Right there in my Bible (First Peter) was a map. Clearly Peter was talking about Christians in the first century who were being persecuted – chased out and just plain "treated mean."
The map was showing the places where Christians had been "chased" to by the repressive Roman government. And right there was the word "Asia". It did not fit with where my brain had "Asia" located. After all, didn't the "Wise Men" come from the "east", like Asia?
My brain cried out "look again at that map!" In those days, "East" of Jerusalem were places like modern day India, Malayasia, Vietnam, China. Here Peter was, writing to the Christians in "Asia", living as aliens.
Now, I'm wondering what happened to all that elementary school geography? Did I just not listen, or was it all just "too far away to matter?" Whatever, it's all clear now, even if the point was that an oppressive government caused people to spread all over their world. And by so doing, they became examples for us – they suffered because of what they believed.
They rejoiced even in the midst of trials! Can we? Can I?