January 16, 2021
Shining Bright Amidst Opposition
On New Year’s Eve 2019, I watched a year in review on TV. This is our new Year’s Eve tradition…put on our pj’s, order a pizza, and watch the year in review on a couple of different channels, and watch the ball drop (if we make it that long). Yeah, I’m a real party animal.
However, this year, it was less enjoyable because the show's tone was different than it had been in past years. I was stunned as they continually called evil good and good evil.
These programs reinforced the truth that the world sees Christians as evil, angry, hate-filled people. They despise what we believe in, and they despise our God. They don’t believe He is the only way. In their opinion, any religion is good, and most religions are better than Christianity. They hate us and the truths for which we stand.
It was a confirmation of something I believe is coming for believers. I genuinely believe persecution is in the near future for Christians. If we dim our light pre-persecution, will we extinguish it when it comes? Persecution will come. But we must shine on!
It is easy to dim our light, try and be less offensive, be more politically correct, make little compromises, not offend, and not make waves. I get it; it is sometimes just more comfortable to not upset people. But God never called us to the easy, wide road. He called us to the narrow path, the hard road. He called us to shine bright.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. -Matthew 7:13-14
I believe that as we move through the 2020’s, God is calling us to shine bright, and to get rid of the dimmer switch. Many will hate us for it, but the hidden truth I have found is that, while some hate, others yearn for truth, righteousness, and purity. They have tried it the world’s ways, and it left them beaten, battered, and hurting.
They need hope. They need peace. They need absolutes. They need what we have, the truth of the Gospel. Freedom from sin. HOPE! We have to stop dimming our light. It’s time we, as believers, rise and shine!
Memory Verse: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." -Matthew 7:13-14
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.