The Psalmist wrote I am become a stranger unto my brethren, And an alien unto my children. Why? He continued for the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me (Psalms 69:9). This is equally the lamentation of those who would live a righteous life on this earth.

Wickedness is becoming the accepted norm of society while worldliness has become the order of present-day Christendom. It now appears as if the more ungodly you are – even as a pastor, the more acceptable you would be to the people and your congregation. This is the reason more people are adopting the slogan 'The end justifies the means'.

The most painful thing is that the ungodly who were previously outside the Church are not just in it today, but are also taking leadership positions. They are even persecuting those trying to go the extra mile with the Master. In John 15:19, Jesus Christ told His disciples and by extension all His followers:
“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

David wondered in Psalms 2:1-3 why the heathens raged and even rulers were against the Lord and His people. The answer is found in John 1:5, which says that darkness cannot comprehend or overcome light. We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).

Beloved, in spite of persecutions, let us keep our eyes on the Lord. The persecutions shall surely end at the second coming of Jesus. The Lord is encouraging you to endure the present persecution you may be passing through now. You will soon experience an all-round promotion in Jesus name. Praise the Lord!
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.