Don’t Be Surprised

“Marvel not, My brethren, if the world hate you.”  I John 3:13

The secular world has always hated those who honor Almighty God.  Satan, who controls all that is evil, demonstrated his hatred for God while still an angelic resident of heaven (Isaiah 14:12).  Upon his sudden, swift, and involuntarily departure from heaven, he again displayed his hatred for God by successfully tempting the first man and woman to disobey God in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-6).  Noah and his family were apparently the only people on earth who didn’t hate God (Genesis 7:1).  Satan influenced mankind to build a tower that they believed would reach to heaven so that man, under Satan’s influence, could replace God with himself (Genesis 11:1-9).

Throughout the thousands of years of Jewish history, the heathen neighbors of Israel persecuted them and are still doing so in our day.  Many Christian missionaries have been killed by the very ones to whom they brought the gospel.  We’ve all heard of the many atrocities committed by ISIS overseas including the slaughter of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in 2015.  The Middle East several years ago had a growing Christian population, but many, under persecution, have fled for their lives, causing their numbers in Iraq, Iran, and Syria to dwindle.

Television networks create programs that blatantly mock Christians.  Believers are being verbally attacked and some physically just because they are Christians.  From where did all this hatred come?  I have never seen so much hostility, anger, and venom spewed from those who hate anyone or anything to do with Christianity.  Why do so many hate God?  All that I can say is that the devil is working overtime to create chaos and havoc among those in our nation as well as the world, and multitudes are falling for his lies.  But isn’t this exactly what the Apostle John was warning us about?  He made it clear that whoever is not a righteous person is not of God and neither is the one who does not love his brother, that is, his or her fellow human being (I John 3:10).

Jesus said in John 15:18-19 that the world hated Him before it hated us.  He also said in Matthew 24:9 that His followers would be hated by people of all nations just because they believe in Him.  Thus, it is not racism, white supremacy, skin color, socio-economic factors, rich vs. poor, the elite vs. ordinary folks, north vs. south, east vs. west, or any number of other factors that fuels this increasing hatred, but it is the sin within the hearts of people who refuse to repent and acknowledge God for who He is, the sovereign and holy Lord of all creation.  If the world hates me because I am a follower of Jesus Christ as are many others, then that’s how it is.  I don’t enjoy being hated, but at least I am in good company.