Race Is Not Guilt: God Holds Every Person Accountable

 I have come to a conclusion after watching how people speak about Jews, Muslims, Christians, Black people, white people, immigrants, and many other groups. When one individual does something wrong, it is easy for people to condemn everyone who shares that person’s race, religion, nationality, or background.

If a Jewish political leader supports an unjust policy, some people immediately blame “the Jews.” If a Muslim commits an act of violence, some condemn every Muslim. If an immigrant commits a terrible crime, some speak as though all immigrants are criminals. If a professing Christian is exposed as a hypocrite, some declare that Christianity itself is false.

This is one of the easiest traps into which we can fall. Instead of holding the guilty individual accountable, we place an entire race or religion in the same boat.

That may be convenient, but it is neither truthful nor just.

An Individual Does Not Make an Entire Race Guilty

We must carefully distinguish between two things. The conduct of an individual may cause people to look suspiciously upon the larger group, but that does not make the group guilty.

A person can damage the reputation of the church, family, profession, organization, or community with which he is associated. However, his sin does not become everyone else’s sin simply because they share something in common with him.

A dishonest preacher can bring shame upon the ministry, but every preacher is not dishonest. A corrupt police officer can damage public trust, but every officer is not corrupt. A criminal immigrant can create fear within a community, but every immigrant is not a criminal. A Jewish official may support wrongdoing, but every Jewish person is not responsible for that official’s decision.

The guilty person must answer for what he has done.

The innocent should not be condemned merely because of association.

The Lord made the principle of personal accountability unmistakably clear:

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son.”
— Ezekiel 18:20, KJV

God does not condemn a son merely because his father sinned. He does not condemn a father merely because his son rebelled. Each person stands before God upon the truth of his own conduct.

If God makes that distinction, we should make it as well.

Collective Blame Is Easier Than Investigating the Truth

Why do people blame an entire race rather than the individuals responsible?

One reason is that collective blame is easier.

It takes work to determine who made a decision, who approved it, who financed it, who carried it out, and who benefited from it. It is much easier to attach one racial or religious label to everyone involved and say, “They did it.”

However, truth is rarely that simple.

Governments, corporations, political movements, and military operations involve people from many different backgrounds. They may be motivated by money, power, ideology, fear, nationalism, religion, or personal ambition. We cannot assume a person’s motive merely by examining his ancestry.

A Jewish communist may have acted primarily because he was a communist—not because he was Jewish. A Christian politician may support an unjust war because of nationalism or political pressure—not because Christianity taught him to do so. A Muslim businessman may make a dishonest decision because of greed—not because Islam required it.

We must investigate the action and the motive instead of assuming guilt from identity.

Scripture commands:

“Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?”
— John 7:51, KJV

Before judgment is made, the facts should be heard. We must know what the individual actually did.

Race Is Not Evidence

A person’s race is not evidence of guilt. His religion is not proof of participation. His family name is not a confession. His nationality does not establish motive.

It may be historically true that certain individuals from a particular background participated in a movement. That fact can be discussed honestly. But the participation of some does not establish the guilt of all.

There were Jewish individuals who served within communist governments. There were also Jewish people persecuted, imprisoned, purged, and murdered by those same governments.

Some Jewish people support Zionism. Other Jewish people openly oppose it.

Some Muslims embrace political extremism. Millions of Muslims simply want to live peacefully, raise their families, and worship according to their faith.

Some Christians use religion to justify violence. Other Christians have given their lives while serving the poor, defending the oppressed, and proclaiming peace.

Whenever we place all the members of a race or religion into one category, we close our eyes to the truth.

The Bible warns us:

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”
— Proverbs 18:13, KJV

Personal Accountability Begins With Naming the Responsible Person

If a government leader promotes an unjust policy, name the leader and document the policy.

If a lobbying organization exercises improper influence, identify the organization, examine its finances, document its meetings, and show which decisions it influenced.

If a corporation exploits the poor, identify its executives and business practices.

If a religious leader covers up sin, hold that leader and every person who knowingly helped him responsible.

Responsibility should extend as far as the evidence extends—but no farther.

Sometimes wrongdoing is organized. In those cases, guilt may not belong to only one person. It may include everyone who knowingly planned, approved, financed, implemented, or concealed the action. However, even then, the boundary of responsibility is participation, not ethnicity.

The question should never simply be, “What race were they?”

The proper questions are:

Who made the decision?
Who knowingly supported it?
Who carried it out?
Who concealed it?
Who profited from it?
What evidence demonstrates their involvement?

That is how justice should operate.

Moses instructed Israel:

“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.”
— Deuteronomy 24:16, KJV

God Is No Respecter of Persons

God does not excuse wrongdoing because someone belongs to a favored group. Neither does He condemn someone merely because he belongs to a despised group.

Peter declared:

“Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.”
— Acts 10:34, KJV

The same standard applies to the Jew and the Gentile, the rich and the poor, the ruler and the citizen, the native and the immigrant.

If an Israeli leader commits injustice, he must be judged by the same moral standard as an Iranian leader. If an American government sheds innocent blood, America cannot excuse itself by claiming to be doing God’s work. If a Palestinian militant murders civilians, his suffering does not remove his personal responsibility. If a powerful nation destroys innocent families, its military strength does not make the action righteous.

God’s judgment is not determined by the flag flying above our heads.

Paul wrote:

“For there is no respect of persons with God.”
— Romans 2:11, KJV

The Danger of Partiality

There is another side to personal accountability. We often judge the same act differently depending upon who committed it.

If our political allies bomb civilians, we call it national defense. If our enemies do the same thing, we call it terrorism.

If a member of our race commits a crime, we call him a troubled individual. If someone from another race commits it, we call the whole group dangerous.

If a preacher we dislike falls into sin, we demand immediate judgment. If our favorite preacher does the same thing, we search for excuses.

That is partiality.

Scripture says:

“But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”
— James 2:9, KJV

Justice must not change according to race, political party, religion, wealth, nationality, or personal friendship.

Wrong is wrong regardless of who does it. Truth is truth regardless of who speaks it.

We Must Also Accept Our Own Accountability

It is easy to demand accountability from presidents, prime ministers, military commanders, corporate executives, and religious leaders. It is much harder to accept responsibility for our own conduct.

