SUFFERING FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE
"Where
was God when I really needed Him?" This kind of question is asked by people all over the
world every day.
Þ "God, I thought you were real, but now I'm not so
sure."
Þ "I had a BIG problem—bigger than I could handle."
Þ "God, you did not get to me in time—you were
late!"
Þ "How could God let this happen to me!"
Þ "I never thought this would happen, not to me!"
Þ "God, I thought you loved me...."
When persecution comes to the
believer, it is important to know how to respond.
This
passage begins a new section dealing with persecution. Genuine believers suffer
all kinds of persecution: being ridiculed and mocked, ignored and bypassed,
isolated and cut off, abused and beaten, imprisoned and murdered. All genuine
believers face some persecution at one time or another, all to varying degrees.
The question is this: How can we bear up under the persecution? How can we be
assured that we will stand up under the persecution and be counted faithful by
God? How can we be assured that we will endure and inherit the hope of eternal
life, of living with Christ forever and ever? There is only one way: we must
stand up for Christ no matter the suffering or its ferociousness.
I. DO WHAT IS RIGHT
AND GOOD (v. 13-14).
Note
the verse: it actually says to become "a follower of that which is
good." The word "follower" means zealot. The believer is to be
so zealous for what is right that he is actually known as a zealot for good.
Imagine being gripped with so much passion and zeal for good that one becomes
known as a zealot! This is the challenge of this passage. Several attitudes
toward doing good permeate society.
Þ Some persons have a care less attitude toward
goodness. Doing what is right and good matters little. What is right and good
is rebelled against, ignored, cursed, and rejected. The person has little
conscience about right and wrong. His values are ever so weak. He could care
less if he does what is right and good.
Þ Some persons have a selfish attitude toward
goodness. If doing what is right and good benefits them, then they do it. If it
helps them, meets their need and enlarges their holdings, then they do what is
right. But if it costs them, demands discipline and control, and takes away
from their pleasure and holdings, then they reject the good and refuse to do
what is right.
Þ Some persons have a surface or sentimental attitude
to what is good and right. They readily profess to believe in what is good and
right and want to be known as moral and upright. But behind the scenes they go
ahead and live as they want and do their own thing.
Some
persons, of course, have a zealous attitude toward what is right and good. They
have committed their lives to seeking and doing what they should. This is
exactly what Scripture is saying: "Be a zealot—be a fanatic—be a
passionate follower—after that which is good and right." Note three
points.
1. The believer who does good will be less likely to
suffer persecution (1 Peter 3:13).
Most people will appreciate the good we do, including our neighbors and civil
authorities. Doing good will keep us from getting into trouble with the law and
from offending our neighbors, fellow workers, and community. Therefore, the
chance of our being persecuted becomes less likely. "Let your
conversation [behavior] be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man
shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
2. The believer who suffers persecution will be
happy, that is, blessed by God. How can a
person who is suffering persecution be happy and blessed? When a person focuses
his mind and life upon the things of this world, they can be snatched from him
overnight. The person can be stricken with disease, suffer a heart attack, have
an accident, go through bankruptcy, lose everything he has through an economic
slump or stock market crash. A 'black Monday' can happen anytime and
anywhere in this world. A person of the world can suffer such a crushing blow
that he is destroyed and left hopeless and helpless in life, but not a true
believer. The mind and life of the true believer are focused upon Jesus Christ;
therefore, no matter what he suffers, he still has his most cherished
possession—Jesus Christ, the very Son of God. He knows that Jesus Christ is
going to look after him and take care of him: that Christ is going to work
everything out for good.
The
very same thing happens when the believer is persecuted for righteousness'
sake. His mind and life are focused upon Christ; therefore, he possesses Christ
and all the promises of Christ. He possesses such promises as these:
Þ God will work all things out
for good for him."And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Þ God will provide all the
necessities of life for him."But seek ye first the
Þ God will give him a very
special spirit of glory to rest upon him."If ye be
reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of
God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he
is glorified" (1
Peter 4:14).
Þ The life of Christ will be
manifested in his flesh."For we which live are always delivered
unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest
in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor. 4:11).
Þ God will give him a great
reward in heaven."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).
Þ The Lord will take him on to
heaven and preserve him through all eternity when the time comes for him to
leave this earth."And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil
work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever
and ever" (2
Tim. 4:18).
