“If the World Hates You”
“If the
world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you
as its own. As it is, you do not belong
to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15:18-19
Throughout
the ages, Christians have been hated, persecuted, debased, threatened,
tormented, tortured, and put to death, all because of their FAITH in Jesus
Christ. In these verses, Christ tells us
that the world hates those that belong to Him, because of our relationship with
Him, and mostly, the fact that it hated Him first.
Back during
the days when His disciples were spreading the gospel. The Romans and the religious leaders hated
the followers of Christ, and would round the believers up and have them beaten,
stoned to death, or fed to the lions, only because of their belief in Jesus
Christ. The Romans and the religious
leaders were threatened by the teachings of Christ and feared that they would
lose their power and control over the people.
It is getting almost that bad today, with the execution of Christians in
the Middle East and worse yet in our own supposedly civilized country.
Jesus said, “If
you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.” In 1st John 2:15-17, we are told; “Do
not love the world or anything in the world.
If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world ---the lust of
the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life---comes NOT from the
Father but from the world. The world and
its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” We are in the world, but we are to NOT be a
part of the world in our heart and mind.
We are to be a peculiar people. A
people set apart for God’s own will. We
are to be God-pleasers and NOT people-pleasers.
We, who are TRUE believers are to honor Christ and not this old,
wretched, sin-laden world.
We cannot
compromise or try to fit in with worldly ways, but we SHOULD remain TRUE to our
FAITH. We are at RISK of losing our
Christian values, because of the ruler of this world, the devil, and his wicked
schemes. The great deceiver of mankind,
the one who destroys the very soul of mankind and hurls it headlong into the
depths of Hell for ALL of eternity. Sin
lasts but for a season, but its wages are eternal.
Christianity
is being attacked every day and every day we see God being removed from our
nation. And many, who claim to be
Christian are more concerned about “fitting in” then they are about defending
their FAITH. Where do you stand? Are you a TRUE believer following Jesus
Christ and being hated by the world? Or are
you too busy trying to fit into the world and its lifestyle?
If you have
NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are a part of the world, and the
world and its desires will pass away, and where will that leave you? It will put you in Hell, the place of ETERNAL
torment, torture, pain, agony and despair with NO way of escape. However, you NOW have the opportunity to turn
away from the worldly desires and turn to Jesus Christ, who can release you
from your sins and give you eternal life in Heaven, by: CONFESSING your sins to God, and asking Him
for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU
and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT
His gift of SALVATION, and even though you will be hated by the world, you will
be LOVED by Father God and you will possess the HOPE of Heaven. Do it NOW, while you still can. He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!
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