Before the Night

When contemplating Christ’s horrendous suffering, I find it difficult not to think about whether I could endure such affliction for people I love; never mind for antagonists. Two factors immediately come to mind: enduring pain and facing physical death. Neither thought is pleasant, especially because God created us with the innate desire to live! Depending on what one believes about an afterlife, one aspect can be more distressing than the other. Through the ages, so many have given their lives for a belief that was so intrinsically important to them that it overcame their survival instinct. Is there anything that is that important to us? I think there should be.

My thoughts today are focused on remaining steadfast through adversity or night seasons. Based on Strong’s G2558 definition, “kakoucheō” or adversity means torment or suffering. This word is used in Hebrews 11:37 which is very sobering because it addresses some of the things Old Testament believers endured because of faith. There are many around the world enduring today. I believe it is necessary to think about this to ensure we stand and to pray for the persecuted church.

1. recall the love of our LORD and His character; 
2. reckon the cost in advance;
3. resolve out of a position of love; and,
4. ruminate the benefits of eternity in contrast to the temporal.

Why not take the time to evaluate and resolve what matters most while we have clarity of mind and are not forced to react out of impulse? How will we be able to be faithful to Christ amid intense persecution?

When Jesus gave His life to redeem humanity from the power of the enemy, He did so premeditatedly.   

• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1 to 5, and 14).
• And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. … For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1st John 3:5, and 8b);
• He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (Colossians 1:13 to 17).

Revelation 13:8 instructs us that Christ, the Lamb of God, was “… slain from the foundation of the world”. Christ’s incarnation, suffering and death were with a cause that was established from the foundation of the earth. It was premeditated.    

• He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you (1st Peter 1:20);
• He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Hebrews 9:26).

His cause was love; the love of humanity (John 3:16 to 17). His cause was justice; the end of the power of darkness. His method righteousness…

• … the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21 to 24).

Numerous Scriptures demonstrate Jesus knew He came to die to pay the price of our sin and reconcile us back to God the Father: Matthew 5:17; 10:34 to 35; Mark 1:38; 10:45; Luke 19:10; John 9:39; 10:10; 12:27; 17:4; 18:37; Romans 15:8 to 9; 1 Timothy 1:15; and Hebrews 2:14 are just a few.

Christ declared the truth and obeyed the Father by which He overcame the adversary of our souls so that we could realize love of God and experience abundant life through His death and resurrection. Our LORD who had never experienced spiritual separation from His Father cried out for the first and last time, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34). We know that after that heart breaking moment that He experienced for us, Jesus Christ trusted His soul to His Father because afterwards He… cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ … He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46).

In Colossians 1:13, God’s love for His Son is affirmed. God spoke from Heaven in Matthew 2:17 saying,  “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.“  God loved Jesus so much that He gave Jesus all things (John 3:35).  And the Great Jehovah had told Isaiah in chapter 42 that He delights in His Servant who brings justice to the gentiles. Jesus said, “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24).

• In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  (1st John 4:9);
• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:3 to 7).

The price was not only to die physically but to be separated spiritually from God as Adam was when Adam sinned. Scripture states. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2nd Corinthians 5:21).  That feeling was so dark and empty that Jesus cried out! The One who owned everything and had all authority cried out in great spiritual pain at being momentarily separated from the presence of His Father’s love. 

Neither God the Father nor God the Son ever ceased to exist! All three substances or personas of the Godhead are eternal! BUT, THEY DID SEPARATE ONCE FOR US.

Friends, you we die you do not cease to be. The spirit is eternal and will live somewhere; either with God, or separated from His presence with the tormenter of souls. This is where Christ went to conquer the enemy and take away the power of death.

When God imputed our sin onto the sinless God-Man, God poured out His wrath on Christ; sent Him to hell for us to fulfill the punishment of sin; and, because Christ was sinless, death could not hold Him down! The Spirit of God raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11)! Jesus said,  

By defeating the enemy and living a sinless life; our Victor took the keys of death away from Satan and He grants freedom from the chains of death. He is righteous in granting those who will follow Him access to His presence in heaven because He paid the penalty of sin; bore the wrath of God; and, legally obtained the right to pardon people who still sin.   

What grace to give us this unfailing love that is entirely unmerited! Having His Spirit indwell us, guiding us, loving us, and calming fears and doubts is something we would never want to trade. Everything good comes from God since God is love (1st John 4:8).

When confronted by decisions that have life-altering implications, we ought to recall God’s love and His nature; then we should consider eternity. Make choices based on who we want to spend eternity with and what we want that to be.

We should be motivated to stand because of love instead of worrying because of fear.

• “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28);
• But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11);
• There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. (1st John 4:18 to 19).

Since the LORD loved the Father and was in perfect agreement with His Father from the foundation of the world, we know His love for us also reckoned or counted the cost. His sacrifice for us was decided in eternity and He saw it through. Christ is our example of how a human being can decide in advance to overcome the injuries to one’s person because of love.

