Look And See If There Be Any Sorrow Like My Sorrow – Focus On Nigeria Series

The President of Nigeria has no intention of taking action on behalf of Christians. The world knows that. He is an avowed Moslem opposed to all Christian work in Nigeria. There are Christians all over the world who realise they do not have support from their governments or responsible authorities. What support did Jesus have from his rulers and religious systems? Absolutely none, and so it will be the same with us.

We are in a battle but the only arms we take up are the spiritual ones – {{2Corinthians 10:4 “for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.”}}

PLEASE PLACE ALL SUFFERING IN THE CONTEXT OF ETERNITY

Yes, I know that is easy to say from one who does not have to face the horrific persecution and terror that people in many parts of Africa and the Middle East have to undergo, but I do know that my God is faithful. God is aware of the smallest turmoil in the heart of one of His children. What parent is not hurt and emotionally churned when a son or daughter is suffering? The Lord God said something once in regard to Israel whom He had to judge because of continued idolatry – {{Hosea 11:8 “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? MY HEART IS TURNED OVER WITHIN ME. ALL MY COMPASSIONS ARE KINDLED.”}}

That was God speaking because He was sending Israel into judgement, and can you see how the emotions of God were churned up. The Lord is not unaware of the suffering of His children. He embraces them and holds then lovingly. My Nigerian fellow believer, and my fellow Christians in all places, the Lord is tender-hearted and loving and knew you even before you were born.

One minute of terrible persecution and torture seems like an age, and I do not appreciate what some believers are going through; horrible things and inhuman atrocities from the hand of Satan through his agents. I search my heart what to say and for a long while the Lord has given me this special verse – {{Romans 8:17-18 “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him, for I CONSIDER THAT THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME ARE NOT WORTHY TO BE COMPARED WITH THE GLORY THAT IS TO BE REVEALED TO US.”}}

The letter to Smyrna was the shortest of the seven letters written by John on Patmos at the Lord’s leading, and this church represented the period of the deep suffering of the Christians for nearly 300 years. Their suffering from about AD 50 to AD 325 was unspeakable and a lot has been recorded by Eusebius and other Church Fathers. It is interesting that in the Smyrna letter nothing is said about resources in suffering, just the fact of it. BUT GOD KNOWS!

KEEP THE EYES FOCUSSED ALL THE TIME ON THE GOAL AHEAD

There is always the small and the greater picture. Sometimes we miss the greater because we are so occupied with the smaller. I know how that is. The present troubles seem to take all our attention. However in times of hardship leading right up to martyrdom, it becomes necessary to focus on the greater picture. Everything then comes into perspective.