Is There a Choice?

Hebrews 10:32-34 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
 
AS we’ve been reading Hebrews, we might assume those receiving the letter were wavering in their faith. The writer has spent much time reinforcing the scriptures’ evidence that Jesus of Nazareth is the Great High Priest, Son of God, Savior of the world. But these verses tell us the hearers of this letter, the Christian Jews, had begun with a very firm faith to stand for Jesus against persecution. When persecution threatened they stood their ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. History tells us these persecutions could range from verbal insults to stonings and unspeakable brutality against churches and church members. This is the kind of faith we should hold as an example to our own walk with Jesus.
    In many cultures, people praise God because persecution confirms God had found them worthy to face such testing and trials. After all, hasn’t the Son of God suffered terribly and died for us?
    There are many of us who do not understand such a faith. We have been blessed to live where we can essentially live and say what we believe. Our “persecution” has gone no farther than someone rejecting our opinions or attempts to tell them of Jesus. We might feel family members or friends persecute us when they say they want no part of Jesus. We are unwilling to stand firm for Jesus because someone might feel insulted. Or they might reject us and call us narrow-minded.
    So then, who is more important to you? Whose relationship do you desire more – an unbelieving relative? Or Jesus? Would you reject speaking of Jesus because someone might reject you? If we call Jesus, “Lord.” what choice do we have but to stand firmly with him? We have been called into a great contest. This is a war that requires devotion to Jesus’ cause and expectation of victory. What concerns do we have of human opinion when the Lord was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. (Isaiah 53.3) Let us remember that for a time we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
       Consider how we are all born in opposition to Jesus. The Spirit has used someone to confront you with the truth and call you to faith. The Lord requires we continue to confront a lost world.