Do the Wicked Serve God by Persecuting Christians?

© 2015 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Even in their wickedness, the wicked serve God.  Back in the days of Jeremiah the prophet, the nation of Israel had abandoned worship of the true God and served, instead, the false gods of the pagan nations.  In the following passage God reveals to Jeremiah His plan to discipline Israel for their sin.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words, Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolation” (Jeremiah 25:8-9).

Did you catch that?  God used a wicked alliance of pagan nations to discipline His wicked chosen people!  However, that was not the end of the story.  After using the wicked pagan kingdoms to subdue Israel for seventy years, God swore to destroy that wicked alliance for its march of hatred against His people!

“And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations” (Jeremiah 25:11).

Notice:  God dealt with widespread wickedness by first dealing with it in His own people.  Apparently God has not abandoned this approach.

“Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:16-19).

Fellow Christians:  We’ve often failed in our thoughts, desires, words and actions.  We must commit our souls to Him as He deals with us first.

Dear unsaved friend:  after God is finished with us, you’re next.  Are you ready?

 

You may leave comments for Tom & Kathy (website administrators) below.