The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon

“But you will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, other relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all people because of my name. And yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.”

—Luke 21:16–19

At first glance, this verse is confusing. It says that not a hair of our heads will perish right after we’re told some of us will be put to death. 

In our minds, death is perishing! But in the kingdom of God, death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54). It’s merely the doorway we must pass through for our souls to begin our true, forever lives. 

We can rejoice in any persecution because it will bring the opportunity for testifying about our God, the salvation of our souls, and identification with Christ in his death and sacrifice (Matthew 5:11–12; Matthew 10:16–28; Luke 21:13; 1 Peter 1:6–9).

We should not be surprised when betrayal or persecution comes (1 Peter 4:12–19). The world hated, accused, and condemned our Lord without cause. The same may happen to us (John 15:18–25), but many may come to him through our suffering.

As believers, let us not fear those who can harm the body, but only the one who holds the eternal destiny of our souls (Matthew 10:28). Even if our body is killed, we will gain our true lives through endurance (Matthew 10:32–33).

This earthly life is like a shadow, and it should not control us (1 Chronicles 29:15; Psalm 144:4); what perishes with the body is not our real life. 

Everything that matters will come with us into eternity.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download