The author raises two issues/questions in encountering God. First, why were the Christians of the early church so faithful to God, so resolute in defending their faith? Even though they suffered severe persecution and God seemed absent in the midst of their suffering, God did not defend them; they remained obedient and loyal. Of course, they cried out, pleaded, and prayed, but God seemed not to intervene. The answer is that they trusted Jesus completely; they believed everything Jesus taught and said.
Second, why today do many Christians or Christian communities not walk in the truth of the Gospel? The answer is that from the beginning, only a few were truly chosen. Evidence: from hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of Israelites, only a handful remained faithful to God. Even looking at church history, the seven churches that received letters in Revelation are now ruins. So, although today it appears there are many Christians, truly faithful Christians are very few—those who trust Jesus and, because of that trust, are willing to sacrifice anything.
The suffering and persecution experienced by early Christians were actually a form of God’s vindication of them. If today many worship songs claim that God surely gives victory, hears prayers, and provides help, cares, and never disappoints, that understanding is mistaken. The true Jesus is not like that. God’s defence does not make our lives on earth any more comfortable. Rather, God’s vindication makes our lives uncomfortable on earth. Frankly put, Christianity brings trouble because it leads us to the cross.
There is no pleasant cross, no comfortable cross. The cross always speaks of suffering. Therefore, how dangerous it is for those who live in comfort, and how dangerous it is for those who desire earthly comfort. If someone has no serious problems, good economic conditions, and good health, they must, in fact, shoulder spiritual responsibility. No Christian should live without a cross. Everyone must find their own cross and regard it as a blessing. Yet, among millions of Christians, how many dare to carry their cross? They may not face physical persecution, but they still must find their cross. The first struggle is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus; that is certain. The second struggle is how they help others develop Christlike character.
In the believer’s life, God promises something extraordinary: to walk in the light. John 1:4 states, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Many Christians have misunderstood, or only understood superficially, the meaning of “walking in the light.” The experience of walking in the light is surely lived by Christians whose lives are right. The early church, which faced severe persecution, certainly experienced life walking in this light. Physical suffering, poverty, persecution, or any difficult condition does not preclude someone from walking in the light.
The problem is that many Christians feel they are walking in the light merely because they avoid moral transgressions, attend worship faithfully, or even serve in ministry. Such people typically feel entitled to heaven. Because of this mistaken understanding, many Christians do not strive to grow toward truly experiencing life in the light. Do not think that because Jesus died on the cross and the cross atoned for our sins, everything is finished.
Jesus gives life not only by laying down His life on the cross, but also so that we may put on His life. Those who do not put on His life are, in truth, people who have not received and have not experienced salvation. One of His life examples we must follow is His obedience and faithfulness to the Father in heaven.