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Persecuted for Christ’s Sake, July 6
All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2
Timothy 3:12
.
As Christ was hated without cause, so will His people be hated because
they are obedient to the commandments of God. If He who was pure, holy,
and undefiled, who did good and only good in our world, was treated as
a base criminal and condemned to death, His disciples must expect but
similar treatment, however faultless may be their life and blameless their
character.
Human enactments, laws manufactured by satanic agencies under a
plea of goodness and restriction of evil, will be exalted, while God’s holy
commandments are despised and trampled underfoot. And all who prove
their loyalty by obedience to the law of Jehovah must be prepared to be
arrested, to be brought before councils that have not for their standard the
high and holy law of God.
Those who live during the last days of this earth’s history will know
what it means to be persecuted for the truth’s sake. In the courts injustice
will prevail. The judges will refuse to listen to the reasons of those who are
loyal to the commandments of God, because they know that arguments in
favor of the fourth commandment are unanswerable. They will say, “We
have a law, and by our law he ought to die.” God’s law is nothing to them.
“Our law” with them is supreme. Those who respect this human law will be
favored, but those who will not bow to the idol sabbath will have no favors
shown them.
In summer there is no noticeable difference between evergreens and
other trees; but when the blasts of winter come, the evergreens remain
unchanged, while other trees are stripped of their foliage. So the falsehearted
professor may not now be distinguished from the real Christian, but the time
is just upon us when the difference will be apparent. Let opposition arise,
let bigotry and intolerance again bear sway, let persecution be kindled, and
the halfhearted and hypocritical will waver and yield the faith; but the true
Christian will stand firm as a rock, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, than
in days of prosperity.
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