Have you ever wondered why different people choose different religions? It seems that in our part of the world, at least, that religion is considered a personal choice or preference. I think most westerners probably choose a religion to help them with the stress oflife or to help them be better people. Nobody in their right mind would choose a religion that means trouble and suffering just for the sake of it. The greatest witness to the real and life changing Good News of Jesus is that people throughout history and even today are choosing to follow Him despite the fact that doing so will make their life more difficult. Despite being cut off from family, being kicked out of their homes and jobs, abused, shamed, physically beaten and even killed followers of Jesus are so convinced that He is alive and real that they have not renounced their faith. In the west we have enjoyed close to 200 years of Christian based values and government but things are changing. Soon we will need to hang on to the words of Jesus because of the coming trouble. At the same time though it will be a great opportunity to show that we haven chosen to follow Jesus not because he makes our life easier or just because we feel like it but because He is alive and worth following despite the opposition.
CamisGWare 