A Future Beyond the Future

Scripture: You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. Hebrews 12:4

Observation: As the writer of Hebrews encourages believers to be strong in their faith and to persevere through hardship, he sets this standard as the height of hardship ... death. If, as a believer, you have not yet been persecuted to the point of bloodshed - being physically killed - then your hardships remain less than Christ himself suffered for us.

Application: My church is now associated with people who will - not might, but will - be persecuted to the point of death. They will tell others the good news of Jesus, and as a result be jailed, tortured, and executed. And they know it, even as they go through training as ministers, teachers, and preachers. They worship with full understanding of their future, because they also know their future beyond that future.

Meanwhile, here in the U.S., I continued to lament in thoughts about the trajectory of laws and civil norms of our society. Lies are accepted, then normalized, then celebrated ... Truth is ignored, then marginalized, then castigated. I declare I am sad and a bit fearful for our future, and yet I also know that we are nowhere near the point of it being as bad as it could be.

And that is the day I truly fear, not for my safety, but for the people of this part of the world. A people who already ... chase their dreams but without hope, run races without a way, strive and toil without purpose, live and grow old without true love. And all the while, they actively reject - and even mock - that hope, way, purpose, and love.

In the U.S., we have begun to resist to the point of personal hardship. We have not resisted to the point of bloodshed. May we all love others, though, so that we would if called to do so.

Prayer: Lord, may I help bring your kingdom to this place today. May I provide a small bit of love and hope, with a message of purpose, to those who would even reject and deride me for faith. For in your great name and your amazing love is my only hope and future. Amen.