Filled with Salvation

Luke 3:19-20 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
 
GOD’S Word written long ago reads as if it was recorded “yesterday”. For example, before opening to these verses, I read two items that demonstrate how Herod-like persecution still attacks God’s people. One item involves two Christians who were sentenced to 18 months in prison for teaching God’s Word. One of them wrote, “Almost every week they took me to a different building and put me into a dark room and announced that the day of my death is at hand. They say I should deny my faith or be killed.” This is the same as John’s plight, isn’t it? John rebuked Herod for his many sins. Then Herod added to them all when he locked John up in prison. Darkness constantly attempts to hide the Light.
   A second item I read involves Satanists’ attacks on a ministry called Child Evangelism Fellowship, which forms Christian clubs for school-aged children in public schools. These evil leaders want Satan clubs in schools in the same way the Child Evangelism Fellowship clubs are in schools. Their strategy is to cause an uproar among Christians, so the Christian parents will ask the schools to prohibit “religious-based” clubs. The Satan-followers hope that rules and laws will be passed to stop them. Then, of course, those same rules would apply to prevent Christian clubs from meeting, too.
   As we consider our future in the Kingdom of God, we’ll come to understand that spiritual warfare is unrelenting. Evil spirits are frightfully strong and active. We must be prepared to constantly fight the war because the King is our Commander, calling us to be his warriors, so the world will know the truth.
   One question often asked about persecution is, “Why does God allow this?” One answer is this: Persecution helps us see salvation’s wonder. How is that?
   Let’s consider what happens when hunger gnaws at your stomach. You appreciate any food set before you. Grateful for the food provider, you eat to ease the pain and to be saved from hunger. In turn, what happens when persecution shows you how bad sin is? Hopefully you are extremely grateful for the Bread of Life Jesus has set before you. To remove sin’s gnawing pain you consume Jesus’ teachings. How good it is to know that filled with Jesus we are saved from Satan!
   As you confess Christ, be acutely aware of the spiritual conflict this causes. Satan is very concerned with the faithful believers. He and his demons are working to turn you from the Savior. The Holy Spirit has come to transform and empower you with a full life in Jesus. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son. (John 1:14) And in the fullness of your salvation you can joyfully celebrate your victory that you will never be hungry again…never be thirsty. (from John 6:35)
   Stand strong in your wondrous life. In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-38)
   Be satisfied, strong and filled in your salvation.