The Price of a Godly Life
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12.
As the time comes for God’s final message to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through the humble, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service. The laborers will be qualified through the power of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be unconstrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of world will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of false teachers—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred.
The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. Religious bodies will appeal to the strong arm of civil power, and in this work they will become more bold and decided against those that keep the law of God. All manner of wrath and hatred will be invoked against commandment keepers of God.
The words of Paul will be literally fulfilled, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” To human wisdom, all this now seems impossible; but as the restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn from men, and they shall be under the control of Satan, … there will be strange developments.
As we watch the daily newscasts we see this beginning to take place within the European Union.
The truth is, no man can serve God without enlisting against himself the opposition of the hosts of darkness.
What was the strength of those who in the past have suffered persecution for Christ’s sake? It was union with God, union with the Holy Spirit, union with Christ. It is this fellowship with the Saviour that will enable God’s people to endure to the end.
The Bible In Your Hand 