On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. (Acts 8:1 CSB)

I wonder today about how many in the church would scatter if severe persecution broke out. I expect the numbers would stagger us.

In America we live with an immense amount of freedom. Yes, there is persecution of a sort, but it is not like it is in other countries. Nor anything like how Christians encountered in the early days of the church. Here the majority of what we deal with is is what amounts to verbal debates.

However, a time is coming when the church will come under great persecution again.

What then? Will we scatter like roaches when the lights come on? Or will we stand?

This is a serious question we each need to ask ourselves. Would you stand all the way to death, yours or our families? These are hard questions. Questions that require a deep searching of our hearts.

Now, I probably have lost a lot of readers already on today’s topic. You see, we do not want to face the hard questions. But maybe the even harder question for those who have stayed, is what will we answer to God if we scatter?

Here on earth men can only do so much. But God…He will require a greater accounting.

To remain in the ”all except” ranks will require a great resolve and that resolve needs to begin now. Do not expect that it will magically appear at the last moment. This type of resolve requires exercise and practice. It requires a daily use to be counted among the except ranks on a daily basis. No matter the outcome.