When Jesus Christ was on trial for His life, He was asked a momentous question: “Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’ Jesus said, ‘I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven’” (Mark 14:61–62).
If we were to be put on trial for our faith, could we answer our accusers with the unequivocal confidence Christ showed? Or, would we stumble, much as the Apostle Peter did when he was questioned about his relationship with Jesus: “And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, ‘This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ But again he [Peter] denied with an oath, ‘I do not know the Man’” (Matthew 26:71–72).
We in God’s Church understand that, as the present age of Satan’s rule over humanity comes to an end, perilous times will come that test the followers of Jesus Christ. Many will be persecuted for their belief in—and obedience to—the word of God, and for their support of the Work of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to a world that does not want to hear the message.
Jesus Christ, the King of kings, told His followers to expect difficult times ahead for those who strive to worship God in Spirit and in truth. “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Mark 13:9–13).
Certainly, the times to come may be difficult. But we cannot “un-know” what we know. Those of us who have responded sincerely to God’s call, through repentance and baptism, will gain nothing by slackening our former commitment. Yes, drawing back in a time of persecution may bring a temporary respite, but in the long run such cowardice will result in spiritual shipwreck! “This is a faithful saying: ‘For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:11–13).
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy regarding two brethren who fell away and thus forfeited God’s protection. “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme” (1 Timothy 1:18–20).
It is no small matter to renege on the commitment we made at baptism. Jesus Christ personally warned of the dangers of failing to follow through on our calling. As Jesus warned, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
We need to take Christ’s words seriously. Once we have responded to the Father’s calling and accepted the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our past sins, we dare not go back to Satan’s world and again partake of those things that separated us from God. “As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly” (Proverbs 26:11).
Even so, Jesus knew that most who heard His message would be unable or unwilling to follow through. He spoke the following parable to explain: “‘A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold’ When He had said these things He cried, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear!’” (Luke 8:5–8).
Christ went on to explain that the seed that fell on rock represents those who first hear the Truth with joy, but who—having no root—fall away when they experience temptation or persecution (v. 13). Are we rooted in our faith, or are we at risk of falling away when times grow tough?
In another parable, Christ described a king who had difficulty in finding guests willing to attend his son’s wedding feast. Most of those invited were too busy with their worldly pursuits, so the king sent his servants to roam the highways in search of others who might attend. This filled the wedding hall, but when the king saw one guest without a wedding garment, he banished him into “outer darkness.” The meaning of the parable? Christ reminds us of the sobering truth that “many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).
Scripture tells us that those who are raised in the first resurrection are “blessed” and “holy” (Revelation 20:6). It does not promise that the path to this resurrection will be an easy one. We see how many people find that the challenges, trials and tests of life in this present age are too difficult to overcome. Besides, there are so many lusts and temptations of the world to experience. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13–14).
What will happen, then, to those who once found that gate, but who then turn away from it? What awaits those who not only learned the Truth of God, but who acted on it— repented, accepted baptism and received the Holy Spirit—but who then decided that they had better things to do with their lives? Here is how the Apostle Paul describes their sad end: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:4–6).
Having rejected the gift of the Holy Spirit, and spurned Christ’s sacrifice, such individuals are without hope of salvation: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
With God, All Things Are Possible!
At first glance, the above parables may make the task of enduring to the end seem overwhelming and even discouraging. “After all,” you may think, “so many others have fallen away—what makes me think that I am any better, or any stronger, or any more converted than they were?”
Thankfully, we know that with God’s help, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). And we know that we do not need to rely on our own strength alone. Without our acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice, and without the Holy Spirit in us, we lack the power to overcome self, society and Satan. Yet, with God’s power in us, we can have confidence, knowing that we can prevail and enter into the Kingdom of God, “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:11–12).
Filled with God’s Spirit, confident of our future inheritance, we can endure all manner of persecution. Consider the example of Stephen, one of the first deacons in the Jerusalem congregation of the Church of God. Stephen was fearless in his zeal for the Truth, and firm in faith toward the Father and Jesus Christ. When dragged before the Jewish religious authorities, he bravely articulated his belief, preaching the word of God with power and authority. Stephen was not alone as he faced his accusers; Christ guided Stephen’s mind as he proclaimed the Truth to the very individuals who had not long before orchestrated the execution of the Son of God! And even in the face of certain death, God did not leave Stephen devoid of hope and encouragement; He gave this brave martyr a special vision to embolden and sustain him. “When they [the Sanhedrin] heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God’” (Acts 7:54–56)!
Many, perhaps most, in the Living Church of God will be able to live and die without experiencing such a dramatic trial. Staying close to God the Father, developing a close and loving relationship with our Master, Jesus Christ, whom we strive to obey, we may find that our greatest trials are the ones we bring on ourselves through weakness and carelessness. Yet, we know that God will always be there to protect and guide us. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish… For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:10–11, 13).
Are we keeping ourselves close to God, so that we know we will be under His protection? Are we remaining faithful in regular prayer, Bible study, meditation and occasional fasting? If we are, we can have confidence that God will give us what we need to endure through trials, and to overcome, so that we may become the “firstfruits” who will rule under Jesus Christ in tomorrow’s world. And how does God describe our reward? “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name” (Revelation 3:12).
For we who have accepted God’s calling, there is no turning back. Let us all remain determined to stay close to our Savior, that we may receive the reward He has planned for us.
—LCG Editorial Staff