John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
With the state of the world today, just as it was in the time when Jesus walked the earth, taking a stand for biblical principles causes backlash. Many Christians, me included, do not always state how we feel on certain issues because we know that it will stir up strife. I have never enjoyed arguing. Yet sometimes we may find ourselves in a heated discussion defending biblical principles.
We know that the bible states marriage should be between a man and a woman. Try telling that to a lot of people today and you have kicked a hornet’s nest. I remember there was a beauty queen who was almost stripped of her crown because she made that statement. There have been wedding cake makers who almost lost their businesses because they refused to put figures of 2 people of the same sex on the top of a cake.
Standing up for what the bible teaches can cause tribulation. The reason this happens is because the majority of the world does not live by, or stand by, biblical, Christian principles. Jesus said the born-again believer is the light of the world. He said we should let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. We should not live our lives in fear of public opinion. As I get older, the desire to be liked is not as strong as it was in my youth. I would much rather stand up for Jesus than deny Him in order to be accepted.
Jesus said that in Him we will have peace. He gives us that peace that surpasses all understanding. A peace that is not dependent on what is going on around us but comes from inside and is given to us by the Holy Spirit. This allows us to have peace in the middle of a storm. Jesus said to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. There is nothing that God does not have power over. There is no greater power in the world today than the power of Jesus. Our confidence in the supreme power of God will allow us to be of good cheer. We know that no matter what we are faced with, God has the power to fix it. All we have to do is ask in faith.