Luke 21: Signs of the times

“But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.
This will result in your being witnesses to them.  But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.  For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 
You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.  All men will hate you because of me.  But not a hair of your head will perish.  By standing firm you will gain life. - Luke 21:12-19 NIV

We're always looking for signs of the end of the times.  We're always looking for Armageddon, but few of us are looking for the first signs that Jesus said will take place before his re-appearing.  Probably, because we don't want to admit to ourselves that by being Christians, we might be subject to ridicule, to hatred, to betrayal, to persecution.  We find it hard to believe that being persecuted for our beliefs could be God's will.  But it is, and it has been the way that God has worked down through the ages.,  That was how God worked with Joseph, with Moses, with Daniel, with the prophets, even with the five missionaries massacred in Ecuador by the Huaorani in the 50's.  That is how the gospel is spread.

Most of us want to see the gospel spread.  We want to see miracles and healings, but do we want to see persecution?  Do we want to lose our reputation for the gospel?  Could it be that as we see Christian influence on our nation wane, that it is all part of God's overall plan.  Could it be that God is setting the stage for people to be brought to court, before judges, for their beliefs?  Could it be that some of us will be thrown into the modern day equivalent of the lions den? 

Lest that possibility bring on a spirit of fear, remember that Jesus said, he will give us 'words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.'  and  'not a hair of your head will perish.  By standing firm you will gain life.