Paul said, "You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. (2 Timothy 3:11)
He went on to say that all - not just some, but all - who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)
Timothy had known the scriptures since childhood (verse 15) but today we have a generation that does not know the scriptures or the Creator. Because of this, evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. (v. 13)
Since they do not love and accept the truth, God will cause them to be greatly deceived and they will believe the lies. (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11) Through ignorance, they will persecute those who are choosing to live a godly life.
. . . the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or Me. (John 16:2-3)
Like Paul, we will look to the Lord to deliver us from every persecution. We recognize that the antidote for ignorance is knowledge so we pray that the words in Isaiah 11:9 will be fulfilled. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
Heavenly Father, open the eyes of the blind, deliver those bound in deception, let the whole earth experience a flood of the knowledge of who You are, so that the lost can repent and turn to You. Amen.
