Luke 21:12-19

Luke 21:12-19 “But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.

This prophecy has been fulfilled throughout the ages since Jesus' death. By standing firm, Christians have gained eternal life and not a hair of any Christian's head has perished eternally. God knows his own and protects them. However, when we look at our temporal lives, when we look at the historical accounts of the church, we see a lot of physical hair and heads perishing, a lot of Christians losing their lives because of their testimony for Christ. They will put some of you to death. Stephen and James lost their lives. Stephen died after giving Holy Spirit inspired words and wisdom to a violent, evil crowd of Jewish people. Yes, lives have been lost because of the testimony of Christ. The "good news" of Christ's resurrection is not very popular. And if it ever is popular, we must wonder whether the message is real or a substitute for giving one's own life for Christ.

Jesus tells the disciples they will place their lives on the line for him. He informs them the last days are days of travail not necessarily deliverance from harsh circumstances. We often seek a gospel that preaches deliverance from evil in this present world. We desire a message that says Christ makes us "ALL THAT WE CAN BE." However, the message of the cross is not a carefree life and self-actualization: it is a call to die to ourselves, to embrace Christ's death and life, and to live to do his will, not ours. This message often runs contrary to our earthly hopes and dreams. Although God sometimes grants our wishes, He asks us to fulfill his plans, not ours. In yielding and committing to the will of God, we find true freedom and eternal life.

Yes, persecution does come to God's people. Death has its earthly reign, but Christ won the victory over the world and the grave. We are no longer citizens of this earth; we are aliens, strangers, looking for a heavenly city built by God. As we pass through, we are new creatures, the "born again" crowd. People lacking commitment will resent that message, wanting the assurance of eternal life, but not wanting to give everything to God. They may allow God in the areas of their lives where they want him, but they don't want God in every part. They willingly share their testimony in a friendly crowd, but they don't want their faith exposed to an unruly, godless crowd. But Jesus says, if you are consistent in your testimony, when they lay hands on you and persecute you, this will result in your being witnesses to them. As humans, we often want to avoid challenging circumstances or to move to a safer place to escape persecution. We protect ourselves from testifying in an unwelcoming environment. But Jesus says, He will give us the Holy Spirit to enliven our words, to prick the hearts of the ungodly. I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Your testimony will not win the lost in your secure living room, in a lonely desert, or on some isolated hilltop. Your testimony belongs at YOUR WORK PLACE, THE GROCERY STORE, the highways and byways of life. In the above scripture, Jesus lays a heavy responsibility on his beloved disciples by placing them in the maelstrom of life, on the edge of distruction. Jesus tells them they must stand firm, commit a hundred percent. Yes, that is difficult. We might rather see someone else's life on the line than ours. We want our own little enclave of safety where we can raise a few goats and chickens, plant a garden, care for our families, and live for the Lord by ministering and testifying to the wind. But God asks for our lives now, before they become a shell in death. He asks us to work while it is yet day. When people prepare to bury your earthly shell, will the Christians say, "This person gave a hundred percent for the Lord," or will they say, "This life was lived in the backroom of life, protecting itself all the way." I know the angels rejoice when sinners are saved and when believers come home to their eternal reward. They sing praise to the Father for a life dedicated to God as a "new creature." Rejoice today and give God your first fruits. By standing firm you will gain life.