I’ve often wondered about the extent of my love for my Saviour. With such a great impulse for self-preservation, it’s natural to have difficulty with the idea of laying down one’s life; after all, this is a God-given instinct. The difference between failing to survive and self-sacrifice for the benefit of another is. Not surviving is when life escapes and self-sacrifice is a gift. Jesus said:

• “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17 to 18);
• “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.“(John 15:13).  

At times of war, very noble individuals intentionally proceed into battle hoping to return to their families but willing to die to defend them. Notice that Jesus said that He was commanded to lay down His life and to take it again. This tells me that if God allows one of His children into a situation, He will ensure they have His power to navigate it. We know the LORD expected some of His followers to escape persecution and others to endure through hardship even to the point of death. I am reminded of Jesus’s response to Peter when he asked Jesus about the fate of John who in the end lived a full lifespan, albeit in jail for a period:

• “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” (John 21:18 to 22).

Christ was clear with Peter about the call. Christ asks us to follow Him regardless of friends, colleagues, family and society. Reacting to His call should have nothing to do with desired events or circumstances; and, our response certainly has nothing to do with God’s plans for others. 

Our response should be based on understanding who God is. It is an acknowledgement that when Christ purchased us from slavery to sin, we became His possession. Our response is a decision of obedience made capable through love for Him because of who He is.

This Saviour is so generous, He does not treat us as slaves but as friends. While He calls us friends and even siblings, there is no mistake, we are in His service; we are labourers in His vineyard.  

• “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. “These things I command you, that you love one another. (John 15:14 to 17).

The LORD commanded us to follow His precepts that are all based on loving God and loving others. When loving God, we despise the sin that separates God from His creation. When we despise sin, we know that those who enjoy its pleasures will end up resenting us for persisting in faithfulness to the Word of God. When we love others, we do our best to point out the way of eternal life which is in direct opposition to Godlessness. This is not popular in today’s culture. Jesus warned us saying:

• “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:18 to 20).

When the Holy Spirit joined us within us, we were given the ability of Christ to endure. Our God does not force compliance but gently trains us, and as such, He will not force us to witness or to be bold for Him. Some think that by being silent they can escape the scorn of the world but in reality, this is not possible.   

• Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. (2nd Corinthians 2:14 to 15).

Once the Holy Spirit’s fragrance is within you, the world can sense the difference. We ought not to be surprised when the LORD’s ways are not accepted and when we are likewise “crowded” into a corner as to make us submissive to the world’s standards. Rather, we should anticipate it. We should prepare our minds for the spiritual battle and equip ourselves with God’s Word to stand firm. We should deepen our relationship with our LORD so that we are love Him more.

The Word of God clearly states that before Jesus returns to set up His Kingdom:

• “the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, … The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2nd Thessalonians 2:3 and 9 to12).

Jesus said: 

• “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it; “lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, “saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ “Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? “Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26 to 33).

Since our LORD commands us to love everyone, we know He is not telling us to hate our families! He is telling us that there will be times that the sin in the unbelieving family members will force a decision. In these times, we need to hate the sin; it will appear to others as though we hate them. If our self-preservation tempts us to deny the LORD, we must detest that as well. Anything that is loved above God is a sin; it is idolatry.

Jesus warned us that if we don’t consider in advance what we will have to pay for our position, we will have no ability to follow Jesus. We will either turn away because we have not decided to love the LORD more than anyone or anything; or, we will be crushed by the weight of the battle. 

• Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8).

Here is the good news! When we identify what could cause us to be disobedient, we will not be taken by surprise. We can lay these things at our Saviour’s feet and trust Him to strengthen and guide us. When the spirit of fear tries to taunt us into a fear-based decision, we can say: “no to fear and sin”; we have counted the cost”; and “our eternity is worth the payment”. This is what Christ did for us! Will it be hard? Probably!

When we face difficulties because of love for Christ, His teaching and His church, we have the most powerful force acting with us. We know this because God is love! (1st John 4:8b).

Christ was steadfast in love because of love despite the persecution He endured. As mentioned earlier, Jesus Christ’s purpose was to reconcile us to the love of God, and now we will consider what “being in God’s love” means.  

Before Jesus paid the price for our sins, He first had to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Once He was resurrected and ascended to Heaven, people would need to understand and declare the good news of eternal life with God in every generation until the appointed culmination set by God. 

• Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” … “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? … “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (These Scriptures can be found in John 3).

The love the Godhead enjoys is eternal, spiritual, righteous, peaceful and joyful.  For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17). While this love manifests physically, it is primarily spiritual in origin. Jesus said in John 4 starting at verse 23:

• “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” … “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 
• Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; “nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20 and 21).

Jesus said moments later in Luke 17:25, “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.”  For over 3 years, Jesus spoke the Words of life, the spiritual Word of God, to those around Him as seeds that would blossom after His death and resurrection.  

After His resurrection, Jesus said to His disciples:

• “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:7 and 8).

