The United States of America, despite all her problems, is still the greatest nation on Earth. Our freedoms are second to none, although we are gradually losing them one by one. We reside in a nation where we can select our careers, live where we choose, attend church and worship God without fear of retribution, share our faith openly for the most part without being arrested. Most American believers have never experienced real persecution for their faith. However, I do believe that persecution is at the door and it won’t be long before it’s against the law in America to share the Gospel or invite someone to church. (Our military is already experiencing that kind of persecution.)
In Luke 12:47-48, Jesus said, “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…”
People who resist the Gospel day after day are like those servants who know God’s will but refuse to prepare themselves for eternity or obey His Word. They’ll receive harsher punishment than those who live in a society where God’s Word is scarce. To whom much is given, much is expected. God has given our country incredible freedom – freedom to preach the Gospel, attend church, worship the true and living God openly. We are probably the most evangelized nation in the world, yet what are Americans doing with this freedom? Ignoring it? Resisting it? Denying it? God’s Word is plentiful and readily available in the United States, and God tells us in His Word what we need to know to escape hell.
Romans 13:1-2 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” We are to submit to the power of God Almighty, the true and living God, and those who don’t will receive damnation. It matters who you worship. It matters how you worship. And I believe that those who remain willfully ignorant because they simply refuse to attend a Gospel-preaching church or read God’s Word will receive a greater punishment than those who died without the vast opportunities to hear about salvation that we have in America.
In Matthew 23:14, Jesus said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”
Jesus talks about a greater punishment.
- “…shall be beaten with many stripes..”
- “…greater damnation.”
- “…For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…”
There will be greater punishment for those who have greater opportunity to receive the Gospel, yet still reject God.