“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Chist not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him” (Philippians 1:29).

I’ve never been in a situation where faith comes at the price of suffering, persecution, beatings, my life.

So, when I read passages like the one above I read it as if it’s a metaphor.

But for many Christians for most of Christian history, these words were literal. I can’t help but wonder, if I would be as bold and sure as the Christian saints who have gone before us.

And, before you think I am talking about the days of gladiators and such, I share with you the testimony of a saint from our lifetime:

It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their (the communists’) terms.

It was a deal; we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching. They were happy beating us, so everyone was happy.

• Richard Wurmbrand (1909-2001)

Father, we lift up to you those who are being persecuted for their faith. Comfort and be their strength.

Lord, we lift up to you those of us who believe in comfort. We confess that our faith is too lukewarm. We confess that we have not considered the cost. We are too easily distracted and discouraged by minor comfort. Lord, forgive and strengthen our faith.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

That’s not fair!

Ever hear that one?

We like things to be fair. Things not fair infuriate us. Even little kids know when fairness has been violated.

Ever meet anyone thinking that they will go to hell? Ever meet anyone who thinks the people they love are going to hell?

It’s crazy. What do people think is the criteria for getting to heaven? How does someone get to heaven?

People may not know, they’re just sure that they and their loved ones are going there.

That’s crazy. Based on what? Based on what truth?

God tells us clearly that the way to salvation and eternal life is through Jesus Christ.

• “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
• Jesus declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Our text tells us that we are saved by God’s grace in his Son, Jesus Christ. We are saved when we place our faith in Jesus.

Heaven is God’s place. Only God gets to set the rules for how one gets to heaven. Not you. Not uncle Joe. Not Aunt Mary. God, and God only.

Burk Parsons says, “Heaven will be full of thankful people asking, ‘Lord why did you choose me?’ And hell will be full of people demanding fairness and getting it.”

There will be many on judgment day, many who have rejected God’s gift of salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ, many who chose on their own to reject Jesus, demanding fairness.

“That’s not fair! I never murdered anyone! I never raped anyone! I lived a good life. I was a good person! What am I doing in hell?”

What they do not know is that their punishment is exactly most fair for sinners. It would be unfair if sinners were not judged.

Not everyone goes to heaven. Not everyone is saved.

BUT EVERYONE CAN BE SAVED. SALVATION HAS A NAME. HIS NAME IS JESUS. BELIEVE IN JESUS.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:1-4).

“If God would only tell me what to do…”

“If God would only speak to me…”

Ever hear that? Ever say that? How do you suppose God speaks? How would you like for God to speak to you?

Let’s say you heard a voice. How would that go down? Try telling your friends that you’re going to quit your job, start a new career, marry someone, etc. because you heard a voice. Yeah. Try that.

How do you suppose God speaks? How does God communicate with us?

God already has spoken. God continues to speak. God has never stopped speaking to us.

We call it God’s word. It’s his Bible. If you want to listen to God, you open your Bible and read through it. Study it.

You don’t do it willy nilly. God should I marry Bob? Should I marry Mary? and then like a crap shoot you open the Bible to see where it opens and read the first verse that comes to view.

That’s dumb. That’s not reading the Bible.

To read the Bible, you study it. You go verse by verse, daily reading God’s word. You go to Bible study. You attend worship to hear God’s word proclaimed.

Why?

Because God speaks through his word. And whatever it is you are going through, as you systematically study God’s word, hear the exposition of God’s word God speaks to you through his word.

God is always leading and guiding us through his word. Open it. Study it. Hear God’s word preached.