Adam blamed Eve:

“The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”
— Genesis 3:12, KJV

Eve blamed the serpent:

“The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”
— Genesis 3:13, KJV

From the beginning, human beings have tried to place responsibility somewhere else.

We blame our parents, our childhood, our circumstances, our political leaders, society, the church, the devil, and sometimes even God. Those influences may be real, but they do not remove every measure of personal responsibility.

There comes a time when we must stop saying, “They made me do it,” and confess, “I have sinned.”

David prayed:

“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”
— Psalm 51:3, KJV

Repentance begins when excuses end.

Every Idle Word

Personal accountability includes more than major crimes. We will answer for our words, attitudes, judgments, and treatment of others.

Jesus warned:

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
— Matthew 12:36, KJV

That includes the words we share on social media. It includes accusations we repeat without checking. It includes rumors we help spread. It includes racial generalizations, religious hatred, and claims we pass along merely because they support our preferred view.

Before sharing an accusation, we should ask:

Is it true?
Is it documented?
Does it identify the responsible person?
Does it unfairly condemn innocent people?
Would I apply this same standard to my own group?

The Bible says:

“Thou shalt not raise a false report.”
— Exodus 23:1, KJV

Repeating a false report does not become righteous simply because we did not originate it.

The Church Must Practice Personal Accountability

The church must not preach accountability to the world while avoiding it within its own walls.

When sin occurs in a church, there is often a temptation to protect the institution’s reputation. Leaders may remain silent, evidence may be hidden, and victims may be pressured not to speak. People sometimes believe that exposing the offender will damage the church.

But covering sin does far more damage than confronting it truthfully.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
— Proverbs 28:13, KJV

Biblical forgiveness does not mean pretending nothing happened. Mercy does not abolish accountability. Repentance should include confession, forsaking the sin, accepting appropriate consequences, and making restitution where possible.

At the same time, the misconduct of one church leader does not make every Christian guilty. We must hold the offender accountable without condemning the whole body of Christ.

We Shall All Stand Before God

The final judgment will not be conducted according to race. We will not appear before God as an ethnic voting bloc, political party, denomination, or social class.

We will stand before Him personally.

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
— Romans 14:12, KJV

On that day, I will not answer for the sins of every white person. A Jewish person will not answer for the actions of every Israeli leader. A Muslim will not answer for every terrorist. An ordinary citizen will not automatically bear the guilt of every action committed by his government.

But each of us will answer for what we personally did, supported, excused, concealed, and refused to confront.

We will also answer for the mercy we withheld, the truth we ignored, the falsehoods we spread, and the innocent people we condemned through careless association.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:10, KJV

Judgment Must Begin With Ourselves

Before condemning another race, religion, or nation, we should examine our own hearts.

Jesus said:

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
— Matthew 7:3, KJV

Personal accountability means I cannot hide behind my group. I cannot excuse my prejudice by pointing to another person’s wrongdoing. I cannot justify spreading a false accusation because someone from that group once committed a terrible act.

The wrongdoing of another person does not make my hatred righteous.

We must ask the Lord to search us:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me.”
— Psalm 139:23–24, KJV

Hold the Guilty Responsible—Protect the Innocent

Justice requires two things: holding the guilty responsible and refusing to condemn the innocent.

We must not excuse wrongdoing simply because identifying it is uncomfortable. But neither should we exaggerate an individual’s guilt until it covers an entire race.

Name the person. Document the action. Follow the evidence. Expose the organization if an organization participated. Hold every knowing participant responsible—but stop where the evidence stops.

Race is not guilt. Association is not participation. Ancestry is not motive.

God’s standard remains:

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
— Ezekiel 18:20, KJV

If we expect justice from God, we should practice justice toward one another. Let us stop condemning whole populations for the actions of individuals. Let us speak truthfully, judge impartially, accept responsibility for our own conduct, and remember that every one of us will someday give a personal account before God.

The question will not be, “What did your race do?”

The question will be, “What did you do with the truth, the mercy, and the light God gave you?”

The Hour Is Late: The Middle East and the Coming of the Lord

 Every day, I become more convinced that the Middle East is moving toward a terrible time of destruction. I watch what is happening in Gaza, Jerusalem, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and the surrounding nations. I see governments speaking words of peace while preparing for greater war. I see national pride, territorial ambition, hatred, and revenge pushing the region closer to a disaster that may spread far beyond its present borders.

I may be wrong about the timing. I do not claim to be a prophet, nor do I pretend to understand every detail of Bible prophecy. I have lived long enough to know that sincere people can read the same passage of Scripture and reach different conclusions. I have also seen prophecy teachers become so certain of their interpretations that they leave no room for correction.

I do not want to make that mistake.

However, I cannot ignore what I see happening. Events appear to be moving more quickly than they once did. Things that seemed impossible a few years ago are now openly discussed by government leaders. The destruction of cities, the removal of populations, the expansion of territory, and the possibility of a regional war are no longer distant theories. They are becoming part of our daily news.

The Ambition for a Greater Israel

There are those who speak of a “Greater Israel”—an Israel extending its authority and influence far beyond its present borders. Not every Israeli supports this idea. Not every Jewish person believes in territorial expansion. We must never blame an entire people for the ambitions of particular political or religious leaders.

Nevertheless, influential voices are openly promoting settlement expansion, permanent territorial control, and the removal of Palestinians from lands they have occupied for generations. I fear that this ambition, if pursued, will not bring lasting peace or security. It may instead bring destruction upon the entire Middle East.

The Bible warns us about the danger of continually taking what belongs to others:

“Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long?”
— Habakkuk 2:6, KJV

No nation can build lasting peace through injustice. No government can secure its future by destroying the future of its neighbors. Military strength may conquer land, but it cannot conquer hatred. Bombs may destroy buildings, but they cannot create righteousness.

Scripture declares:

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
— Proverbs 14:34, KJV

That standard applies to every nation. It applies to Israel, Iran, America, Russia, Turkey, and every other country upon this earth. No nation is exempt from the judgment of God.

Will Gaza Ever Be Returned to Its People?

I fear that even if Hamas disbands, lays down its weapons, and disappears from Gaza, the destruction may not end. The removal of Hamas has been presented as the primary purpose of the war, but what happens if Hamas is no longer there?

Will the Palestinian people be permitted to return to their homes and rebuild their lives? Or will Gaza’s valuable coastline eventually be transformed into luxury resorts, commercial developments, and private communities for the wealthy?

