My pastor had an excellent sermon this past Sunday. It brought tears to people's eyes, even his own. The message was Thanksgiving related, and he told yet another story from the mission field of people who had families massacred and tortured and made their way to Costa Rica, where he was at the time. He related them to the people spoken of in Hebrews who faced trials:

Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

He told about how the people he saw in Costa Rica were able to sing praises to God with such joy, despite what they had gone through.

The passage in Hebrews ends:
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

He spoke of how grateful and thankful these people were; but the other main point was that God does not necessarily take away our suffering. Many are to suffer horrible things in this life. It's not about being kept from suffering, but remaining true despite it.

He warned that America too would one day have a persecuted church. As an example he mentioned the legislation of the homosexual agenda that is attempting to make it a hate crime for preachers to declare that homosexuality is a sin. It is already the law in Canada and some other countries. He pointedly asked those there, when those times do come, will they leave and try to find a church with a watered down gospel, or maybe a better music entertainment, or any of those other things; or would they still be faithful…when those times come.

Though it may seem far away, the persecution of the true church that is prevalent throughout the world today, will inevitably come to America one day. What kind of faith do you have? Do you have the kind that will gladly endure those persecutions? Or will you scatter to the safe havens of a watered down non-truth?

What about now? Have you failed even without persecution? If so, how much more when persecution comes?

Non-persevering faith – is no faith at all.