Can you imagine how hard would it be to threaten Lazarus? What would you say? ‘You’re gonna get yourself killed’? That’s not going to work on a guy who’s been given a new shot at life, and a relationship with the God who’s stronger than death. And it was the same for the early Christians. Persecutors killed Stephen. And the church scattered, taking the gospel further than it had ever gone. Paul got thrown into prison. And he converted the guards. Silas and Paul get put in stocks. And they start singing praise.
The kingdom will hit opposition. The word ‘opposition’ can seem pretty neutered, sitting there on its own. Paul lays out the reality of what it means, of what faces Christians: ‘hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, struck down.’ That’s the whole gamut of opposition there, from criticism to murder. But then he describes what ultimately becomes of the Christians: they’re ‘not crushed, not in despair, not abandoned, not destroyed.’ When you’ve been given new life by Jesus, when you’ve been joined to Jesus in His death and brought back in His life, absolutely nothing can take that away. Living is Christ. And dying is Christ. All the cards are in our hands.
What Now?
Get a sponge (preferably dry), or a stress ball. Squeeze it, squash it, flatten it with a heavy object. Then watch as it springs back to its original shape. Use it as a reminder that whatever you go through, you can’t be crushed.