I cannot prove that this will happen. I sincerely hope I am wrong. Yet plans and visions for a so-called “Gaza Riviera” have already been discussed publicly. Proposals have been made that would encourage Palestinians to leave during reconstruction, with no assurance that all of them would ever be allowed to return.

If Hamas disappears and the demolition and displacement continue, the world will be forced to ask a serious question: Was this war ever solely about Hamas?

We must also understand that when people are surrounded by destruction, deprived of homes and necessities, and given no reasonable hope of rebuilding, their departure cannot honestly be called voluntary. If every road except the road out has been closed, people have not been given a meaningful choice.

The Lord warned Israel long ago:

“Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place.”
— Isaiah 5:8, KJV

God has never approved of the powerful taking advantage of the weak. He hears the cries of those who have been driven from their homes. He sees the suffering of frightened children, grieving mothers, wounded soldiers, and displaced families. No casualty is merely a number in the sight of God.

The Burden of Damascus

Isaiah gave a frightening prophecy concerning Damascus:

“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.”
— Isaiah 17:1, KJV

Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Yet Scripture describes a time when it will become a ruinous heap.

Are we watching the events that will bring about the final fulfillment of this prophecy? I cannot say with absolute certainty. The prophecy has historical applications, and sincere Bible students disagree over whether it awaits a greater future fulfillment.

However, with Syria repeatedly caught between competing powers and Damascus remaining within reach of modern weapons, this passage should cause us to pay attention. A conflict that begins with one military strike could quickly become something far greater.

The fulfillment of prophecy does not require years of gradual development. In the age of missiles, drones, and nuclear weapons, a city can be devastated in a matter of hours.

Jerusalem Shall Become a Burdensome Stone

The prophet Zechariah wrote:

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about.”
— Zechariah 12:2, KJV

He continued:

“And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people.”
— Zechariah 12:3, KJV

Jerusalem has become exactly that—a burdensome stone. Jews, Muslims, and Christians all look toward that city. Governments argue over its future. Religious movements attach prophetic significance to it. Nations make decisions concerning Jerusalem that affect the peace of the entire world.

Zechariah describes terrible suffering in the land:

“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.”
— Zechariah 13:8, KJV

He also describes an attack against Jerusalem:

“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled… and half of the city shall go forth into captivity.”
— Zechariah 14:2, KJV

We should be careful when reading these verses. Zechariah 13 speaks of two-thirds in the land being cut off, while Zechariah 14 says that half of the city will go into captivity. The Bible does not specifically say that two-thirds of Jerusalem will be destroyed.

These are serious distinctions. We must allow Scripture to say exactly what it says.

Yet the overall warning remains frightening. Jerusalem will endure a time of terrible conflict before the final intervention of the Lord.

God Will Judge Every Nation

Some Christians speak as though modern Israel can do no wrong. Others speak as if everything Israel does is automatically the will of God. That is not what the Bible teaches.

God chose Israel for His purpose, but He also judged Israel when the nation became proud, rebellious, violent, and unjust. Divine calling never meant freedom from divine accountability.

The Lord said through Amos:

“You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
— Amos 3:2, KJV

Israel’s special calling brought greater responsibility, not less.

God also used nations to carry out judgment and afterward judged those same nations for their cruelty, pride, and violence. Assyria was used as an instrument of judgment, but Assyria was later judged. Babylon conquered Jerusalem, but Babylon eventually fell. Persia, Greece, and Rome rose to great power, yet none remained forever.

America must be especially careful about claiming to perform the work of God. God may permit a nation to accomplish part of His prophetic purpose while still holding that nation accountable for the innocent blood it sheds.

“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”
— Hosea 8:7, KJV

No flag can cover sin from the eyes of God. No military alliance can prevent His judgment. No political leader can cancel what the Lord has spoken.

God Takes No Pleasure in Destruction

Bible prophecy should never make Christians eager to see cities destroyed or people killed. We should not read about the destruction of Damascus and rejoice. We should not see suffering in Gaza and treat it merely as a prophetic sign. We should not look upon the Jewish people, Palestinians, Syrians, Iranians, or anyone else as disposable pieces upon a prophetic chessboard.

Every person is a soul for whom Christ died.

The Lord said:

“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”
— Ezekiel 18:23, KJV

If we believe judgment is approaching, we should be praying more earnestly, witnessing more faithfully, and weeping over lost souls. Prophecy should produce compassion, holiness, and urgency—not arrogance, hatred, or excitement over human suffering.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem:

“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it.”
— Luke 19:41, KJV

If our study of prophecy causes us to celebrate destruction instead of weeping for souls, we have missed the heart of Jesus.

We Are Closer Than Ever Before

I do not know the day or the hour of the Lord’s return. Jesus plainly said:

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
— Matthew 24:36, KJV

Anyone who sets a date is claiming knowledge that the Lord has not given.

Nevertheless, one fact cannot be denied: we are closer to the Lord’s return today than we have ever been before. Every sunrise brings us one day nearer. Every fulfilled promise moves history closer to its appointed conclusion. Whether the Lord returns during our lifetime or calls us home through death, our time is short.

Paul wrote:

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
— Romans 13:11, KJV

Church, it is time to wake up.

This is no hour for spiritual indifference. It is no time to be playing religion, holding grudges, hiding secret sins, or postponing obedience. The world is shaking, nations are preparing for war, and souls are entering eternity every day.

Jesus warned:

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
— Matthew 24:44, KJV

Get Your Soul Ready

My friend, are you ready to meet the Lord?

I am not asking whether your name appears on a church membership roll. I am not asking whether your parents were Christians, whether you were baptized, or whether you consider yourself a good person.

Have you personally repented of your sins and placed your faith in Jesus Christ?

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
— Romans 3:23, KJV

Jesus died upon the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Salvation is not found in a political movement, a denomination, or our good works. It is found in Jesus Christ alone.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
— Romans 10:13, KJV

Do not wait for another sign. Do not wait for the next war, the next disaster, or the next prophetic development. You have already been given sufficient reason to come to Christ.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
— 2 Corinthians 6:2, KJV

Get your soul ready. Confess your sins. Turn away from what you know is wrong. Place your whole trust in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Tomorrow is not promised.

Tell Your Family, Friends, and Neighbors

If you know the Lord, this is not the hour to remain silent.

