The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16,
"For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved."
Why would some be hostile toward the gospel and attempt to keep others from hearing It? Why would unbelievers care who might hear its message? If the gospel is just a fantasy or a deception, as they must think, why the concern? The efforts at attempting to keep others from hearing the message suggests a few thoughts to me.
First, the power of the gospel message is a threat to those hostile to it. If the gospel was an impotent message, if it was ineffective there would be no effort to keep people from hearing it. Enemies of the gospel witnessed the power it had in people's lives. Their active opposition reveals their fear of it and its power.
Secondly, the primary reason folks reject the gospel is because they choose to cling to their sin. When Jesus explained this to Nicodemus, he did not reference a supposed incapacity some might have in exercising faith. Jesus said these simply choose to cling to their sin rather than embrace the Lord in faith. I think this is an important truth that is misunderstood in many places. Jesus said, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." John 3:19-20. Due to their own embrace of sin rather than turn to the Lord, when others respond to the gospel, being left behind becomes threatening to them.
Another thought that comes to mind is the conflict of spiritual forces prompts unbelievers to oppose the gospel. The devil is seen as a predator of believers, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:8-9. This conflict is seen in heavenly places, "Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." Revelation 12:7-9. It is in this context that some unbelievers become hostile in their opposition to the gospel being proclaimed.
We see it in our day. The "war" against Christmas waged every year, the hostility toward any representation of the nativity within the public square. The expulsion of the Scriptures and the gospel from schools and many places of business and work. The growing and aggressive attack on religious liberties seen recently in the political issues of our day. It is not that the gospel is simply rejected, it is that there is a hostility and an attempt at repressing its message.
We should not be surprised as we witness the opposition to the gospel and attempts at silencing its message. We live in a world that is influenced and often ordered by spiritual forces. It has always been this way. In an interesting comment observing the hate the world has for those who have responded to the gospel, John says, "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." 1 John 3:12-13.
I think this aggressive opposition to the gospel, and understanding the underpinnings of why it exists, has a way of motivating many of us, challenging us, causing us to enjoin the battle. Spiritual realities expressing themselves in our world have a way of compelling us to take up the opportunities the Lord has given us to participate in the execution of his grand redemption.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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