Note
how wonderful and glorious these promises are. There are so many more promises,
so many in fact that, as John the Apostle says, the world itself could not
contain enough shelves to hold the books if all the promises of God were
written out (John
21:25).
3. The believer is not to fear nor be troubled by the
terror of persecution. No matter what the
suffering is—ridicule, mockery, abuse, assault, rejection, being bypassed,
imprisoned, or martyred—if the believer is persecuted because he stands up for
Christ, he is not to fear. God will meet his need. God has great things in
store for the believer; therefore, God shall never forsake him.
Þ God will strengthen him to bear the persecution.
Þ God will use his suffering as a strong testimony for Christ
and touch the hearts of some of the persecutors.
Þ God will use his suffering to make him a far stronger
believer, to make him more and more secure in Christ."The lord shall fight for you, and ye shall
hold your peace" (Exodus 14:14).
II. SET YOUR HEART ON
CHRIST AND THE GREAT HOPE HE GIVES (v. 15).
The
believer is to receive Christ into his heart. The believer's heart is to be
sanctified, that is, filled with Christ and focused upon Christ. Why? Because
Christ is his only hope of salvation. Jesus Christ promises to save all who
receive Him into their hearts. Therefore, if a person wishes to be saved, he
must have Jesus Christ in his heart.
The
point is this: if Jesus Christ is in the heart of the believer, then the
believer has the greatest of hopes, the hope of salvation and of living
forever. It is this hope that stirs the believer to bear persecution. Christ,
who lives within the believer, strengthens the believer. How? Christ stirs the
hope of salvation within the heart of the believer and arouses him to endure
the suffering no matter how fierce and threatening. Christ arouses great
assurance within the believer, the assurance that the hope of salvation is true
and that it is right around the corner. The person who has truly sanctified
Christ within his heart loves Christ and wants to please Christ. He knows that
Christ has died for him and is going to conform him into the very image of the
Son of God Himself. Therefore, the true believer wants to please Christ. The
believer would never think of displeasing Christ nor of hurting and causing
Christ pain, especially by buckling under to persecution and denying Him. But
remember: only the person who has sanctified Christ within his heart can stand
fast against persecution. Our hearts must be filled with Christ and focused
upon Christ to bear suffering for righteousness' sake."I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
III.
READILY ANSWER AND DEFEND THE HOPE OF SALVATION (v. 15).
The
word "answer" or "defend" means just that, to answer back
or to give a defense of the believer's hope.
1. The believer
is to answer every man who asks him about his hope of salvation and of
living forever. He is to answer every... Þ neighbor Þ
stranger Þ friend Þ foe Þ employerÞ employee Þ
civil authority
Þ legal authority Þ fellow worker Þ
classmate
The
believer is to miss no opportunity to witness for Christ. He is not to shirk
his duty in witnessing, and he is not to neglect or ignore anyone. Day by day
as he crosses the path of others, he is to give an answer and defend the hope
of salvation to all who ask and will listen.
2. The believer is to be ready to answer and
defend the hope of salvation. This means
preparation; it means study, meditation, and prayer. The believer must study
the Scripture, study all about God and Christ, all about the salvation and
promises of God. The believer must know the Scripture and live in prayer in
order to be ready to witness. The great tragedy is that most professing
believers do not know what they believe. They know little about Christ, what it
is that makes Him so unique and superior. Few can witness and lead anyone else
to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Few are willing to take the time or
exert the effort to study God's Word and to learn the truth. Most are just not
willing to pay the price to learn about God and Christ and to prepare
themselves to be dynamic witnesses for Christ.
3. The believer is to be very careful about how he
answers and defends the hope of salvation. He
is to answer people with a spirit of meekness and fear before God.
Þ By meekness is meant a spirit
of tenderness and softness, of care and love, of humility and brokenness.
But note: meekness also means a spirit of strength and courage. Meekness does
not put up with sin and shame, license and indulgence. It does all it can to
relieve and correct evil and mistreatment. Too often witnessing is done in a
spirit of superiority and arrogance, argument and controversy, criticism and
divisiveness.
Þ By fear is meant fearing God
lest one misrepresent or twist the truth of God's salvation. It means to
hold God in such reverence and awe that one bears witness only in a spirit of
constant prayer and dependence upon God. One knows and acknowledges that God is
the Source of salvation; He alone can save a person. Therefore, one is ever so
careful to present only the truth of God's Word and of salvation.
