“No weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17)

The skeptic, who doesn’t believe God’s in control, can point to the persecution of the church throughout Christian history and say, “this Scripture isn’t true”. But the saint who knows God has a hedge of protection around him, is willing to suffer and even die, if God allows it for His purpose.

Saints see themselves as “joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him” (Romans 8:17). “None of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:7–8).

This helps us understand what sounds like a contradictory statement by Christ: “They will put some of you to death … But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls” (Luke 21:16–19). When a Christian is put to death, it’s for God’s purpose, and the saint who doesn’t deny Christ, preserves his soul. The Greek word translated “patience” means “stay-under”, so for the Christian, Christ’s words mean, “when you stay under My Lordship, you keep your soul safe”. This reminds us of Christ’s promise, “whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35).

The Matthew version confirms that Christ is saying, whatever happens to you, God is in control: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:28–31).

Just as a sparrow is known by God, so is every one of your hairs, so whatever happens to you, don’t fear…if you die, like the sparrow, it’s for God’s purpose.

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