Nuggets from Seeking and Finding God—Are We Willing?

Peter, who failed so miserably and was restored by the Lord, explained that true Christians would be hated, falsely accused, and persecuted, and were expected to suffer these wrongs patiently (1 Peter:2:19-20 [19] For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. [20] For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
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For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but commited himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness…. (1 Peter:2:21-25 [21] For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: [22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: [23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: [24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. [25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
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Christians are being imprisoned, cruelly tortured, and martyred again in communist China, Burma, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Sudan, and in other Muslim countries. Similar persecutions could well overtake us in America.

Recently, I listened with tears welling in my eyes as my wife, Ruth, read to me some of the history of her ancestors. For being rebaptized after they became Christians (and thus denying the efficacy of Rome’s infant baptism, which many of today’s Calvinists, like John Calvin himself, still practice and honor), many of these Anabaptists were drowned or burned at the stake. To escape the flames, many others fled from the Inquisition in Holland to Prussia. From there they fled to Russia, and in the closing days of World War II, many attempted an escape from godless and oppressive communism back to the West.

Out of one group of 611 leaving Russia in an attempt to return to Holland, only 31 were successful. Tramping day and night through the snow, unable to find food or shelter, some were caught and returned. Others were killed or died of exposure. Children were torn from parents, husbands from wives. The terror and agony were beyond imagination. Yet those who survived came through with their faith not only intact but strengthened.

As Ruth read of the indescribable suffering, I thought of the thousands of Christians in America who find it necessary to enter “therapy” and spend months, if not years, dealing with comparatively trifling “hurts from the past.” I thought of the thousands of Christian psychologists who make a living by encouraging their clients to pity themselves for suffering “rejection,” and to pamper their “inner child,” when what they need is to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Christ.

In contrast, I was inspired by the testimony of those who suffered the loss of possessions, of loved ones, of almost every earthly hope and joy, yet triumphed through their faith in Christ. Going to a “therapist” and engaging in self-pity would have seemed incomprehensible to them when they had the Lord and His Word. They knew that “our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians:4:17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
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