John the Baptist has an everlasting testimony. And what he experienced is honestly the normal Christian life. Suffering is a part of our testing. "He who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matt 10:22) God has to prove us in this life if we are to attain to the promises of God to "those who overcome." (this is beyond "being saved" as I'm sure all reading this are... This is about attaining to the promises of God in Revelation 2 & 3, which are only for those who "overcome.")
As the writer of Hebrews speaks of those of the faith, he writes -
"Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us."
- Heb 11:35-40
That "something better" is not an easier salvation, or the promise of no suffering, but rather a greater understanding of God's plan & purpose, and the Holy Spirit to "guide us into all Truth." For those will be perfected, and so will we if we have the faith that those men did; which was proven by their works. So the author continues writing to the saints -
"For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons."
- Heb 12:3-8
May we be counted among those who are His "sons" & "daughters." As Paul also writes -
"Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
- 2Cor 6:17-18
We may have 'accepted Christ', but has the Father "received us"? He will, IF we are faithful and obedient and "endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" until our end. John the Baptist was. He preached Truth even when imprisoned. The Apostles all were martyred or tortured, and held fast to the end in their obedience and faithfulness to Christ and God. And by the Spirit we can too. That is what the bulk of the New Testament is about; standing our ground even when the religious leaders persecute us and hate us for speaking Truth.
"You will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved."
- Mark 13:13
Amen.
