For twenty years, Hank Williams Jr. and Monday Night Football went hand and hand. This country music icon began singing his famous pregame song in 1991 for ABC and ESPN. However, when asked his honest opinion about President Obama on Fox News in October of 2011, his gig came to an abrupt halt. Instead of singing are you ready for some football, Hank has changed his tune to, “Are you ready for some persecution?”
On December 15th, 1791, the first amendment was adopted as part of the Bill of Rights. This amendment was designed to protect American citizens against government intrusion. This portion of the United States Constitution is suppose to protect a person’s faith, speech, religion and right to assemble. However, in recent years if your opinion is not politically correct or you don’t possess the right party affiliation, persecution follows.
Similar conditions greeted the apostle Paul during the middle of the first century AD. Based upon Luke’s account in Acts 17:22-24, Paul and Silas were stripped, publicly flogged and thrown in jail for freeing a slave from her greedy owners, Acts 17:16-19. Despite being Roman citizens, they were accused without a trial, found guilty by the court of public opinion like Hank Williams Jr.
If the Bible is truly a glimpse of the future, every Christian should be prepared for persecution. Jesus recounts details of the final days on earth in Matthew 24:4-25. According to this account, the days of entertainment, fun and watching NFL football games will be over. Like the Left Behind series, the world will be at war with Christianity. Followers will be forced to join the new world order or flee for their lives. I hate to be negative, but this is what will be coming in the end days. Ready or not, persecution may already be here!
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 