Parson to Person - Final words of hope

?Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect?? -1 Peter 3:15-16a.

The Apostle Peter?s letters focus on suffering and persecution. Jesus taught his followers that they would have to take up their cross to follow him (Mark 8:34).

What have been the answers Godly folks have shared when they have encountered significant suffering and persecution even to the point of death? Here is a brief sampling.

When Job lost his family and health, and his friends accused him, he replied, I know that my redeemer lives, and in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God (Job 19:25-26).

When Esther, the Jewish Queen of Persia had to intervene to prevent an ethnic slaughter of her people, she declared, ?gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even if it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish (Esther 4:16).

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were ordered by King Nebuchadnezzar to worship false gods, they answered, If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the images of gold you have set up (Daniel 3:17-18).

With death impending, the Apostle Paul wrote from prison to the church at Philippi, For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).

Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John, and bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor (modern Izmir in Turkey), when confronted by the Proconsul to deny Christ, replied, for 86 years I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and Savior?

One more example among many recent ones.

In February of 2015, 20 Coptic Christian men were martyred on the beach at Sirte, Libya. But there was one more man on the beach, Matthew Ayairga, who was from Chad, and not a believer in Jesus, until that moment.

Each of the 20 Christians were asked, ?Do you reject Christ?? They refused. They were beheaded.

Even though Matthew Ayairga was not a Christian, he too, was asked, ?Do you reject Christ?? But after seeing the faith and courage of the 20 before him, he replied, their God is my God.