Christ's Resurrection Brings Persecution

     Easter Sunday was yesterday.  The Lord is risen.  Jesus has triumphed over death.  All who believe in Him have no more reason to fear death for we know that because He lives, we can live also!  What a wonderful and powerful thought.  The fear of death is gone, the open tomb is to all who believe the gateway to eternal life.  Now we have hope, we have peace with God, we live in the assurance that God's promises are sure; they stand fast forever and ever.
     So what is a christian to expect from this great triumph by God?  Should our lives now be one of joy and peace as we merrily skip along to the end?  What kind of life does Jesus promise to those who follow Him?  "In the world you shall have tribulation..." (John 16:33)  WHAT?  He goes on to tell us to be of good cheer, but sometimes that can be very difficult, to say the least. 
     Let's look at some of the things we are promised in this life - and not the things we like to think about.  2Tiimothy 3:12 - "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."  Matthew 10:16 - "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves."  Matthew 10:34-36 - "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword,  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." 
     We are to live godly lives, be meek, humble, seeking peace, and this is what we are to expect in return?  Why?  From the beginning of sin this has been the case.  "I will put enmity (hatred) between you (the devil) and the woman (God's followers)" Genesis 3:15.  If Jesus had died and stayed in the tomb, that would mean Satan had won.  There would be no hope and we would be under Satan's control and all would be misery and death.  But because Jesus rose from the dead, it means Satan is defeated, so he redoubles his efforts to bring pain and suffering hoping to discourage us and get us to forsake God. 
     Jesus tells us what to expect so we will not be surprised.  He wants us to understand what is going on so we can keep our eyes on the heavenly prize.  God allows Satan to do his worst so we will learn to hate sin and forsake it completely.  By keeping our eyes on Jesus we see that we are only following in His footsteps. We can have courage and hope knowing that just as Jesus was victorious, so we can be too.  Matthew 10:25  "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his Lord."  Therefore let us rejoice and give thanks in the words of Jesus:  "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12)  Thank God we are in good company.