Willing to Stand?

Acts 17:13-14 When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14 The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
 
WHAT were the Jews from Thessalonica thinking? Paul had preached God’s love and grace to send a redeeming Messiah to them. These Jews not only refused to see the gospel truth in the Scriptures, they violently resisted Paul to force him to leave. Now these same hateful unbelievers traveled 100 miles to aggressively oppose Paul. Once more, their aggression forced Paul to move on.
   We can wonder why the Berean Jews and Gentiles, who had come to believe the gospel, did not defend Paul. Were they afraid of the opposition? Did the gospel embarrass them?  Did they not fear God? Could the Berean residents not restrain the agitators from Thessalonica? The Thessalonians’ threats were apparently too frightening to oppose.
   Is this an example of the modern church? The church has given way to God’s hateful opponents for a long time. When God’s enemies have threatened to remove Christian literature from schools, courthouses and other public places, the church has often avoided the battle and accepted the oppositions’ demands. Sin has boldly entered the public domain because the church has quietly stepped aside. We wouldn’t want anyone to be offended by the truth of God’s righteousness, would we? Is the gospel only real on Sunday morning?
   Scripture reveals sin is intolerant, angry and deadly. Its destruction begins with God cursing the ground to produce thistles and thorns and killing animals to clothe Adam and Eve and then (Genesis 3:17-21). We then read of murderous intent in Genesis that forces God to flood the world. Sin drives Jospeh’s brothers to capture and enslave him. Evil intent separates many in Israel from the God who delivered them from Egypt’s furnace. Sin killed the prophets and destroyed Israel and Judah. Sin killed the Savior. The opposition to God has destroyed millions of his faithful believers and continues its persecution.
   The sinner has no room in his heart for truth. He will not be satisfied until Jesus’ church is as the spiritually dead Israel once was: Judges 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
   We can wonder why the Sovereign Lord tolerates this evil in his world. But then we can be thankful he has kept us safe until the day he renewed us to believe in Jesus and be saved. As we await the day God will destroy all evil, our prayer must be that God will deliver us from sin’s attacks. Our LORD God commands us to stand firm to exalt his name. Paul would later write to the faithful in Thessalonica: 2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brothers (Remember this is everyone in the church.), stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.   
 Be thankful for the church’s history to overcome the opposition. We must be faithful to protect the church for future generations.