Persecutions by Lizzie L. Pierce

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 11, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 23.

Persecutions.

By Lizzie L. Pierce

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.” Luke 6:22.

THESE words, from the lips of our Master as he was teaching his disciples, seem to have a special significance in some localities; and it is a source of comfort to note the fact that while our Saviour ever improved every opportunity to impart the instruction that he foresaw would be necessary to enable them to contend successfully with an opposing world, telling them plainly of the many persecutions that they as his disciples would have to encounter, he always accompanied this with his divine blessing upon those who would have to meet them.

In verse 23 of the same chapter, he says: “Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is great in Heaven; for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” While those who participate in these persecutions are only heaping unto themselves wrath against the “day of wrath,” they are lending luster and brilliancy to the crowns of those who suffer persecutions if they but continue faithful unto the end.

In referring to the persecutions of the prophets, he taught his disciples what they were to expect, and he says still further, in John 15: 18-21, in speaking of his own persecutions, by way of illustration, that, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.”

It ever has been and ever will be an obstinate fact that the true church of God will suffer persecutions. They are to be a “peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14. But what is the tendency of the churches at the present day? Wherein are they persecuted? Alas! Instead of suffering the disapprobation of the world, they, with a persistency worthy a better end, court its favor, and deliberately join hands with whatever it approves, introducing into its sacred precincts all the fascinating and alluring pleasures of the day and ever lowering the standard of truth.

Our Lord has told us, in terms that cannot be misapprehended, that for his name's sake we should be hated of all men. How different is their association with the world from that which our Saviour predicted for his disciples! A Christian is not allowed the same latitude as are the children of this world. If he manifests any degree of enthusiasm and ardor, he is at once branded as fanatical and bigoted, and a sure target for the cruel taunts of a cold and pitiless world. It is when the heart is smarting and bleeding from these cruel wounds that the Christian can find sweetest comfort in the precious word of God; when he can often feel his Saviour nearest as in secret he pours out his soul to God in prayer and tears.

Then let afflictions and persecutions come, they only draw us nearer to our precious Saviour if only we trust him who hath said: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Let us welcome them then as the tie that shall bind us closer to our blessed Lord. Let us be faithful to that committed to our trust; trusting much and praying often, and soon a starry crown will be awarded to the faithful few who patiently endure unto the end. LIZZIE L. PIERCE.