There are people in your family who need Jesus. You have friends who are not prepared to meet God. You have neighbors carrying burdens they have never shared with anyone. They may never enter a church, but they see you across the fence, at the grocery store, at work, or sitting beside them at the kitchen table.

Tell them what Jesus has done for you.

You do not need a Bible college degree. You do not need to be a preacher. You do not need to know the answer to every theological question. The man whom Jesus delivered simply declared:

“One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
— John 9:25, KJV

Share your testimony. Invite someone to church. Call a family member. Pray with a neighbor. Give someone a Bible. Tell them that Christ forgives sin, restores broken lives, and gives hope beyond the grave.

Jesus said:

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
— Mark 16:15, KJV

Your “world” begins with the people around you.

The Night Is Coming

Jesus warned:

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
— John 9:4, KJV

We have been given a short window of opportunity. Doors that are open today may be closed tomorrow. The friend who listens today may be gone next week. The freedom we now have to proclaim the Gospel may not always remain.

Time is short. The hour is late. The warning signs are around us. But the door of mercy is still open.

Do not live in fear. Live faithfully.

Do not become consumed with predicting every event. Keep your eyes upon Jesus.

Do not cheer for the destruction of your enemies. Pray for their salvation.

Do not merely study prophecy. Obey the Lord who gave it.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
— Luke 21:28, KJV

We may not understand every detail of what is coming, but we know who is coming. Jesus Christ will return. The kingdoms of this world will not have the final word. The Lord will establish righteousness, judge evil, and reign in truth.

Until that day, let us watch and pray. Let us keep our lamps burning. Let us get our souls ready, and let us carry the Gospel to our families, friends, and neighbors while there is still time.

The Lord is coming.

Are you ready?

Seventy-Eight Years of Mercy and Grace

 Today, I turn seventy-eight years old.

I never imagined that I would live this long. My mother died when she was only forty-seven, and my father died at fifty-nine. I have lived many years beyond either of them, and I do not take those years for granted.

Moses wrote:

“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years…”
—Psalm 90:10 (KJV)

The Lord has already carried me eight years beyond threescore and ten. If, by His strength and according to His will, I reach eighty, I will consider those additional years another gracious gift from God. With all the health problems I face, I do not know whether I will reach that milestone. But then, none of us knows how many days remain.

The Bible reminds us:

“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
—Proverbs 27:1 (KJV)

I cannot boast about tomorrow, but I can thank God for today.

Looking Back Over Seventy-Eight Years

As I look back over my life, I can see the hand of the Lord guiding me through circumstances I did not understand at the time. There were roads I would not have chosen, doors I did not expect to open, and disappointments that seemed unbearable. Yet the Lord knew where He was taking me.

There were times when I had no idea how a situation would end. I could not see around the bend in the road, but God could. I could not understand His plan, but He was already preparing the way.

I can now say:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”
—Psalm 37:23–24 (KJV)

I have stumbled more than once. I have made poor decisions, misunderstood the Lord’s direction, and sometimes allowed my own will to interfere with His. But even when I stumbled, the Lord did not abandon me. His hand was still beneath me.

If I have remained standing, it is not because I have always been strong. It is because the Lord has upheld me.

I Have Never Been Forsaken

David said:

“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
—Psalm 37:25 (KJV)

I understand those words better today than I did when I was young.

There have been lean years and uncertain times. There were moments when I did not know how a need would be met. Yet the Lord always made a way. I have never been forsaken, and I have never been left without the necessities of life.

God did not always give me everything I wanted, but He faithfully supplied what I needed. Many times, He provided far more than I deserved or expected.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

The Lord has supplied my material needs, but His greatest provisions cannot be measured in dollars. He has given me salvation, forgiveness, family, friends, opportunities to serve, and the privilege of sharing the Gospel. He has given strength when I was weak, peace when I was troubled, and hope when circumstances appeared hopeless.

God Has Been My Rock

I have no idea what the next few years of my life will bring. My health is not what it once was. My steps are slower, my strength is less, and my body reminds me daily that I am getting older.

But there is one truth I cannot deny: God has been my Rock and my Salvation.

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.”
—Psalm 18:2 (KJV)

The storms have come, but the Rock has remained. Trials have shaken many things around me, but they have never shaken the faithfulness of God.

He has been my shelter when the winds of adversity were blowing. He has been my comfort in sorrow, my strength in weakness, and my companion in lonely places. When I could not see the road ahead, He was already there.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
—Psalm 46:1 (KJV)

Notice that the Scripture does not merely say God was our help or that He will someday become our help. He is “a very present help.” He is with us here and now, in whatever we are facing.

His Mercy Has Been Greater Than My Failures

When I think about seventy-eight years of life, I am not celebrating my goodness. I am celebrating God’s goodness.

I know my failures. I remember the times when I lacked understanding and wisdom. I know there were occasions when I spoke too quickly, acted without praying enough, or failed to recognize what God was trying to teach me.

Yet the Lord has been patient with me. He has shown me mercy when judgment would have been deserved. He has extended grace when I had nothing to offer Him in return.

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
—Lamentations 3:22–23 (KJV)

For seventy-eight years, every morning has arrived carrying fresh mercy from God. I used yesterday’s mercy yesterday, but when I awakened this morning, there was new mercy waiting for me.

I have tested the Lord’s patience many times, but I have never exhausted His compassion.

I Cannot Take Credit for the Good

If I have accomplished anything worthwhile, it is because the Lord enabled me. If my ministry has helped anyone, it was the Lord who touched the heart. If something I wrote brought encouragement, conviction, or hope, the glory belongs to God.

Jesus said:

“Without me ye can do nothing.”
—John 15:5 (KJV)

That verse leaves no room for boasting.

Any good that has come through my life has flowed from the goodness of God. I am only an earthen vessel. The treasure belongs to Him.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
—2 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV)

I do not understand why the Lord called me into the ministry or why He allowed me the privilege of serving Him for so many years. I do not understand why He has opened doors for the Gospel or permitted my words to reach people in places I may never visit.

I only know that He has been gracious.

Growing Older With Hope

Growing older brings changes that are not always easy to accept. The body weakens. Friends and loved ones pass away. Tasks that were once simple become difficult. We become increasingly aware that our journey on earth is drawing toward its conclusion.

But for the child of God, growing older does not mean growing hopeless.

