The Season of Suffering

“Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”  Hebrews 13:3

Due to a change in the district calendar, our school was not out for vacation this week-before-Christmas for the first time in a long time, so each day, students and teachers alike, watched the clock and waited for the bell.  Time often seemed to almost stand still and the minutes ground by as if in slow motion, but the expectation of release from responsibility and the freedom from deadlines and demands loomed large and kept our hopes alive. Though the countdown seemed sluggish and the passing of the hours nigh until painful, we knew, without doubt, that at a set time on a certain day, we would be liberated to relish in the celebration of Christmas and all that the season means.

While my scenario at school was, in reality, neither as desperate nor dramatic as the above paragraph portrays, the situations of many around the world are much worse. They are in real prisons, suffering real emotional and physical pain—not because of wrong things they have done but due to right things they believe.  They are the thousands upon thousands of Christians who are crammed in cold, dark, lonely cells because of their love for Jesus, and there is no clock counting down to their certain liberation. Their release day is not officially etched on a set calendar but is up to the whim or will of ungodly officials and politicians. 

The arrest of American missionary, Andrew Brunson, in Turkey brings this matter to the forefront on the homefront.  Though I don’t know Andrew personally, I have several friends who do, and we join with those who are hoping and praying for his immediate freedom.  After 23 years of faithful service in Turkey, Andrew was arrested in October and falsely charged with terrorism.  He is jailed at Sakran prison in Izmir, is not being allowed contact with his Turkish lawyer, and is, according to the American Center for Law and Justice, in “grave danger.”  While Andrew’s situation makes headlines because he is an American, it is not a solitary occurrence and only highlights the plight of millions who have no government to intervene for them because it is their own government who is persecuting them. 

More Christians around the world are suffering for their faith than ever before in history.  Last year was the worst since time began for those who believe that the baby in the manger is the resurrected Lord of Lords. Some were disowned by families and sent away from home.  Others were raped, beaten, tortured, or imprisoned, and many paid the ultimate price with their lives.  In 2015, almost one Christian per hour was beheaded, crucified, shot, stabbed, or killed in some other horrific manner because of their trust in Jesus.  And the numbers have increased in 2016.

I say this not to bring a downer to our holidays, but to heighten the reality of our “holy days.”  The one true God has truly come.  He was born as a baby, lived as a man, and crucified on a cross.  His cold, stiff body was buried in a tomb, but He burst out of that grave in glorious victory over sin, death, and the devil as the King of Kings who will rule and reign over the entire universe for ever and ever.  Trust in this Truth has brought agony to many, but the treasure of a relationship with Father through the Son is more precious than life itself.

As we relish in the celebration of Christmas and all that the season means, we must “remember those in prison as if we were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if we ourselves were suffering”(Heb 13:3). For reasons we can’t perceive with our earthly senses, God is allowing this pain to fulfill His purpose, so  pray that during this time He will fill them with such a powerful sense of His presence that they will know Him more than ever as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Though their hands may be in chains, the hearts of those who know the Christ of Christmas will always be free.  True love can never be locked up.