Absorbed in what I was reading, but suddenly snapped back to reality realizing I was not reading the Book of Revelation or Fox’s Book of Martyrs, I was reading the daily news headlines. Paul cautioned us, there will be terrible times in the last days (2 Tim 3:1). Jesus warned of persecution and martyrdom. What we are witnessing today far exceeds anything few have ever imagined could occur in our lifetime. Reading passages as Mark 6:27-28, it is easy to think only of Biblical history. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, v28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. If we see an artist real-life depiction of John the Baptist beheading, we might think, “That’s sick, but thankfully it doesn’t happen today.”
I do not advise anyone to do this, but two weeks ago, I watched videos of two Christians who renounced their faith in Christ and proclaimed Muhammad as the great prophet. Hearing their recantations turned my stomach. The insurgent leader ordered the men with guns around them not to shoot because of their confession. I imagine for a brief moment that these two men thought they had escaped death. Instead, the executioner called them infidels and with an eight inch knife, began slowly hacking off their heads like a farmer beheading a cow he was butchering. A website that reports on persecution contains multiple photos showing fields strewed with small children that terrorist slaughtered because they were Christians. Another article recounted how these radical extremist grabbed a five year old boy from his father’s arms and beheaded him because his family were Christians. I have seen nothing in my life more repulsive than the decapitated heads of children jammed on an iron fence displayed like trophies.
Ok, I realize the above paragraph probably offends some of you but not near as unsettling as seeing these poignant images of 21st century events. Think about the hundreds of thousands of Christians who with their own eyes witness this occurring around them. I wrestled with the Holy Spirit about even writing this. Yet, I kept hearing that small voice saying Western believers must realize persecution and martyrdom is not just a story from Church history or think, “Oh! What’s going on in the Middle-East will never happen here.” The reality is that the horrors taking place in Iraq, Syria, Iran, and North Korean to name a few, can easily happen on a street in your neighborhood. American Christians are not exempt. Isaiah warned Israel against trusting in the number of chariots and the strength of the charioteers instead of seeking the Lord’s help (31:1). What or who are we trusting—our jets and bombs guided by advance warfare technology or Jesus? No king is saved by the size of his army (Ps 33:16).
Last week, Franklin Graham wrote an article, “God Is Speaking, but Are You Listening”. Listening to what God is saying through world events should be the first priority for believers and a wakeup call. Jesus compared His second coming to the days of Noah. People were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage . . . until the flood came and took them all away (Mat 24:37-39). In other words, people will be going about their daily life and not listening until it is too late. Jesus reprimanded His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane when He found them sleeping, Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Mat 26:41).
It is essential we understand our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Christians live in a continuous spiritual battle whether in daily life or global conflicts that threaten even the existence of Christianity (Eph 6:12). The barbaric evil occurring in the world is a manifestation of what is happening in heavenly places. We battle against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12). Paul reminded Timothy that the Lord enlisted us as His soldiers. He also instructed him no soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life (2 Tim 2:4).
We must not cower in fear over terrorism. Instead, remember the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful (2 Cor. 10:4). The indispensable key—we much use these weapons; literally, the text reads weapons empowered by God. Thank the Lord for our soldiers on the front lines of the earthly battle, but the victory lies with believers rising up utilizing spiritual weapons through the Holy Spirit. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly . . . and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober (1Th 5:3-6).
Sustaining Word for the Week: Listen to what God is saying, keep watch, and pray using your divinely powerful weapons or else these soldiers of Satan may soon be in your neighborhood.