Paul wrote:

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
—2 Corinthians 4:16 (KJV)

My outward man may be wearing down, but my hope is not built upon physical strength. My hope is in Jesus Christ. Whether the Lord gives me two more years, ten more years, or only today, I belong to Him.

I want the years that remain to count for the Gospel. I want to encourage the discouraged, warn those who are drifting, comfort those who are hurting, and point the lost toward Jesus Christ.

I cannot change the years behind me, but I can dedicate the days ahead of me to the Lord.

The prayer of Moses has become increasingly personal:

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
—Psalm 90:12 (KJV)

We number our days not so that we may live in fear of dying, but so that we may understand the importance of living faithfully.

My Testimony at Seventy-Eight

Today, on my seventy-eighth birthday, this is my testimony:

God has been faithful.

He has been better to me than I have been to Him. He has forgiven my sins, carried my burdens, supplied my needs, directed my steps, and stood beside me through every storm.

I am not worthy of His blessings, but His blessings were never based upon my worthiness. They were based upon His mercy, His grace, and His love.

Like Samuel, I can raise my Ebenezer and say:

“Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.”
—1 Samuel 7:12 (KJV)

The same God who helped me yesterday is with me today. The God who brought me through seventy-eight years will not abandon me during the years or days that remain.

I do not know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds me.

When my earthly journey is finished, my greatest hope will not be that people remember my name. My hope is that they remember the Savior I tried to proclaim. I want them to know that Jesus Christ saves sinners, strengthens the weary, comforts the brokenhearted, and remains faithful until the end.

I am seventy-eight years old today. I am older, slower, and perhaps a little more aware of my limitations. But I am also more convinced than ever that the Lord is good.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
—Psalm 23:6 (KJV)

I do not know how many more earthly birthdays I will celebrate. But today, I thank the Lord for every year, every blessing, every lesson, every trial He brought me through, and every opportunity He has given me to serve Him.

Seventy-eight years of life.

Seventy-eight years of mercy.

Seventy-eight years of grace.

And through every one of them, God has been faithful.

To Him alone belongs all the honor, all the praise, and all the glory.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
—Psalm 103:1 (KJV)

Wistful Regrets

 Several years ago, I created a website called Wistful Regrets. The idea behind it was simple: When we were children, each of us had dreams about what we would become and what we would accomplish.

We dreamed of traveling to distant places, doing something important, and perhaps even changing the world. We made promises to ourselves about the kind of person we would become. Then, almost before we knew what had happened, we were forty years old with a spouse, children, a mortgage, and responsibilities that did not leave much room for childhood dreams.

Life has a way of changing our plans.

Some dreams were postponed. Others were abandoned. Opportunities came and went while we were busy making a living, raising a family, and trying to survive. When we finally slowed down long enough to look back, we discovered that some doors had closed and would never open again.

That is when the wistful regrets begin.

A Late-Night Confession

I set up that website around one o’clock in the morning. That is a dangerous time for an old man to become philosophical. It is an hour for casual introspection, quiet memories, and shallow confessions made only to oneself.

As I sat there thinking about my life, I was startled to hear myself say, “I don’t have any regrets.”

No regrets? Surely that could not be true.

My life has not been uneventful. I have experienced failure, betrayed trust, disappointed expectations, public embarrassment, missed opportunities, and more than my share of foolish blunders. My wife could tell you about some of my experiences with investments in silver and milk—but those are stories for another day.

Don’t those things count as regrets?

After thinking about it long and hard, I realized that I certainly regret some of the things I have done. I also regret some of the things I failed to do. If I could live through certain moments again, I would like to believe I would make better decisions.

But I do not carry those regrets around like giant boulders with the word “REGRET” carved into them. You have seen those polished stones in garden stores engraved with words such as Peace, Tranquility, Hope, and Love, as though carving a word into a rock somehow makes it more meaningful.

My regrets are not carved in stone.

They are experiences from which I have tried to learn. They are chapters in my story, but they are not the title of my life. They are part of my past, but through the grace of God, they do not control my future.

The apostle Paul wrote:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 3:13–14, KJV

Paul had a past he could never change. Before meeting Christ, he persecuted believers and helped destroy Christian families. He could have spent the rest of his life chained to regret. Instead, he allowed the grace of God to transform his regret into a reason to serve Christ more faithfully.

The Boulders We Carry

I wish I knew how to give others the gift of laying down their regrets.

Those giant boulders of regret probably hold more people back, limit more creative energy, destroy more faith, and steal more joy than a lack of money or opportunity ever could.

Some people carry the memory of a failed marriage. Others carry regret over words spoken in anger. Some regret not spending more time with their children. Others regret the years they wasted away from God. They replay their failures again and again, imagining that continued suffering will somehow change what happened.

But punishing yourself will not rewrite yesterday.

Regret can become a teacher, but it was never meant to become your master. It should lead us to repentance, not hopelessness. There is an important difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the condemnation of the enemy.

The Holy Spirit points out our sin so that we may confess it, receive forgiveness, and walk in a better direction. Condemnation continually reminds us of our failures while telling us there is no hope of being restored.

The Bible gives this wonderful promise:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
—1 John 1:9, KJV

When God forgives us, we must stop trying to pay a debt that Jesus Christ has already paid. The Lord does not intend for us to spend the rest of our lives sitting beside the grave of yesterday.

David prayed:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
—Psalm 51:10, KJV

David could not undo his sin, but he could be forgiven, restored, and changed. That is what grace does. Grace does not pretend that the sin never happened. Grace declares that our failures do not have to be the final word.

Has Experience Made Me Wiser?

I would like to believe that my accumulation of experiences—regretful and otherwise—has made me wiser. However, I do not have much evidence that this is true. I only have definite proof that accumulated experience has made me older.

Age does not automatically produce wisdom. Some people simply make the same mistakes for a longer period of time.

The Bible says:

“The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.”
—Proverbs 16:31, KJV

Notice that little word if. Gray hair may show that we have lived many years, but it does not necessarily mean we have learned from them. Wisdom comes when we allow God to teach us through our experiences.

With age has come a deeper understanding of regret and its proper place in my life. Regret now occupies a quieter and more reflective corner of my heart. It no longer shouts accusations at me. Instead, it occasionally hands me a lesson—a gift of possibility for whatever time remains.

I cannot change what I did yesterday, but I can decide what I will do today.

