Life is tough.

Disappointment runs rampant.

Hurt is bound to happen.

People are selfish.

We deal with a lot in our society. People pounce on the bandwagon of popular ideologies, and expect the world to support their endeavours. They get their wants fulfilled when feelings of the masses want to be recognized and popular. Never mind what is right or true, those things don’t fill the waywardness of today’s thought processes nor fit into what is acceptable. Bowing down to the culture gods is best. The rest of you are wrong and will eventually grow weary in your affliction of Godly truth.

What do we do when we are the ones standing on the sidelines watching the esteemed association of acceptable norms roll on by and we get the proverbial tomatoes thrown at us? Do we take the public lashing? Are we to be outcasts in a nation of the pious masses? Is silence suppose to follow our lips? Do we tuck our faith into the corners of our homes so that offense doesn’t come out of our presence when we’re with people unlike us?

Standing on truth is suppose to be worth every pain and affliction that often comes following in its shadows. We are told that these things only last for a little while until glory comes and we no longer need to look for an escape route from the rotten tomatoes, persecution, tongue lashings, and disownership.

2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV 

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Our study of God’s Word often leads us to encouragement. Fellowship with other believers often leads us to be excited in sharing the Good News. Volunteer work gets us motivated when we make headway in our commitment to service.

If affliction is temporary, community with other believers is good, and God calls us to go and preach the good news, why are these things turned against us in secular society? Don”t they also call for community, to end affliction, and to do what is right? Putting a Christian label on it shouldn’t matter when we all have the same goal of helping and supporting others, right?

I wish that was true. Don’t we all? But it’s not. People are afraid of what they don’t understand. When you admit your faith, people often times don’t even want to try to understand. Their fear prevents them from opening their minds to see the motive of our faith. Sin is too comfortable and popularity feels good.

Now it’s time to be encouraged in our faith and to keep moving forward as our world keep progressing to its end. Unless our nations step into a revival of faith, there is no denying that the end draws near. We must have hope in that the kingdom is coming and that the Lord’s work on earth is nearing completion. Our hope should rest on the Lord who is faithful and will see our paths to completion.

Acts 20:24 

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Hang on. God is doing some great and beautiful things through each of us. We may not see our accomplishments as such, but they are there. I know this to be true. Times will get rough, but the gift of life eternal is worth every painstaking disappointment or elevated achievement that rolls across our paths. Taking a risk for God means something to the kingdom. Don’t lose sight of the truth of the Gospel.