In These Are the Generations, Mr. Bae describes God’s faithfulness and the power of the gospel to penetrate the darkness. His grandfather, parents, and his own family were all persecuted for sharing their faith in Christ. But an interesting thing happened when Mr. Bae was imprisoned for telling a friend about God: his faith grew. The same was true for his parents when they were sentenced to a concentration camp—they continued to share Christ’s love even there. Mr. Bae found the promise of John 1:5 to be true: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus warned His disciples about the trouble they’d face. They would be rejected by people who “will do such things because they have not known the Father or me” (16:3). But Jesus offered words of comfort: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (v. 33).
While many believers in Jesus haven’t experienced persecution on the level of that endured by the family of Mr. Bae, we can expect to face trouble. But we don’t have to give in to discouragement or resentment. We have a Helper—the Holy Spirit Jesus promised to send. We can turn to Him for guidance and comfort (v. 7). The power of God’s presence can hold us steady in dark times.
What trouble have you experienced as a believer in Christ or witnessed others experiencing? What is your first reaction during hard times?
INSIGHT
Jesus promised that His departure would be a good thing for the disciples because His leaving would initiate the coming of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Advocate (John 16:7). But after the Spirit came, persecution would follow. The religious leaders would kill believers in Jesus, thinking they were doing it as a service to God (v. 2). Jesus knew His disciples would need the comfort and help of the Spirit during those difficult days—things we need today as well.