Now we come to the end of our look at the Beatitudes, and here’s how Jesus wraps up these “blessings” before continuing with his great Sermon on the Mount:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)
Persecution. Not the most fun topic of conversation. If I had been advising Jesus that day, I’d have probably said something like, “Hey, Jesus, these Beatitudes are golden. They’re going to be famous. But how about ending on a high note? You know, something positive and upbeat?”
Thankfully, I wasn’t there to give Jesus bad advice. The truth is that suffering for the faith is not only possible but expected for followers of Christ. And those who suffer are blessed.
Not all who suffer are blessed, only those who suffer “for righteousness’ sake” and “on my account.” Those who are blessed are people who suffer for Jesus, because of their faith in Jesus. Blessed are those who suffer because they try to live in line with God’s teachings and God’s standards.
When we let the world know that we are followers of Christ, and when we try to live according to his teachings, some kind of persecution is inevitable. Paul even wrote:
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted… (2 Timothy 3:12)
Why is persecution inevitable? For one thing, when we live for Christ, we’re showing our loyalty to Jesus in a way that everyone around us can see. And unless you’re so far inside a Christian cocoon that only believers see how you live or hear you talk about Jesus, some people won’t like what you stand for.
As Christians, we’re to praise God when praise is due, and we’re also to condemn evil where condemnation is due. That means going directly against what culture thinks.
I saw a picture once of two astronauts talking to each other in the space station. They were eye to eye, but upside down from each other. One’s legs were pointing down, and the other’s were pointing up. Or vice-versa. In space, who’s to say what’s up or down?
Let’s face it, our culture today in so many ways is completely upside-down. But to the upside-down person, a right-side-up person seems upside-down. To the world, God’s ways seem upside-down, backward, and inside-out. People who go along with those things are either ignorant, evil, or both. Either way, we’re a danger to society.
Our world thinks we live in an age of enlightenment when it’s actually lost in darkness. And when Christians shine a light on that darkness, that light is not welcome.
There is actually a war taking place. And it isn’t people we are fighting.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)
We have an enemy who is alive and well and is attacking the kingdom of God at every opportunity. Until Jesus returns, he will lead the fight against the faith. This isn’t a fight that he has a chance of winning. Satan only has what God allows him to have. But make no mistake about it, when the world attacks you, there is a spiritual enemy behind that attack.
For Christians, living out the teachings of Jesus in a world controlled by that kind of evil will cost us something. How did we ever get the idea that it wouldn’t? Jesus never promised us a rose garden (that’s a shout-out to Lynn Anderson, and yes, I’m old). Jesus talked about families being split because of him. He talked about denying oneself. He talked about carrying crosses.
If you’re not facing any opposition at all, are you living a holy life? I’m not talking about being over the top, mentioning Jesus in every breath, or wearing a John 3:16 sign to work. But are you around unbelievers? Do they even know that you love Jesus? Do they see any difference he’s made in your life?
One more thought on this subject – if persecution is inevitable for those who are following Christ, how in the world can Jesus say we’ll be happy?
I admit it, I want to be blessed, I want to be happy. And if it’s all the same, God, I’ll take my happiness without the suffering, please. That may be God’s will for you, a life with very little suffering for his sake. One day you’ll experience something far greater than you can imagine.
But if great suffering for Christ is God’s will for you, then your reward in heaven will be even greater:
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29)
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. (Romans 8:18-19)
No matter what persecution we face in this life, we are blessed because what’s ahead for us is so unimaginably great. The troubles we face here are just temporary. Our future is eternity.
Live for Jesus. You’ll face opposition. It may be little, it may be great, but through it all, keep your eyes on your Savior. Not one single thing that’s happening to you is outside of his control. He’s with you every step of the way. And one day, you’ll be with him for eternity. And you’ll know for yourself that the sufferings of this present time aren’t worth comparing to the glory you’ll experience there.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”