Jesus accomplished His earthly mission, ascended to the right hand of the Father where He prays for us until that time when the Father tells Him to fetch His bride. The Father sent the Holy Spirit to abide within us, to strengthen us, to teach us, and to help us be witnesses during our journey here.

You see, it is the love of the entire Godhead that purposed our salvation:

• the Father’s love that purposed a bride for His Son;
• the Father’s love that purposed our reconciliation to Himself;
• the Son’s love for His Father taught Him obedience through His sufferings;
• the Son’s love for His bride (the church) endured suffering and He now waits for the marriage supper;
• the Spirit’s love for the Father that draws and seals those God has chosen; and,
• the Spirit’s love for us that is suffering long in cohabitating within imperfect people.

They have endured watching their creation profane their name, reject their love, and exalt themselves because of the sin that blinds the hearts of fallen humanity. They have paid the price; and, they are waiting until every person who will accept the LORDship of Jesus Christ does so.  

• The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2nd Peter 3:9);
• Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. (1st Corinthians 15:24).

Family of God, we understand that many will not accept the gift of salvation because it means that they will be delivered from slavery of the sin they enjoy. After all, it means learning to be obedient to Christ. Many do not know this amazing love, joy and peace that we have from being united to God through the indwelling Holy Spirit. So many can not understand that the Holy Spirit’s influence on our hearts enables us to have good desires, Godly desires. Sin is to blame and until they accept the Saviour, they cannot help but despise this peculiarity.

This love within us compels us to carry out His last command to us; love for Him causes us to proclaim His message of redemption. We are not avoiding the world’s scorn by a hushed witness. Whether we are active witnesses or not, the distinctive fragrance of the LORD is on us and there will be friction. When the world tries to drive us to compromise His Word, we will be considered socially and politically incorrect for walking the narrow path.  

• “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13 to 14).

I tell you this: the One we owe our everything to, is the One who will enable us through His love and grace to be steadfast during any hardship.

Because of His love, we must resolve now, and always, to love Him as the first priority; and then, to love others which also means telling them the truth regardless of the cost. I am so grateful for His love that it has become my sincerest prayer for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. He is helping me to be bolder despite the reaction of others. He is the highest good, the source of life and love.

During Christ’s arrest, His disciples had deserted Him. Now, when I think about this I have great comfort in knowing that the LORD individually chose followers who He knew would be prone to fleeing persecution in their natural strength.

• Then Jesus said to them, ” All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” (Matthew 26:31 and 32).

After Christ forewarned them they would scatter quoting Zechariah 13:7, they did so after professing that they would never deny Him.

• Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples. (Matthew 26:33 to 35).

People tend to speak harshly about Peter’s denial because his denial was so vulgar and showed weakness; or perhaps because he was so confident that he would never deny the LORD.  They forget the others also made the same profession.  The others did not have the same testing by Satan. The LORD knows our weaknesses and has chosen to redeem and sanctify us.

Our resolve must be rooted in: (1) a personal relationship with God through prayer; (2) in His Word (for He is the Word of God made manifest); and (3) in the power of the Holy Spirit.  

In one regard, these disciples were just normal individuals who were selected for Christ’s purposes and not because of their human capabilities (although they each had their respective skillsets). In another regard, these disciples were incredibly brave and worthy of our respect.

The reason they became brave is entirely supernatural. In the previous reference to Acts 1:8, we noticed that the power of the Holy Spirit was given to these early witnesses (about 120 of them in verse 15) for the purpose of evangelism in an environment that would be hostile to their doctrine. After Peter and John were released from jail for preaching salvation through Jesus, the believers prayed:

• “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, “by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29 and 30).

The Word that Jesus told them helped them desire boldness, the boldness of the indwelling Spirit.

• “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26)
• “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever (John 14:16);
• “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you“. (John 16:13 to 14).

They had understood the consequences, counted the cost, resolved to continue to be obedient to the LORD’s final command and prayed for the strength to accomplish it. Jesus told us:

Peter who was reinstated by Christ after denying Christ because of human weakness; who became the chief leader of the early church in Jerusalem; and who was empowered to write Holy Scripture, admonishes us to be diligent in our pursuit of Christ through the process of the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work.  

• But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2nd Peter 1:5 to 11).
• Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 NIV)

When I consider what my life was like before the LORD drew me to Himself, I know that I don’t want to exchange Him for anyone or anything.  His presence, His love, His grace, His wisdom, His guidance and even discipline far surpasses any pleasure on earth.   There is nothing better than Him! And that’s just here and now.  Then contemplating how long forever is, I can’t imagine abandoning eternal life with Him for momentary relief on earth ending in everlasting regret and torment in hell.

Amid a trial, I am motivated by His eternal purpose. I am motivated by the thought of enjoying God forever, being like Christ, experiencing true uninhibited love, worshiping with millions of believers and angels, and successfully fulfilling assignments.

All Scripture used in this blog is from the New King James Version, unless otherwise specified.