I’ve been in the 13th chapter of Hebrews this week. Paul or whoever wrote Hebrews, is coming to the end of the letter and he is mainly mentioning things in short form likely to make sure they are shared before closing the letter.
I was on my way to go get Joy yesterday and I was listening to a preacher on the radio and he was recounting the martyrs over time and the sacrifice they gave. He mentioned that even today, there is an average of 150,000 people being killed each year because they are Christians.
Heb. 13: 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
Heb. 13: 5 For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say:
“The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
Reflecting on these scriptures, I think of those in Muslim lands that are trying to live for Jesus in a suspicious culture. I remember felling this spirit of suspicion when I visited Romania back in 1985. At this time it was under Communism and the government really relied upon citizens informing on fellow citizens. Now I was living in Yugoslavia back then, but in Yugoslavia the communist government was looser in their control. At the Romanian border they questioned me as to what I was going to be doing in Romania, where I was going and who I was going to see. I didn’t lie, but I told them I was living in Yugoslavia and I just wanted to see Romania since it was close by. From that point on I never felt like I was followed although I was doing some things of a suspicious nature. (God’s protection is amazing when you are on a mission for Him) One thing for sure, my prayers for Romania went deeper. Thank the Lord for the fall of communism because when I was able to once again go back to Romania earlier this year, after 25 years, I did not sense that spirit of suspicion at all.
My thoughts on this is; that these countries that are real restrictive, they are that way because they have accepted the anti-Christ spirit. Apostle John talks about the anti-Christ spirit:
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1 John 4:3
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2 John 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (KJV)
These martyrs are God’s front line attack against this anti-Christ spirit. Let us pray that they be able to stand in what Paul said,
“The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
I reflect back on living in Yugoslavia and that visit to Romania in 1985; In Yugoslavia, I always felt I would have the US government to back me up, but in Romania I felt like the US embassy would not have been able to help me.
