Triumph Over Trouble预览

Benefits of persecution, Part 1- Reward in Heaven

The Bible is full of Scriptures on the benefits of persecution. But the question is, are we willing to give up something to live a Godly life – a life that brings joy to the heart of God? God loves to rescue us out of trouble, but first, we must experience the trouble.

Out of the lions’ den for Daniel

Out of Goliath’s shadow for David

Out of the fish’s belly for Jonah

Out of the storm for the disciples

Out of disease for the lepers

Out of the grave for Lazarus

In Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus said: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Do we desire the kingdom of heaven? Are we working for our reward in heaven, more than our reward here?

Peter encouraged us in 1 Peter 4:12-16: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”

This world is not our home, so we are happy to lose here and gain our amazing inheritance waiting for us when we graduate to Glory. Hebrews 10:32-35 describes this: “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”

Jesus said this another way in Mark 10:29-31: “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Being first here may cost us everything in the life to come. Jesus said in Matthew 16:26-27, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”

So let us be last with joy; because we will receive so much more in the life to come!

The joys of heaven will make these troubles we face on earth seem like nothing. Let us rejoice in our blessed hope!