As a Christian are we free from suffering? Some believers are under the impression that once they have trusted in Christ, life will be trouble free but as a believer you are not free from the troubles of the earth and can be expected to suffer for Christ’s sake.
You will feel the wrath of the world and may suffer attacks on many fronts and depending on what part of the world you are from, you may experience serious persecution and the real threat of death.
—Philippians 1:29 NKJV “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,”
However, when the Lord’s judgment finally is delivered, those who have bore these heavy chains of being His ambassadors on earth, suffering the world’s wrath, will enjoy the victory of going home with Christ.
—1 Thessalonians 1:10 NKJV “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
Future Suffering
Those who persecute Christ and his followers will suffer greatly in the future. When the Lord’s judgment does arrive, all those who rejected Christ, will realize the folly of their lives and will see how hollow their earthly “victories” of harassing believers and reveling in the worlds inequities actually are.
These Christ rejectors may be gloating now that the current world views are anti-Christian but this is a short lived “hollow victory”.
—2 Thessalonians 1:6–7 NKJV “since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,”
Time will run out for those who reject Christ and it is a miserable judgement they will suffer.
—2 Thessalonians 1:8–9 NKJV “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”
Share the Good News
Remember, our mission is not to seek vengeance to those who persecute our faith as that is God’s authority. Instead of seeking vengeance or letting the world’s intimidation prevent us from spreading the good news of Christ, we need to continually find ways to share the salvation message to the world before its too late.
—2 Corinthians 6:1–2 NKJV “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
—Galatians 1:3–5 NKJV “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
This offer of grace and peace will not be offered forever. So, while God still has His hand extended in peace, let us risk suffering for His sake, so that His saving message of grace may be heard.
Remember, obtaining the treasures of this world is not our goal but to strive to live for Christ should be our ambition.
—Philippians 1:20–24 NKJV “according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”
I hope you are willing to endure a little suffering to let the world know that Christ is the only path to eternal life. Through his death on the cross, He is offering us a new life.
—1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NKJV “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”
This is a life giving message to all who put their faith in Christ.
—Acts 16:31 NKJV “So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,”
—Ephesians 2:8 NKJV “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”