1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian 9b - Blessed are those who are persecuted _2_ | Page 10

As we draw to a close in our series on the Beatitudes, we focus on the last Beatitude
which speaks of the “blessed” condition of those who are persecuted. I would like to
speak on the promise to the persecuted
persecuted.
You will notice as you read the passage that there is an emphatic word that is used
twice, that is the word “is In verse 10 it said for “…theirs is the kingdom of
is”.
is
heaven…” and in verse 12, “…great is their reward in heaven…”. This little word, as
small as it is, has I believe incredible significance for people of faith. When God says
something “is”, it is The promises of God are almost like signed cheques; they are
is!
safe, they are secure and they will come to pass.
In the case of the “persecuted”, the reward of heaven and the rewards in heaven are
as a result of firstly their salvation experience where each of them as individuals
have come to a personal knowledge of Jesus, and secondly, their rewards in heaven
are as a result of their faithful perseverance for the cause of Christ. The forms of the
rewards that Jesus spoke of are not specifically mentioned, but He does tell us to use
our wildest imaginations and know full well that the glory of heaven and being in
the presence of Jesus is far greater than anything our minds could conjure up.
I sometimes think that the persecuted experience is like what my mother used to
say at the dinner table, “Eat your vegetables, and then you’ll get your pudding.”
Most nine year old kids are not particularly partial to the idea of vegetables, but
they will eat them because of the promise of pudding; the pudding makes it all
worthwhile. Once again we are talking here of having heavenly perspective of life
where we unapologetically live this life with eternity in mind. Some of the cynics
amongst us will say of people like this that they are so heavenly minded that they
are not of much earthly use, but I would like to correct this saying by saying you
cannot be of any earthly use until you are heavenly minded.
As well as receiving enormous rewards in heaven, those who suffer persecution for
Christ are at the end of the day the foundation upon which the church has been
built. The blood of the martyrs and the example of these saints, cries out to us still
today raising the bar for Christian living to an incredibly height. I personally find
their persecution stories humbling and incredibly inspiring to live this Christian life
well so that I can honour the sacrifice that they have made. I trust that as you have
contemplated these thoughts for the last two weeks that the same would have
happened for you.

Prayer Thought: Today as you pray allow your imagination freedom to extend itself
with regard to the concept of heaven. Picture, if you will, the place of perfect peace, a
place where the presence of God is far more tangible then it is right now; a place
where persecution is a thing of the past and a place that is eternal by nature.