Forever

I received an email a couple of hours ago that my friend, Sam Rojas, who was awaiting trial today in Venezuela, will probably be spending another month in prison before going to trial. His crime was receiving a load of cement, that was deemed illegal contraband, to help build a medical center for those in need. 

Sam spends all of his time and energy working for the Lord, and now he is in jail for something that he had nothing to do with. I've been praying to God that he will receive the justice he deserves. I invite you to join me in praying for Sam. 

But this whole situation has me thinking about something. The question that keeps running though my mind is what should Christians expect? In other words, what are our expectations about our life and what it will be like because we are Christians? Many Christians are Christian simply because that is what they were born into and that is all they have ever known. Some people are Christians because they believe it will give them a better life. Many people have a true encounter with God and genuinely want to follow Him. I hope and believe that is true of most of us here at Mt. Bethel UMC.

But the real question is what do the scriptures say about what we can expect out of life as Christians. Some might argue with me, but I don't believe that the scriptures promise that we will be healed from every disease, that all our problems will work out eventually in some wonderful way, or that if we pray hard and long enough God will answer our prayers just the way we want Him to answer them. 

So what does the Christian life promise us? The gospel of John gives us some indication of what to expect, in the very words of Jesus: "Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master, If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also..."John 15:20.

Not typically what we think of when we think of God's promises, is it? But Jesus couldn't be any more clear, we will be persecuted if we follow Him.

One other scripture that comes to mind is in the Gospel of Luke 9:23-24, where Jesus tells his followers, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

Wow, persecution and a life of sacrifice sound pretty tempting, no wonder the crowds followed Him, or maybe the truth is, no wonder so many turned on Him when the going got tough.

As I think about these Scriptures and many others like it I wonder how many of us embrace the Christian life as God truly intended. 

If this were the whole story then I couldn't blame people for looking for something else. The truth is, as seems to be the case with all things with God, the Christian life is so much harder than any of us want to admit, but the greater truth is, it is also so much more, by far, than we can even imagine. 

My friend Samuel, throughout this ordeal, has been at peace in the midst of this storm, and knowing Sam I believe the reason is this: God tells us, I will never leave you or
forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5 & Deuteronomy 31:6) God sends us out into this, often times, unjust world, with a promise that is the greatest promise one could ever make. Just as in John 15:20 he tells us to remember that we will be persecuted in Matthew 28:20, He closes the verse with these words. And remember, I am with you always,
to the end of the age.

I hope, like me, you are becoming tired of promises, of a Christian life, that will make life better, that really doesn't exist. But what Jesus did promise is so much greater than that; He promised to be with us today and every day, forever! Wow, now that is a promise. As we lift up Sam in prayer from his jail cell, know that God's presence is with him. It is also true that whatever you are going through right now, if you trust in Him, He is with you too, now and forever!

Carey Akin

Associate Pastor