jesus Christ any more.” “So what do you think we should do about that?” “You must go back to the Book.”
Going ‘back to the Book’ will involve re-reading the Scriptures and noticing they are filled with references to the reality of how tough and painful it is to follow Jesus all the way. If we consider just one of Paul’s epistles, in 2 Timothy he writes (as well as the above verses), “Join with me in suffering for the gospel” (1:8); “That is why I am suffering as I am” (1:12); “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2:3); “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect” (2:10); “Endure hardship” (4:5). Only a highly selective and blinkered reading of Scripture can produce a working understanding that to come to Jesus is to be spared of any problems, to experience uninterrupted ease and prosperity. There are plenty of wonderful promises for us to take hold of, but only within the context of the Bible as a whole. So will we get back to the Book, delve deeply into its riches, and live out the message?
Salvation was a free gift for us, but bought at great cost by the Lord. Although grace was free, it wasn’t cheap. God paid with the blood of his Son on the cross, and we in turn are called to follow. So although the entrance fee is nothing, the annual subscription is everything! Yet however hard it may be at times, we can be assured that after the pain comes the gain.
Lord, I want to live authentically for you. Help me to endure hardship for your name. Amen!
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