Christ calls us to be "losers"

"He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." -John 12:25.

To serve our Lord Jesus Christ is truly an "other-worldly" way of life, way of thinking. In the end, we will seem like the biggest losers of all time, in the fallen world's view. Getting along with others, striving to be "tolerant" in the eyes of mankind, should be of no value to the true believer. We serve the Lord at His Word, and this is a contradictory lifestyle to those around us- including many that verbally profess the name of Christ!

"It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?" -Matt. 10:25.

This is why it is so ironic to describe a person as having a "successful" ministry. I can readily hear Jesus saying, "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!" -from Luke 6:26. Success in God's eyes will be welcomed by very few (I Cor. 1:18,19).

Think of Peter, in his intended defense of Christ. He had walked with the messiah, God in the flesh, for 3 and a half years; what amazing things he had seen! But Jesus is foretelling of His death? How could that happen? Yet it was a fulfillment of prophecy; God's will. Peter didn't realize  that by his bold, proclaimed intention to defend his Lord, that he was actually contradicting scripture (Mark 14:27-30). Even Satan and his minions didn't know what Jesus was up to, for the profound plan which God had in mind. Please read I Cor. 2:5-8. Let's face it; God's ways are infinitely high above our own (Is. 55:8,9).

And this point of "losing" is where we have arrived in these last days. The very intent of this article is to encourage your stand for Christ, here at the end. There will be enormous pressure to conform; to "go along, and get along", as they say! The push for unity has taken priority over Biblical obedience, and this is an offense to the Living God we serve. More & more laws will be passed to inhibit our faith; we must pre-determine within ourselves to serve Christ, no matter what physical consequences may await.

The Bible describes our lot in these last days; we will need to keep our priorities straight, with an eye on the eternal, not the temporal (II Cor. 4:18). Let's start with verses from Daniel chapter 7;

"And I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them: Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the saints possessed the kingdom."
Verses 21,22.
"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High... But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion... And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High..." -from verses 25-27.

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake... But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." -Matt. 24:9,13.

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." -Rev. 12:11.

"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them..." -Rev. 13:7.

Not a very pretty picture, is it? Yet persecution & tribulation have always been the staple diet of true believers, though it will become far worse here at the end. Just consider;

- The faith of Moses, Hebrews 11:24-27.
- The calling of Ezekiel, 3:4-7.
- The words of Christ to His 11 true disciples in John 15:19,20, 16:33.
- The calling of Saul, in Acts 9:15,16, 14:22, 20:22-24.

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." -II Tim 3:12.

Brethren, we are not of this Earth, and our battle is not against flesh & blood (Eph. 6:12). When trouble comes your way, be slow to compromise in the name of "getting along", and quick to bring things before God in prayerful examination. Satan likes to disguise his afflictions, so that believers won't see that they are suffering for their faith. If a citizenship in heaven is what you desire, you need to start preparing today.

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand fo God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
- Colossians 3:1-4.