Faithful unto Death
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.”
John 16:1–4
According to one recent report, more than ten Christians on average are killed every single day because of their faith. In country after country around the world, those who express faith in Jesus Christ put a target on themselves and their families because opposition to Christianity there is not limited to verbal objections. While we are thankful that in America we’ve been able to worship and witness without fear of being killed, that is rare and not guaranteed to continue in the future.
Throughout the history of the church, men and women have faced a choice between being true to God and the risk of death. Though some have failed that challenge and renounced their faith, there is a glorious tradition of those who were faithful even unto death. While we certainly hope to never be placed in that position, we are not promised ease and safety as followers of the Lord who perished on a cross.
The only way that we can pass the most critical tests of faith is for our faith to be strengthened before those moments come. Daniel did not decide whether to pray when the law forbidding it was passed. He had already made his decision and was praying long before. The choices that we make today determine the choice we would make if we faced a life and death struggle of faith.
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.”
John 16:1–4
According to one recent report, more than ten Christians on average are killed every single day because of their faith. In country after country around the world, those who express faith in Jesus Christ put a target on themselves and their families because opposition to Christianity there is not limited to verbal objections. While we are thankful that in America we’ve been able to worship and witness without fear of being killed, that is rare and not guaranteed to continue in the future.
Throughout the history of the church, men and women have faced a choice between being true to God and the risk of death. Though some have failed that challenge and renounced their faith, there is a glorious tradition of those who were faithful even unto death. While we certainly hope to never be placed in that position, we are not promised ease and safety as followers of the Lord who perished on a cross.
The only way that we can pass the most critical tests of faith is for our faith to be strengthened before those moments come. Daniel did not decide whether to pray when the law forbidding it was passed. He had already made his decision and was praying long before. The choices that we make today determine the choice we would make if we faced a life and death struggle of faith.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Our faith must be developed in times of calm in order to stand in the times of storm.
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