You don’t need to worry about whether or not the Christian faith is going to survive — because God has promised that it will, and He cannot lie. Jesus declared, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).

Is the world becoming more hostile toward Christ? At times it seems like it is; compared with a generation or so ago, our world is certainly more secular. And admittedly, some people today are aggressively hostile toward those who have faith, and are trying to take God out of our public life. I’m reminded of the Bible’s prediction that some day our world will be populated by “hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2).

But before we get too discouraged we need to remember two important truths. First, God is sovereign, and He is still in control. Others may fight against Him — but in the end, He will win. Second, God’s work still goes forward in many parts of the world. Millions of people today realize the emptiness of life without God, and are searching for an answer to their spiritual hunger — an answer that is found only in Christ.

Pray for our world, that those who oppose God will be defeated and God’s Kingdom will advance to the ends of the earth. And pray, too, that you will be faithful to Jesus Christ, even if others oppose Him.