"For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" -- Matthew 7:14Some Christians speak of their readiness to sacrifice it all for the Gospel by being martyred. In others, there is a zeal to be killed "in the line of duty". Many times, this is admirable. Sometimes though, it is naive boasting in one's own zeal and holiness.
My question is this. What is more costly, more sobering, and perhaps scarier: Giving your very life for the Gospel tomorrow, or living to be 85 or 90 years old...obediently bearing your rugged cross each day for the Redeemer.
To those who ask: "Are you willing to die for Him?", I reply with an equally important question, "Are you willing to live for Him?" I submit to the reality that Almighty God has ordained that some are appointed to be martyred for the faith (see Christ's words to Peter in John chapter 21) and that this glorifies Him and satisfies His mysterious purposes.
But in my humble and fallible opinion, living for Christ, bearing this cross day after day, and struggling with the agonizing realities of our sinful flesh might require something more courageous, more perseverant, more daring than martyrdom. Could this be true? What do you think?
2 comments:
Strange that you post this today b/c as I was in the shower this morning, my imagination ran to those who have been martyred for the faith (grotesque, I know, but it keeps me from masturbating, right?). As I showered with as much hot water as I wanted, sleeping in a comfortable bed, and with as many comforts as God has blessed me, I recalled how people have actually been boiled alive, in water and in oil, for confessing Jesus as Sovereign Lord.
People have been skinned slowly while their torturers demanded that they recant their beliefs. People have been molested and gutted in the most terrifying ways, and they did not recant. (Although some most certainly did, of course.)
As I stood there in the shower, I wondered if I would continue to confess boldly in the face of such sadistic torture. I have imagined some horrible things, and I pray that God would give me the courage and love to bear it for His sake.
Brothers, even now we are only moments away from our world being changed. Literally in the blink of an eye, or the detonation of a bomb, world power can shift. Our comforts lost, our way of living irrevocably changed. People have a hard time living in the aftermath of Katrina, but there is much worse.
God has revealed that it will be so in the end times. I believe part of the delusion that will happen in the end times is the delusion that Christ will take His church from the planet before the tribulation. Just as the Jews denied Christ as the Messiah because their beliefs said that He would be different than He actually was, I believe that the church will maintain that the tribulation and antichrist cannot be upon us because the church is still here, i.e., the rapture has not taken place. They will continue to deny that the Church will remain until the end.
In the face of this delusion, they will deny the kingdom reality around them rather than reassess their theology in light of reality.
But to Ben's point, I agree, but only insofar as we need a balance to the glorification of martyrdom, or at least the imagined glorification ("as long as it isn't me" mentality), with the glorification of living. Ben, you're right to call us to live for Christ, because whether we live for die, He is glorified. If we are called to die, may we honor Him in our death, but we know already that we are called to honor Him in life, the very life He has given us, and that is our present calling every day.
Jason,
Your comments added a great deal of perspective to my earlier post...and a great deal of history, too. I agree with all you said and shutter at the thought of the brutal torture that took many saint's lives. I guess my point is more directed at a contemporary audience: those of us who lounge in the lap of luxury while touting our willingness to die for this Lord we serve (at least a few days a week).
When I continue living in Athens always having enough money and food, transportation, friends to talk to, great fellowship at Redeemer, health, education, a hopeful future, supportive family, etc. etc....I can't say I have really counted the true cost of following Christ.
He was a man "acquainted with sorrows"...sorrows that arose out of His service and suffering for the Father in this life. If the Master suffered each and every day of His life her on earth, should we continue to find ways to stave off the suffering and maximize our security and comfort? I'm not suggesting we all go out and seek suffering for the sake of being able to say we suffered...and I'm not promoting a legalistic agenda that says you're a holier man if you sell all your stuff and cancel your vacation. But like Don said at communion this past week...if we are not suffering, then WHY NOT? Christ promised His servants would suffer...and be persecuted.
Anyway, I'm just thinking out loud. Oh how I ramble...
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