Psalm 94:21

Psalm 94:231

The innocent are condemned to death

It’s an unfair world, isn’t it? I recently studied the lives of the Apostles, particularly the eleven who remained faithful to Jesus during His 3 years of ministry and that were the first to see Him after His resurrection. The same men who were in a locked room and who saw Him alive. The same ones who were in a house at Pentecost and witnessed the effects of the Holy Spirit being poured out from heaven. These men became faithful servants who could not keep quiet about the Lord Jesus, they testified about Him in many countries and to their own people until they dropped, or more correctly, until they were martyred for their faith. James, the brother of John, was put to death by the sword early in the life of the church. Herod Agrippa had him killed as a lesson to the rest of them. Acts 12:1-2. Church traditions suggest that many of these gallant followers of Christ were treated the same way. In just a few years Nero was throwing believers to the lions and having them killed in all sorts of gruesome ways. So yes, the wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. It’s not just the beliefs of the people who have died for their faith that come into view here, it is the fact that they are righteous. In other words, they are God-fearing men and women who obey His commands and live to honour Him. You see, the complaints of the wicked do not stop with their earthly companions, their venom is aimed at God Himself and His influence upon their evil, perverted world. To them, He is the enemy, and His impact on their world must be halted whatever the cost. And nothing has changed!

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