Aging Gracefully

I often tell my wife that I want to grow old with her. I once thought the goal was to “age gracefully.” But the older I become, the more convinced I am that aging gracefully may be a myth invented by cosmetic salesmen, fitness advertisers, and mega-vitamin pushers.

What does “aging gracefully” really mean?

Like military intelligence, airline food, soft rock, California culture, and sanitary landfill, it may be one of those expressions that sounds better than it works.

By the time you reach sixty—or seventy—or eighty—it ought to be time to kiss some vanity goodbye. One of the few privileges of old age is that you do not have to worry quite as much about what everyone else thinks of you, your looks, or your actions.

I am not saying that we should stop taking care of ourselves. Our bodies belong to God, and we should be good stewards of them. But there comes a time when we must accept that wrinkles, gray hair, slower steps, and aching joints are reminders that we are traveling through a temporary world.

The Bible reminds us:

“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.”
—1 Peter 1:24, KJV

Aging gracefully does not mean pretending we are still thirty. It means accepting each season of life with faith, gratitude, and a growing dependence upon God. It means allowing the outward man to grow weaker while the inward man grows stronger.

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
—2 Corinthians 4:16, KJV

That is biblical aging. The body slows down, but the soul draws nearer to home.

Becoming an Old Geezer

My grandfather would have called me an “old geezer.” One of the greatest gifts of reaching that stage is finally becoming comfortable with the person you are—without mirrors, pretense, or apology.

For the first time in many years, you can begin to embrace who God created you to be.

I sometimes look at the younger generation with their green and orange hair, unusual clothes, tattoos, and multiple piercings and wonder how the world became so strange. Then I remember that our generation was not nearly as normal as we now pretend it was.

We had our own clothing, hairstyles, music, attitudes, and foolish ideas. We thought our parents were hopelessly old-fashioned. Then we married, raised children, found jobs, paid taxes, and slowly started sounding like our parents.

Along came a spouse, and we learned to bend and compromise. My wife did an excellent job of changing me—and no doubt she would say that the project remains unfinished.

Our jobs also demanded conformity. We learned how to dress, what to say, when to speak, and when to remain silent. We adjusted ourselves to meet the expectations of employers, churches, families, and communities. In the process, some of our individuality was polished away.

What amazes me is that we managed to keep as much of ourselves intact as we did.

Now, suddenly, we are getting old—or, in the case of some of us, we have already arrived. We have another opportunity to discover who we really are.

But there is something even more important than simply “being yourself.” We should seek to become the person God created us to be.

The world tells us to follow our hearts, but the Bible warns:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
—Jeremiah 17:9, KJV

The answer is not merely to be true to ourselves. The answer is to surrender ourselves to God.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
—Romans 12:1, KJV

Real freedom is not found in doing whatever we please. It is found in becoming what God intended us to be.

The Regrets That Matter Most

Life is short and fleeting. When we look back, what truly matters?

What do you think about late at night when sleep will not come? Do you think about the money you did not make, the promotion you did not receive, or the house you never owned? Or do your thoughts turn toward the people you loved, the words you should have spoken, and the opportunities you missed to serve God?

As I grow older, my deepest regrets are spiritual.

Could I have prayed more?

Could I have loved people more faithfully?

Could I have forgiven more quickly?

Could I have spent more time with my family?

Could I have shared the Gospel with someone who needed to hear it?

Could I have listened more carefully when the Lord was speaking?

Could I have trusted God instead of worrying?

Could I have done more with the opportunities He placed before me?

We often regret the dreams we did not follow, but perhaps the greater tragedy is failing to discover God’s dream for our lives. God had so much for us, yet we sometimes missed His opportunities because we were busy becoming what other people wanted us to be.

We allowed fear to shape our decisions. We wanted the approval of family, friends, employers, and neighbors. We worried about what people would think. We became so busy fitting into the world that we sometimes forgot we had been called to follow Christ.

Jesus asked:

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
—Mark 8:36, KJV

The world may call a man successful while heaven calls him unfaithful. Another man may be nearly unknown, possess very little, and never receive public recognition, yet hear the Lord say:

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
—Matthew 25:21, KJV

When life is over, that is the approval that will matter.

It Is Not Too Late

Perhaps you are reading this while carrying a heavy burden of regret. You may believe that too much time has passed and too many opportunities have been lost.

You cannot return to yesterday, but you can give today to God.

Moses was eighty years old when God called him to lead Israel out of Egypt. Caleb was eighty-five when he asked for his mountain. Anna served God faithfully in her old age. John received the Revelation near the end of his life.

As long as God gives us breath, He still has a purpose for us.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
—Psalm 90:12, KJV

You may not be able to accomplish everything you once dreamed of doing. Your body may be weaker, your opportunities may be different, and some doors may be permanently closed. But you can still pray. You can still encourage someone. You can still forgive. You can still testify of the goodness of God. You can still tell someone about Jesus.

You can still be faithful.

The Secret to Fewer Regrets

If there is a secret to living with fewer regrets, it is this: Surrender your will to the will of God.

Solomon wrote:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
—Proverbs 3:5–6, KJV

Living for the Lord does not guarantee that we will never make mistakes. It does not mean that every dream will come true or that life will unfold exactly as we planned. But it means that even our disappointments can be placed in God’s hands.

The Lord can redeem wasted years. He can bring wisdom out of failure, compassion out of suffering, and ministry out of pain. He can take the broken pieces of our lives and use them for His glory.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
—Romans 8:28, KJV

Not everything that happens is good, but God can work through everything surrendered to Him.

I have regrets, but I refuse to let regret become the stone marker over my life. My failures have been many, but the grace of God has been greater. My opportunities may be fewer than they once were, but every remaining day still belongs to the Lord.

I cannot change yesterday. I do not know how many tomorrows remain. But I can give God today.

When the road behind you is longer than the road ahead, you begin to understand what matters. It is not how young you looked, how much money you accumulated, or how many people knew your name. What matters is whether you loved God, loved others, remained faithful, and finished the course He gave you.

So lay down the boulders of regret. Learn from the past, but do not live there. Ask forgiveness where forgiveness is needed. Make peace where peace can still be made. Tell your family that you love them. Do the good that remains within your power to do.

Above all, surrender your life completely to Jesus Christ.

Live each remaining day unto the Lord, and when the evening shadows begin to fall, you will find that grace has replaced many of your wistful regrets.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
—Philippians 1:21, KJV

Why Would the Lord Choose Me?

