Thoughts for another day

January 27, 2012

Today's verse: Jer. 10:10. But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Some days ago I was watching a news channel on television.  There was a debate on a recent happening in a particular state in India where a Christian pastor was accused of forcefully converting people luring them with money and other things.  On the panel were representatives of various religions and in the course of discussions, I saw that only the Christian representative was calm and collected and in the face of vitriolic spewed by representatives of a particular faith, he was unfazed but wasn't allowed to even express his view point.

In my prayer and at other times with God, I 'accusedly' point at Him and say, Lord how can you tolerate the insults that people of the world spew out on you for truly You are the One true Living God, an everlasting King, the Emperor of the universe!  How can You bear the desecration of things dear to your people and allow them to be persecuted?   It really pains me to see the way Christians are beaten and roughed up around the world because they do the work God has told them to and in many situations I really see no way they can be rescued as it's just not possible and consequently they're so vulnerable!  Yet, it surprises me that few Christians lift their hands and return the violence meted out to them even if that were possible.  God's assurance to me is in what Jesus says, 'In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.' Jn. 16:33.

You know it reminds me of that great sermon Jesus gave on the mount. He lived that sermon and He wants us to live it too.  Persecution for every true follower of the Lord is not just a probability, but sure and death could also be a reward.  But then Jesus led the way when He died a miserable death.  Now we're to emulate Him, even though we are aware that at the wrath of the Lord, the earth shall tremble and none will be able to withstand His burning anger.  Our enemies can be turned to cinder at His wrath but at that time, we'll shout for mercy for them, even though they hurt us for Jesus did the same to His killers.  In that we shall show the world how different we are and how different our God is, who though the only God, the giver of life, is yet so patient and forbearing.   And we're proud to be called His children, even if He hands over the cup of sorrows to us.