MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
May 31, 2023
God’s Saving Enmity
Part 21
WHY DOES PERSECUTION OF THE GODLY SEEM TO BE DORMANT? IS THIS A GOOD SIGN?
“For all that will live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution.”2 Tim. 3:12, KJV.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise’ (2 Pet. 3:9). He does not forget or neglect His children; but He PERMITS [and thus is in control| the wicked to REVEAL their true character, that NONE who desire to do His will may be DECEIVED concerning them [the wicked]. Again and again the RIGHTEOUS are placed in the furnace of affliction, that they themselves might be PURIFIED; that their EXAMPLE [under fiery affliction and duress| may convince others of the REALITY of FAITH AND GODLINESS, and also that their consistent course may CONDEMN the UNGODLY and unbelieving.
“God permits the wicked to PROSPER, and to reveal their ENMITY against Him, that when they shall have FILLED UP the measure of their INIQUITY, all may see His JUSTICE AND MERCY in their utter destruction. The day of His vengeance HASTENS, when all who have transgressed His law and OPPRESSED His people will meet the JUST recompense of their deeds, when every act of CRUELTY or injustice towards God’s faithful ones will be punished as though DONE TO CHRIST HIMSELF!
“There is ANOTHER AND MORE IMPORTANT question that should engage the attention of the CHURCHES OF TODAY. The apostle Paul declares that ‘all that will live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution.’ Q. “WHY IS IT THEN, THAT PERSECUTION SEEMS IN A GREAT DEGREE TO SLUMBER?
Ans. “THE ONLY REASON IS, the church has conformed to the world’s standard, and therefore awakens NO opposition. The RELIGION which is CURRENT in our day is NOT of the pure and holy character that MARKED the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of the SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE WITH SIN, because the great truths of the Word of God are so INDIFFERENTLY regarded, because there is SO LITTLE VITAL GODLINESS IN THE CHURCH, that Christianity is apparently SO POPULAR with the world! [But] let there be a REVIVAL of faith and power of the EARLY CHURCH, and the spirit of PERSECUTION will be revived, and the FIRES of persecution will be rekindled!” -E. G. White, Great Controversy, p. 48, 1911, Pacific Press Publishing Asso. CA.(all emphasis and words in brackets mine).
No wonder “in the last days perilous times shall come,” because as Paul warned that professed Christians will have superficial, not vital godliness for “they will have the form of godliness but deny the power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:4, KJV). This is but one of over a dozen Peter-like, antitypical fearful denials of Christ in these last days!
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.