Is there meaning in tragedy or persecution, Why are we being persecuted

Is There Meaning In Tragedy
Or Persecution?
By: Wanda L. Ball

Every year at this time Southern California residents suffer great loss and hardships in losing
homes to devastating fires. In addition to this disaster, we have lost jobs, homes and possessions
due to the reduced economy. Our country is still fighting in a war with no purpose and innocent
lives are being lost every day. The divorce rate is now over 50% and single parent families are now
common. Same sex marriage is at an all time high and opposer's are marching in the streets to try
and overrule Prop 8 which was approved. Men, who were once women, can now have babies and
kids are hating their parents and disobeying laws. And some kids consider gangs to be their family
because they have nowhere else to go. Fighting is being seen on YouTube as a common sport and
posted on the Internet for all to see. And tattoo's and piercings all over one's body is now
considered a beautiful work of art.

But in the midst of it all, is there meaning in all of this tragedy? Why are we being persecuted?
What is its purpose? 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while
you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of
greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and
may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." Even though we may not
understand why we have to go through trials and tribulations, God knows what's best for us and
wants us to strive to do good at all times. For 1 Peter 3:17 states that "It is better, if it is God's
will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." As Christians, God promised us that we will have
to suffer on earth, just like Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. It actually should be looked at as
a privilege, because God says, "It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe
on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had,
and now hear that I still have." (Philippians 1:29-30)

Even as we continue to meet people who despise us and try to destroy us, God doesn't want us to
be afraid of them. He doesn't want them to steal our joy, because we would be letting the spirit of
Satan win. We should actually be rejoicing because "we know that suffering produces
perseverance; perseverance, character and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us
because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
(Romans 5:3-4) The Lord also says he will rescue us from every evil attack and will bring us safely
to his heavenly kingdom if we continue to trust and believe. In 2 Timothy 3:12-17, Paul's charge to
Timothy says, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for
you continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those
from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are
able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

So as we continue to live day to day, hopeful that the next day will be better than the last, we
must remember that as Christians, God promises us that pain won't last always. For Revelation
21:4-5 says, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or
crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said
"I am making everything new." So as Christians we should, forget what is behind, straining for
what is ahead. We should press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us
heaven bound in Christ Jesus. And before you know it; all this tragedy will be gone forever. Amen.

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