“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” – Romans 8:35-37
The quote “we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter” comes from Psalm 44, but it is preceded there with these vital words “For Your sake.” It was for Jesus’ sake that Cain was furious at Abel and killed him. It was for Jesus’ sake that Zacharias, the son of Barachias, was killed between the porch and the altar. It was for Jesus’ sake that all twelve disciples were martyred, and history is filled with the blood of those who have been considered worthless sheep by the world, right up till today.
But in between all these was Jesus, who “was led as a lamb to the slaughter.” Not because anyone overpowered Him, but because He let them - to save us. His resurrection was as much for us as His death, giving us a vibrant hope beyond all this world’s hatred. Now we can “count on it” that our trials will end in joy (James 1:2). We can “count on it” that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).
Of all the evils and hardships the world has thrown at God’s people, Jesus said that Abraham “rejoiced to see His day and exulted,” 2000 years after he lived. Then the disciples saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain top talking with Moses and Elijah. One of the thieves crucified with Jesus, entered Paradise that day with Him, after the agony of the Cross was over. And the book of Hebrews tells us that we are surrounded with “so great a cloud of witnesses” watching us finish our race from Heaven.
The world may consider God’s people like “sheep for the slaughter,” but Christ’s return will prove we were really His eternal sons and daughters. You can count on it.
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