REMEMBERING THE CHRISTIAN MARTYRS  OF OLD (PART 3)

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." - Matthew 24:9 (KJV).

We are glad that Jesus our Lord and Savior didn't keep us in the dark as to the persecution that befell and is still befalling them that are called by His name. Why the decision to remember the Christian Martyrs of old? That we might be challenged by their faith. That by so doing, we might recover ourselves from the current facetious and waggish Christianity that we exhibit in these end times.

     The Martyrs of old were believers in the true sense of the word, who upon hearing Scriptures, believed them resolutely, without wavering. They were indeed a perfect fulfillment of God's Word regarding them that "were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:" ( Heb 11:35). The courage with which they faced their persecutors could only be explained by the fact that they believed Him who said: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:" (Matt 10:28). No persecution, no matter how cruel and horrendous could make them recant their faith and deny the Lord Jesus because they believed Him who said: "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matt 10:33). Else, how do you explain the motivation behind the following testimonies?

      More fascinating was the fact that oftentimes, the bold and resolute character of these Martyrs of old in the face of cruel persecutions, even at death so impressed the pagans that many thereby were converted and became Christians. Let's consider these testimonies:

"At the martyrdom of Faustines and Jovita, brothers and citizens of Brescia, their torments were so many, and their patience so great, that Calocerius, a pagan, beholding them, was struck with admiration, and exclaimed in a kind of ecstacy, "Great is the God of the christians!" for which he was apprehended, and suffered a similar fate." (Foxe's Book of Martyrs)

      Cecilia, a young lady of good family in Rome, was married to a gentleman named Valerian. She converted her husband and brother, who were beheaded; and the maximus, or officer, who led them to execution, becoming their convert, suffered the same fate. The lady (Cecilia) was placed naked in a scalding bath, and having continued there a considerable time, her head was struck off with a sword, A. D. 222. (Foxe's Book of Martyrs).

      Again, "Julian, a native of Cilicia, as we are informed by St. Chrysostom, was seized upon for being a christian. He was put into a leather bag, together with a number of serpents and scorpions, and in that condition thrown into the sea." (Foxe's Book of Martyrs)

     Earnestly, there's something about these saints of old that we need to get right. Their Christianity was not only genuine, but was in the truest sense of the word, contagious. It's not the lip service, bread and butter, seed sowing and reaping kind of Christians we have today. I wonder where and how this present generation got it wrong! God help us!

PRAYERS:

Dear Lord, I receive grace to stay resolute in faith unto the end, in Jesus name.