17/03/2012 - The risks of the work of God

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For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

I Thessalonians 3:4

The Lord does not say life is always a bed of roses to the one He calls to preach The Word, because He knows that that person has to take part in the sufferings of Jesus. It is recommended for the one who is called to prepare itself to be used by the power of God because much tribulation could be avoided if a Christian knew beforehand what to do whenever being persecuted. It’s true that many brothers will go through extremely troubled times as they take the so Precious Seed to the lost ones. That has already been happening throughout all the history of the Church and it will keep on happening.

Those who live in lands where there’s complete freedom of worship cannot figure out how much suffering our brothers who live in dark places have to go through, places where hellish powers try to hamper, at any cost, the progress of the divine work. In 2009 – in the State of Orissa, India – many evangelical churches were burnt up; dozens of Christians lost their lives for being servants of the Lord Jesus.

The apostles had been told what would happen to them but they did not retreat , as they left us the example that some, at times, will have to pay with suffering and, in some cases, with their own lives for the message to get to everybody (Acts 20: 22-24). That comes as a shock to those who do not know either the history of the Church or the teachings of Jesus. The preaching of the Good News is distinct from a political idea or the teaching of a religious philosophy. The Gospel fights against evil powers that strive to keep their subjects.

Fortunately, there will be a reward for all work we do for the Gospel: from a tiny offering given just to buy a glass of cold water to physical suffering we’ll have to go through. So, we’d better be servants of the Lord. If our Father puts us in pleasant places, glory to God! But, if He sends us to troubled sites we’re to also give Him glory. At times of peace or war we need to be faithful to our calling because, one day, we’ll be accounted for our calling.

You must never run away from what’s planned to occur to you because if the Lord has allowed that He will reward you in eternity. The lost ones need to hear and, in many cases, what happens to us strengthens the message into wakening lives for the eternal salvation. The preservation of life is very good; however, the eternal salvation of a person is infinitely more precious. One lives on earth up to seventy, eighty or some more years over, but those who are saved will remain billions of years multiplied by billions of years forever with the Lord.

Those who, truly, belong to God never go back. Now those who want to make a living from the Gospel but are not committed with The Truth, when they’re going through hardships, they take a step backwards and, this way, they do not realize that their attitudes will drive them into eternal doom (Hebrews 10: 38, 39). My prayer is, “May the Lord make you faithful!”

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares