Through Life's Trials

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;" Rev 2:8-11

In Jesus' letter to the church at Smyrna he writes, "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)....." In these difficult days many of us face job loss and and financial hardship. Stresses of everyday life are magnified as the pressure of the economic crisis enveloping the world weighs heavy on everyone. We as Christians however have cause to rejoice because we have a Savior in Jesus Christ who is with us no matter how difficult the struggle. We are truly rich even in our poverty.

I believe the times we are in will get worse and even in the United States Christians may experience increasing persecution as liberal groups continue to influence our politicians and the affairs of our government. Jesus prophetically predicted this and as he wrote to the persecuted church in Smyrna, " and I know the the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." Jesus, encouraged them as he does us now to "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days," because the faithful will receive "unto death, .....a crown of life."

Jesus' message is for today and for all who are and will be persecuted for their faith. Whether it is a reprimand at work or a physical beating, we as believers are or will be persecuted and we must endure to the end. God may not always deliver us from the trials of life but he is always faithful to stand with us as we endure them. Just as He shut the mouths of lions and lead his people as a pillar of clouds by day and a pillar of fire by night, God is with us. We will persevere until the end if we trust that he is the "Alpha and the Omega" the beginning and the end. "He that hath an ear, let him hear."