Is There A Good Person You Haven’t Mistreated?

Acts 7:52 – Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? … (NIV)

Acts 7:52 – Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! …(New Living Translation)

Acts 7:52 – Is there one prophet that your ancestors didn’t mistreat? …(Contemporary English Version)

Acts 7:52 – Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him —(NIV)

We expect that good people would thrive and do well, but the reality is that it’s not the case. Good people are honest. Good people are hardworking. Good people produce desired results that don’t need defense or explanation. Yet for being good they suffer!

Stephen in his sermon to the Sanhedrin that later on killed him by stoning, asks a pointed question. He tells the Jewish people to identify a single genuine good prophet sent by God, that they loved and cherished and were proud of. He asks them if there is any good prophet they didn’t persecute.

A good prophet couldn’t be bribed to keep silent as wrong things were happening. A good prophet spoke the truth even when it hurt the listeners. A good prophet was not discriminative nor biased he or she treated everyone equally, even those who felt entitled to better treatment. Consequently a good prophet became bad because he threatened the system and the people. The community led by its leaders ganged up against good prophets and persecuted them. 

Religious leaders engineered the killing of prophets! The religious establishment and system couldn’t tolerate a person who pointed out that which was wrong amongst them. The religious system wanted sycophants who only cheer everything including wrong doing. Therefore the good prophet was totally hated. People ganged up and in unison condemned the good prophet. They persecuted the good prophet. Stephen now asks Jewish leaders – Is there any prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute?

We also espouse the good person, but after sometime we gang up to persecute the good person. The good person is good for a short time or once in a while. After sometime, the good person becomes a problem. The good person becomes the reason why you cant get a shortcut to something you don’t want to follow the due process to get. The good person becomes the reason why you feel guilty doing the wrong you were comfortable doing. The good person starts suffering under your persecution. You join the Jewish leaders of all years in persecuting good people. Is there one prophet that your ancestors didn’t mistreat?

The good person is now in your cross hairs. As you and the whole gang you work with, are waiting for any small opportunity for the good person to make a small mistake. That small mistake will be blown out of proportion and the good person will look real bad, while your own buddies with worse situations seem comfortable. You will do everything to destroy the good man so that you remain looking good in your evil. Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?

The good person can seem too much because he or she makes the contrast of who you are seem so clear. The goodness becomes a problem. Now we have everyone ganging up against the good person. Schemes are laid down to ensure the good person fails and does mistakes and looks bad in the process. The good person ends up being persecuted by you. Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute!

Ecclesiastes 7:15 – In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 – Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself?

Ecclesiastes 7:17 – Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool— why die before your time?

Good people suffer in church. Good people suffer in government. Good people suffer in religious spaces. Good people suffer in secular places. Consequently people are advised to tone down goodness. People are advised to avoid being too good. Question is, who between God and Satan, would want people to tone down goodness? Who is favoured when people are advised that in order to be safe at school, at work and in business, they should tone down their goodness? Isn’t it satanic? So what are we when we give such advise? Is there one prophet that your ancestors didn’t mistreat?

If you are suffering don’t be tempted to think or say that you are the only one being persecuted. All not some, but all prophets were persecuted. You are not the only good person and you are not the only one being persecuted. Even those persecuting you may have once been good people and were also persecuted. You are not special, all good people like you are being persecuted. You are not the only one! Is there one prophet that your ancestors didn’t mistreat?

Matthew 26:24 – The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Good people will keep suffering at the hands of bad people. The best amongst us, will be persecuted by us. Jesus says, it was written that He will suffer, but woe unto you, if you participate in making Him suffer. Good people will suffer, but do not cause them to suffer. Do not be among the people causing good people to suffer. It will not end well with you and your crew!

Repent now and never do it again. Repent for the good person that has suffered because of you. Repent for encouraging others to persecute him or her. Repent for being silent when your voice could have helped minimise the suffering of some good person you saw suffering. Repent for enjoying the suffering of good people because you falsely think that being good doesn’t pay and everyone should be as complacent as you. Repent for being loyal to persecutors in order to keep your skin safe. Repent for joining the long line of persecutors who didn’t spare a single prophet. Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?

Daniel 12:1 – “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book —will be delivered.

In the end God will deliver all the good people. Christains will be persecuted because they are good and not just because of preaching. Sermons may be clear but lifestyle is clearer. It is the good life of believers that will attract persecution in the end. If you are suffering now and those who will suffer in the end time persecution, this is your message, – finally God will deliver you and make you victorious!

Do not persecute others. Be faithful when being persecuted, be faithful to God, play your part and let God fix it. God will deliver all the good people who are being persecuted. May it be soon is our prayer, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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