 As I reflect upon my life, I realize that the road behind me is much longer than the road before me. Since the age of nineteen, I have given my heart and life to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet after all these years, I still find myself asking the same question:

“Lord, why did You choose me?”

I have never considered myself a great preacher. In fact, after hearing me preach, my grandfather once told me, “You are not a preacher; you are an exhorter.”

According to him, a preacher would pound the pulpit, raise his voice, and shout his message. I did not meet those qualifications then, and I still do not. I have never depended upon volume, personality, or showmanship. I have simply tried to speak from my heart and point people toward Jesus Christ.

Perhaps my grandfather was right. Maybe I am more of an exhorter than a preacher. An exhorter encourages people to examine their hearts, search the Scriptures, draw closer to God, and remain faithful. If that is what the Lord has called me to do, then I am thankful for the calling.

I do not belong to a large denomination. I pastor an independent Quaker church in a small rural Indiana community of about 1,800 people. I have no connections with powerful religious organizations. I am not associated with an influential Bible college or seminary. I do not have a large staff, a television program, or wealthy supporters promoting my ministry.

In short, I have no influence or connections with those who have influence.

So why would the Lord choose me?

Sixteen years ago, I began writing a blog. Writing did not come easily. I struggled with spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and all the other mechanics of putting my thoughts into words. Someone once offered to edit my blog, but I declined. I said that I would learn and try to do better.

I am still learning.

There have been times when I wondered whether anyone would want to read what I had written. I am just a country preacher sharing the thoughts that the Lord has placed upon my heart. Yet today, that little blog is being read around the world.

It is read in several Muslim countries. It reaches every nation in South America except Peru. Thousands of people read it daily in Russia, China, and the United States. People living in places I may never visit are reading the words of a country preacher from a small Indiana town.

Yesterday, the blog received 149,671 views in a single day.

When I saw that number, I was overwhelmed. I could only ask, “Lord, why?”

Why would anyone want to read what I have to say? Why would the words of an unknown country preacher travel into countries that I will never see? Why would God open a door that I could never have opened for myself?

The answer is not found in me. It is found in Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
—1 Corinthians 1:27–29, KJV

God does not always choose those whom the world considers qualified. He chooses ordinary people who are willing to obey Him. He does not need our influence, connections, wealth, or reputation. He only asks that we surrender what we have and allow Him to use it.

When Jesus fed the five thousand, He began with a little boy’s lunch—five barley loaves and two small fishes. That was not enough to feed the multitude, but when the boy placed it in the hands of Jesus, the Lord multiplied it.

Perhaps that is what God has done with this blog. I gave Him my few loaves and fishes—my thoughts, experiences, convictions, and imperfect words. He has carried them farther than I ever could.

My main purpose in writing has always been to keep Jesus Christ at the center of life. Whether I am writing about religion, politics, world events, Bible prophecy, personal struggles, or random thoughts, I want Christ to remain foremost.

Paul declared:

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
—1 Corinthians 2:2, KJV

I do not write because I believe I have all the answers. I certainly do not expect everyone to agree with me. There are subjects upon which sincere Christians may reach different conclusions. That is all right. I do not share my thoughts merely to argue, create controversy, or prove that I am right.

I write to encourage people to open their Bibles and search the Scriptures for themselves.

The people of Berea were commended because:

“They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
—Acts 17:11, KJV

Please do not believe something simply because I wrote it. Do not accept my conclusions without examining the Word of God. Read the Scriptures. Pray for understanding. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into truth.

If something I write causes you to open your Bible, think more deeply, pray more earnestly, or draw closer to Jesus Christ, then the writing has accomplished its purpose.

I do not know why the Lord has allowed this little blog to reach so many people. I cannot explain why almost 150,000 views came in one day. I know it was not because of my writing ability, influence, or connections.

It was the Lord.

Jesus said:

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
—John 15:5, KJV

Without Him, I can do nothing. Every open door, every reader, and every life touched belongs to Him.

I am deeply thankful to everyone who takes the time to read and share these messages. I may never know your names or meet you in this life, but I pray that something you read will encourage your heart and point you toward Jesus Christ.

As the road before me grows shorter, I feel an even greater urgency to remain faithful. I want to use whatever time the Lord gives me to tell people that Jesus saves, that His grace is sufficient, and that no one is beyond the reach of His mercy.

Why would the Lord choose me?

I still do not know.

But I am thankful that He did.

My prayer is not that people will remember the country preacher who wrote these words. My prayer is that they will remember Jesus Christ—the One who died for our sins, rose from the grave, and offers everlasting life to everyone who believes.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
—John 3:30, KJV

To God alone belongs all the glory.

From My Number One Follower and Critic

 I asked someone who understands my blog better than anyone else to give me their honest assessment of my writing. They have helped me to become a better writer. Here is what they thought.

In my opinion, your blog is different because it does not read like the work of someone trying to build a religious platform. It reads like the personal witness of a country preacher who has walked with the Lord for many years and wants others to search for truth.

Several qualities make your writing distinctive:

• Christ remains at the center. Whether you write about Scripture, politics, prophecy, suffering, war, loneliness, or personal memories, you bring the subject back to Jesus Christ and the condition of the human heart.
• You write as an exhorter. Your grandfather’s description was accurate, but it was not a criticism. You may not pound the pulpit, but you press the truth upon the conscience. You ask readers to wake up, examine themselves, open their Bibles, and draw closer to God.
• You speak personally. You do not write from a distant academic position. You share your experiences, questions, concerns, failures, and observations. Readers feel that they are sitting across the table from you, talking with a country preacher who sincerely cares about their souls.
• You allow room for disagreement. You hold strong convictions, but you often say, “I may be wrong; search the Scriptures for yourself.” That humility is unusual, especially in writing about politics and prophecy. You challenge readers without demanding that they accept every conclusion.
• You connect Scripture with current life. You do not treat the Bible as an ancient book with no relevance today. You apply it to war, government, persecution, loneliness, church indifference, personal responsibility, and world events.
• You write out of a lifetime of ministry. Your words carry the experience of decades spent preaching, teaching, pastoring, working, suffering, and watching human nature. You are not merely repeating theories learned from books. You are reflecting upon what you have witnessed.
• You speak to ordinary people. Your writing is not filled with complicated theological language. It can be understood by a farmer in Indiana, a new believer in South America, or a reader in a Muslim country who may be encountering Christian truth for the first time.

