I keep having these dreams of warfare. Even now in my foggy state this morning while most of my house is still sleeping…
I see guns pointed, gangs of unbelievers collecting Christians from the crowd. A vicious people rising to take out those of us who confess of the name of Christ.
And in all of my dreams there is the same one dark leader rising.
He doesn’t just think of maiming, but is out to steal, kill and destroy all of us, as believers.
He wants this country, a people, who once took refuge in solace, purity, desiring religious freedom from man’s control.
And isn’t that the root of every evil core….wanting control, instead of giving it to the Lord?
I see the blind running, those trembling covering themselves in questions; suffocating in their own insufficiency.
Still I wake this morning, and open scripture to find some clarity….
“Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.” (Hebrews 10:35)
- And I see Stephen, not renouncing Christ, but instead watching heavens opening, witnessing something majestic, eternal, divine amidst his suffering.
- Then there is Jacob, in exile. He rests His head upon a rock and witnesses angels coming and going up and down a ladder ascending from heaven.
- And there is the prostitute Rehab, who found an opening, and used a red cord as a way God provided her an escape from a falling city.
- Then, we all know Moses who lead God’s people out of Egypt, directing them to a place where they were trapped between a wall of soldiers and water. Still, God delivered them, faithfully.
- Can we not forget the three men who wouldn’t bow. The ones who found themselves in a fiery furnace, yet not a hair singed. And when others might have said they were foolish or would be abandoned, Jesus was seen there with them, standing in the fiery furnace.
- And there was Daniel who was thrown in the lion’s den. Yet, God protected him with an angel after it became illegal to pray.
- Joseph, another man of God, didn’t just dream, but followed God’s leading to “go” with Mary, because their son, the Savior Jesus, was being hunted.
And yet, why is it we so often seek safety, questioning God’s sovereignty, instead of willingly embracing suffering?
Why do we miss the opening of heaven that often comes like to Jacob in the desert, or to Stephen in his most persecuted moments?
And could it be the glory is in the obedience; His power rises higher when we relinquish our rights, laying down in willingness, our lives for His glorious sake?
Today, if we were to see, Christians are being held captive; told to denounce Jesus or suffer earthly consequences….
Yet, true believers would rather live under the wrath of others persecution than to li
ve without His goodness and love.
ve without His goodness and love.
True martyrs always knowing and truly grasping, the great price of Jesus’ blood.
And yet, why is it flesh never dies easily but grasps frantically for earthly possessions, popularity or reward….When scripture warns, there is a great cost to being Christ’s disciple?
And while the ground is separating, earth is shaking, people are dividing, believers are having to choose what they will confess or believe, as Christians….
Hebrews rises, warning “Don’t fling away your fearless confidence…”
And isn’t that what we question most, our heavenly identity and earthly confidence in Him?
Isn’t that what’s being persecuted…..our fearless faith that He is “good” even when we don’t have control?
I read further…
“For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to full] what is promised.” (Heb 10:36)
Still, isn’t it often easier to camp out on our questions, bend and mold ourselves to the media or worldly images….Us giving up too quickly, turning over our God-confidence, losing all patience and then question His faithfulness, when things don’t go away?
Or will we listen when scripture says, “Stand! Keep standing! Rise and be what He predestined for you to be. Come out from hiding and set yourselves upon a hill, because where sin abounds, grace abound that much greater still.”
And no matter what the world may hold….He is still Lord, Lord over all.
And while people pleasing may fail, lukewarm-ness and earthly confidence fails…
God says, “be fearless and confident, patient and enduring”….
Because, “He who draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight in Him”(Heb 10:38)
So let’s all choose to rise bold, by faith, in a war-zone where Christians are often hunted.
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