Too often witnessing is done in a spirit of pride,
pushing oneself forward instead of God. The spirit of fearing God is all but
forgotten; God is not reverenced. The truth of His salvation is twisted to make
oneself more acceptable and recognized.
The point is this: the answer to persecution is to
bear a clear and strong witness for Christ, but to do so with meekness and in
the fear of God. By bearing a strong but gentle witness, those who oppose us
will understand more about why we hold to such a glorious hope. In some cases,
some of them will even be saved.
Every believer has the God-given responsibility to
share the gospel with others. All of us might not be evangelists,
but Christ has given us a story to tell. Rusty Stevens, a director
for the Navigators, shares his story.
"As I feverishly pushed the lawn mower around our
yard, I wondered if I'd finish before dinner. Mikey, our 6-year-old,
walked up and, without even asking, stepped in front of me and placed his hands
on the mower handle. Knowing that he wanted to help me, I quit
pushing.
"The mower quickly slowed to a
stop. Chuckling inwardly at his struggles, I resisted the urge to
say, 'Get out of here, kid. You're in my way.' and said instead,
'Here, Son. I'll help you.' As I resumed pushing, I bowed
my head back and leaned forward, and walked spread-legged to avoid colliding
with Mickey. The grass cutting continued, but more slowly, and less
efficiently than before, because Mikey was 'helping' me.
"Suddenly, tears came to my eyes as it hit
me: 'This is the way my heavenly Father allows me to help him
build his kingdom!' I pictured my heavenly Father at work seeking,
saving, and transforming the lost, and there I was, with my weak hands 'helping.' My
Father could do the work by himself, but he doesn't. He chooses to
stoop gracefully to allow me to co-labor with
him. Why? For my sake, because he wants me to have
the privilege of ministering with him."
The opportunity is there. God is there waiting to help
you. What are you waiting for?
1. Are you supposed to pick and choose
people with whom you share the gospel? Or are you supposed to share
the gospel with every person?
2. Have you ever had an opportunity to
witness and missed it? What could you have done differently?
3. What attitude are you to convey to the
lost when you share the gospel? In what ways can you cultivate this
kind of attitude?
IV.
KEEP A GOOD CONSCIENCE (v. 16-17).
· to a good or clear conscience.
· to a good conversation, that is, good conduct or behavior.
The
only way a person can have a clear conscience is to have good conduct. If the
believer is to stand against persecution, he must have a clear conscience, and
to have a clear conscience he must have good conduct and behavior. The believer
must be living a good life; his conduct and behavior must be holy, righteous,
pure, decent, upright, and above reproach. He must have a conscience and a
behavior that are without blame, that cannot be justly blamed with any sin or
evil. Note three points.
1. Those who oppose and persecute believers will be
put to shame by the believer's good behavior and clear conscience. Some people will always oppose and persecute
believers. If a person really lives for Jesus Christ, his righteousness and
self-denial convicts those who love this world and its pleasures and
possessions. Therefore, they often persecute the believer, ridicule, mock,
isolate, abuse, imprison, or kill him. The worldly do all they can to stop the
witness of the believer. But note: eventually those who oppose and persecute
the believer will be put to shame. The good and righteous behavior of the
believer will vindicate the believer either in this world or in the next world.
The persecutor will stand ashamed of his attacks against the believer; the idea
is that he will be eternally shamed.
2. It is better for believers to suffer for doing
good than for doing evil. This is only
common sense: a person can bear suffering much easier if he is suffering for a
good and just cause. It is very difficult to stand up under suffering when it
is an unjust and evil cause. God wants believers living righteous and pure
lives and He wants them witnessing for Him even if they do face persecution for
it. This is the will of God; therefore, believers are to keep a good conscience
before God. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Keeping a good conscience
means that your conduct is suitable before men and God as this
story reminds us.
"A man went to steal
corn from his neighbor's field. He took his little boy with him to
keep a lookout, so as to give warning in case anyone should come
along. Before commencing he looked all around, first one way and
then the other. Not seeing any person, he was just about to fill his
bag, when his son cried out, 'Father, there is one way you haven't looked
yet!' The father supposed that someone was coming, and asked his son
which way he meant. He answered, 'You forgot to look
up!' The father, conscience-stricken, took his boy by the hand, and
hurried home without the corn which he had designed to take."
If
you fail to look up, you'd better look out! Remember, God is
watching.
Are you willing to suffer for
doing good? Why should you?