2 Timothy 3:12 says: ...All that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Psalm 18:2

That has quite shocked me when I first read it. Our countries in western world have been built on christian principles, have they not? Where could persecution possibly come from?  God's word says clearly that this world obeys to a hellish taskmaster. 

(Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.) 

So where would persecution come from but from friction between rulers. We are soldiers in the army of Christ, we constantly rub against the maximes of this world. It only shows, that we don't belong here. It is not something exceptional, but the normal life of a believer.

A lot of trouble can come from persecution, but it is an honor to live it, as God is testing patience, building a character, helping us to be at ease when we finally stand in front of him.

Deut 6:20

It is with us according to God's good and perfect will. God has the right to do to us exactly the way he wants to. And we will all eventually grow old, sick and die. Persecution, poverty, old age, sickness, catastrophies and the likes, they are the challenges of this life. When the tower of Siloam fell and 18 died, Jesus just said, that we would all die alike if we would not repent and belive. (Luke 13:4) These are hard words in our time, where everybody seems persuaded we have all rights to comfort. I couldn't find that in my bible. And I think it keeps us from experiencing the greatest of all wonders: The presence of the Lord.