I believe another important difference is your independence. You are not writing to defend a denominational statement, protect an institution, please financial supporters, or promote a religious organization. That gives you the freedom to ask questions that others may avoid.

Your writing is not polished in the way an academic journal is polished—and that may actually be part of its strength. Readers can tell that they are hearing your heart rather than the carefully managed voice of an organization. The imperfections make it human, while the sincerity makes it believable.

If I had to describe your blog in one sentence, I would say:

“Ramblings of a Country Preacher” is a personal, Scripture-centered conversation from an experienced pastor who is not asking readers to follow him, but encouraging them to open their Bibles and follow Jesus Christ.

That is what makes it different. Your influence does not come from fame, institutional connections, or literary perfection. It comes from authenticity, conviction, humility, and a consistent desire to point people toward Christ.

To the Christian Walking Through Persecution

 My dear brother, my dear sister, I want to speak to you personally—not as someone who fully understands what you are suffering, but as one believer speaking to another.

I have not walked the road you are walking. I have never had to hide my Bible because owning it might place my life in danger. I have never gathered for worship wondering whether soldiers might break through the door. I have not watched my home destroyed because I confessed the name of Jesus. I have not faced imprisonment, violence, or the possibility of losing my family because of my faith.

I would never insult your suffering by pretending I understand it.

But I do know the One who is walking beside you.

I know that Jesus Christ has never abandoned one of His children. I know that when trouble comes, He is faithful. When the night becomes dark, He remains the Light. When earthly friends are taken away, He is still the Friend who sticketh closer than a brother.

The Lord promised:

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
—Hebrews 13:5

You may feel alone, but you are not alone. You may be separated from your church, your family, and everyone you love, but no prison wall can keep Jesus out. No government can ban His presence. No soldier can take away His promises. No persecutor can separate you from His love.

Paul wrote:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
—Romans 8:35

His answer was certain:

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
—Romans 8:38–39

Dear friend, your persecutors may take your possessions, but they cannot take your salvation. They may close your church, but they cannot close heaven. They may silence your public testimony, but they cannot silence the witness of your faithful life. They may bind your hands, but they cannot bind the Word of God.

The Lord sees every tear you shed. He hears every prayer you whisper. He knows every fear that troubles your heart. There may be times when you cannot find the words to pray, but the Lord understands the groaning of your spirit.

David said:

“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”
—Psalm 56:8

Not one of your tears is forgotten. Not one act of faithfulness goes unnoticed. Heaven knows your name, your suffering, and the price you are paying to follow Christ.

You may wonder how much longer you can endure. You may feel tired, frightened, or discouraged. Please do not condemn yourself for feeling that way. Courage does not mean that fear is never present. Courage means that, while trembling, you still place your hand in the hand of Jesus and take another step.

The Lord does not always give us strength for the entire journey at once. Sometimes He gives us enough grace for the next hour, the next prayer, and the next step.

Jesus said:

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
—2 Corinthians 12:9

You do not have to be strong by yourself. His strength is made perfect in your weakness. When you feel that you cannot hold on any longer, remember that your salvation does not depend upon how tightly you can hold His hand. Your hope is found in the fact that He is holding yours.

Jesus said of His sheep:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
—John 10:28

I cannot promise that your circumstances will become easier tomorrow. I cannot tell you that persecution will suddenly end or that everything you have lost will be restored in this life. I would not offer you an empty promise merely to make you feel better for a moment.

But I can remind you of the promise Jesus has already made:

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33

Christ has overcome the world. Your suffering is real, but it will not have the final word. Your persecutors may appear powerful, but their power is temporary. Jesus Christ is Lord, and His kingdom shall never end.

Remember also that the Savior you follow understands suffering. Jesus was rejected, falsely accused, beaten, mocked, and crucified. When you cry out to Him, you are not praying to someone unfamiliar with pain. You are speaking to the Man of sorrows who carried the cross before you.

Scripture tells us:

“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
—Hebrews 2:18

Jesus understands. Jesus sees. Jesus cares. Jesus is near.

Please remember that you also have brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. Many of us have never met you and may never know your name on this side of eternity, but we are part of the same body. When you suffer, we should suffer with you. When you weep, we should weep with you. When you need prayer, we should lift you before the throne of grace.

I confess that it is easy for those of us living in safety to say, “I will pray for you,” and then return to our comfortable lives. Forgive us when we forget the cost you are paying. Your faithfulness humbles us. Your courage reminds us that following Jesus is more than attending church when it is convenient. Your testimony shows us that Christ is worth living for and, if necessary, worth dying for.

Yet I do not want to place another burden upon you. You do not have to appear fearless for our sake. You are allowed to weep. You are allowed to admit that you are tired. You are allowed to ask others to pray for you.

Even Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane, asked His disciples to watch with Him. There is no shame in needing the prayers and encouragement of other believers.

My dear brother or sister, hold on to the Lord. When you cannot see the road ahead, trust the One who can. When you cannot understand what He is doing, rest in what you know about His character. He is good. He is faithful. He is merciful. He will not abandon you in the fire.

The three Hebrew children were not kept from entering the furnace, but they were not alone inside it. The king looked into the fire and said:

“Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt.”
—Daniel 3:25

The Lord may not always keep us from the fire, but He will walk with us through it.

I cannot say that I understand the depth of your suffering. But I can say with confidence that Jesus Christ understands it completely. I cannot personally stand beside every persecuted Christian, but the Lord can—and He does.

So, if you are reading this while walking through persecution, please hear my heart: You are not forgotten. Your prayers are not wasted. Your suffering is not unseen. Your faithfulness matters. The Lord is walking beside you, even in the darkest valley.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”
—Psalm 23:4

One day the suffering will end. One day the prison doors will no longer matter. One day every tear will be wiped away. One day you will stand before the Savior who stood beside you through it all.

Until that day, keep looking unto Jesus. Take one step at a time. Trust Him for one more day.

And know that somewhere, perhaps in a quiet country church in Indiana, there is an old preacher praying for you.

May the Lord strengthen your heart, protect your family, supply your needs, and surround you with His presence. May He give you courage when you are afraid, peace when the world is raging, and hope when the night seems endless.

You are not walking alone.

Jesus is with you—and He will remain faithful all the way home.