"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13).
First, let me just say that I love the United States of America. I will not, however, be one to assert that America has, at any time in her short history, ever been perfect, for she has not been. Nevertheless, this nation has been at times referred to as an "experiment". That description was never truer than right after the Revolutionary War as the rest of the world--in it's entirety--was under some despotic monarch's, chief's, or emperor's iron-fisted rule. A constitutional republic was an aberration on the world scene. Since America's founding, her distinctive structure has permitted individuals--free men and women--to enjoy the fruits of their own labor, to enjoy open and free discussion and access to virtually any and all forms of information, and the uninhibited practice of an their religion. Of course, there is some idealism in some of the aforementioned statements, but generally, they are very accurate. The standard of living, which in all of human history has been unmatched, is rapidly eroding (along with our morality), and the thin veil of stability and order is now quite tattered and moth-eaten and all of our comfortable living is fast coming to an end.
That order and stability which we, especially my generation (of the forty-somethings), have become so accustomed to is running out of steam. The economic engines of manufacturing, technological innovations, science and engineering which have served as the West's driving force for prosperity are grinding to a halt and the effects are seen right outside our windows. The streets of America are quickly filling with the homeless. Unemployment lines grow ever longer (and that I know personally). Inflation continues to drive food and fuel prices higher and higher which force the lower class into an even lower class and which compel our seniors to choose between life-saving medicines versus heat in their homes during harsh winters. The corruption and incompetence of each Presidential Administration from Barack Obama's all the way back to Jimmy Carter's are collectively hammering the nails into America's coffin. And as more and more of the population becomes dependent on the government in the forms of food stamps, section 8 housing, and government jobs, what we are presented with is the perfect storm that can force the entire nation over the cliff into complete and utter anarchy.
The day of the dollar's collapse is very near and the great global uncertainty surrounding the dollar is the proof. Even now, almost every industrialized nation's leaders are urging the creation of a new global reserve currency. They are readying their abandonment of the once rock-solid dollar as America implodes. The question is, what shall American Christians do when this volatile mixture of flammable, toxic variables finally erupts in the most fierce economic conflagration the world has ever seen, one in which the world will demand a new "Caesar" to "make everything alright" again. Don't say it can't happen. The Germans wanted relief so badly that they gave way to Adolph Hitler. The Chinese bought the propaganda of Mao Zedong and Red China was born. The Bolsheviks sold their dream of a Socialist paradise so well that it gave rise to the fearsome Soviet Union.
Needless to say, hundreds of millions of people died under these governments alone. And some of the most hunted, persecuted people have been Bible-believing Christians.
That brings us to the real possibility that here, in the United States of America, Christians may be killed, simply for being Christian! This is already happening in communist North Korea, and under the theocratic tyranny of Iran's Ayatollahs. The slaughter of Christians in Sudan is astonishing; in Indonesia and New Guinea thousands of Christians' blood stains the ground. Christians are always targeted for extermination because Bible-believing Christians don't fit into the godless societies created by tyrants for they have but one King, Jesus Christ. The Holy Bible, which unapologetically pronounces judgment on every society, culture, and government which does not adhere to the commands of God is unaccaptable to this world's philosophy. This generates and stimulates great enmity against God's Word and those who cling to it. This is true in history and is true because the Scripture says that the entire world lies under the control of Satan (I Jn. 5:19) and all of its entertainment, academia, religions and politics. The society which abandons God cannot endure His Word, therefore seeks to expunge it from the public square, as is happening daily in America.
So, what will we do, who call on the Name of Jesus Christ? It's very easy to be Christian in America right now (generally speaking). And what I mean is that, there aren't any Christians being burned at the stake, or shot publicly by firing squads, or sent to re-education camps right now. Yes, we can proudly tote our Bibles around as we ride public transportation and read them in the break rooms of our respective jobs; we have no qualms about "putting on our Sunday best" to go worship, and we have no problem having "Jesus is my co-pilot" bumper stickers on our cars.
But will we be so quick to do all of those things when laws are enacted that virtually outlaw our faith? When our stomachs are empty because we're not allowed to work to earn money to buy food for ourselves and our families, will we still be steadfast in our faithfulness to Jesus Christ? When the church buildings are charred and burned and smoldering because Christians are made the scapegoats for society's calamity, will we still meet to worship God as His Word commands? When our loved ones are threatened and arrested because of our Christian activity, how strong will our resolve remain? I realize that my words may paint a picture that is unimaginable to most, but the possibility is real, I assure you. If we're honest, we have become addicted to the comforts God has blessed this nation with. And actually, we have come to expect them and even think it's an outrage when our comforts and conveniences aren't readily available. If we have to wait "too long" in the check-out line at the grocery store we quickly see the extent of our "Christianity." If we're cut off in traffic, we see how quickly the old man reasserts himself with all of his obscene gestures and epithets. How much more if our backs are against the wall, when a good, hot meal is just a denial of Christ away?
Even now, Christians around the world are experiencing loss of life and limb--literally. They are losing their tongues for confessing Christ; they are having eyes gouged out for viewing the Holy Scriptures; they are forced to watch the torture of their loved ones and children for confessing Jesus Christ--and they, filled and strengthened by the Holy Spirit are remaining true to Christ's Name (Mk. 13:9, 11) like the Apostles and faithful of old (Heb. 11:36-40) and securing for themselves a magnificent welcome into the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt. 25:34-40; Acts 7:54-60; Rev. 14:13).
When it all falls apart, and this massive empire of pleasure and decadence and comfort and convenience crashes, will we be found as faithful in the times of want as we were in the times of plenty?
Prepare. Now.
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