Vazquez Counseling

In 1 Peter 4:12-14, the Apostle Peter wrote:

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (New King James Version)

As we enter 2026, God’s people need to understand that the polarization happening in our society will bring unprecedented trials for us. I have heard people call Christians everything from haters to bigots, and even nazis in one fiery exchange. As Christians, we seem to draw the ire of many people, simply for sharing the Gospel of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. If we find this strange, then we don’t understand the Scriptures.

The Old Testament Prophets were despised for proclaiming the Truth of God; our LORD Jesus was hated and eventually crucified for teaching and preaching the Truth; and the Apostles and many first century Christians were hunted down and killed because of their faith in Christ. We should not be surprised that there continues to be rampant persecution of Christians throughout the world, including in places like Nigeria, Syria, China, and many others. We are hunted down and killed like animals, simply because we are followers of Jesus.

The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus came to save us from our sins, and He saved us from the wrath of Almighty God. When Jesus died on the Cross, He paid the full penalty for our sins, and He fully reconciled us with the Father. Then, when the Holy Spirit raised Jesus on the third day, His Resurrection not only proved that He was our long awaited Messiah, but it guaranteed us Eternal Life. As Christians, we no longer fear death because it is merely a transition from this world into the Awesome Presence of our LORD. Death has no power over us. And neither does sin.

In John 8:31-32, our LORD Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

God’s people are indeed a free people; in fact we are the most free people in the world. They could lock us up in the darkest dungeon, and we’d still be the most free people in the world. That is why death will never defeat the Church. Closely examine the Church wherever it is persecuted the most, and you will see that it is growing by leaps and bounds in those places, which is exactly what happened in the first century. The Church was terribly persecuted in Jerusalem in the first century, and that persecution led to the dispersion of Christians all over the known world, which caused the Gospel to spread like wildfire.

If you are a Christian, and people are persecuting you for your faith, remember that they killed our Blessed LORD Jesus on a Cross, so first of all, you shouldn’t be surprised. Second of all, our LORD is coming back, and He will destroy His enemies, a promise often repeated in the Scriptures. You don’t have to destroy your enemies because God will. No, our job, according to Jesus, is to love people by preaching and teaching His Blessed Gospel to a dying world that desperately needs Him and the salvation He freely offers. Never forget that mission, and the peace of God will be with you as we wait for His arrival on the world scene.