REMEMBERING THE CHRISTIAN MARTYRS OF OLD (PART 5)
"... he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." - Matthew 10:39 (KJV).
It is with regards to suffering and dying for Christ's sake that we find the early Christians as having outmatched and greatly surpassed the believers of today. These early believers were absolutely sure of eternal life and their eternal destination. In comparison, it's obvious that we aren't! These early saints were convinced that they were not ending their lives but exchanging their lives on earth for a life with the Lord Jesus in heaven. They believed Jesus who said, "he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt10:39).
Let's for once consider their utterances in the face of the most cruel and barbaric atrocities committed against them:
"We shall not end our lives in the fire, but make a change for a better life." (Julius Palmer, Burned at the stake in England, 1556)
"This is the end. For me, the beginning of life." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hung in Germany, 1945)
"For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better." - Phil 1:21 (Apostle Paul, Beheaded in Rome, 65 AD)
The various sacrifices of these early martyrs did serve to pave the way for the present day faith and freedoms we enjoy today. I would be right to say that in going through what they went through, they had us in mind, "that the truth of the gospel might continue" with us (Gal 2:5). Besides, some were tortured because they refused to betray those who worked with them.
Some stood firm, knowing that if they gave in, no matter how little, it would undermine the faith of many.
Others refused to be quiet because they realized their responsibility to tell the godless men around them of God’s
love so they too could be saved.
A host of others were simply willing to lay down their lives for the One who laid down His life for them. Thus, for so many but compelling reasons, they suffered what they went through. If I may ask, why has it become difficult for us to do likewise?
Two words would simply explain the conduct of these early saints: love and selflessness; to the Lord on the one hand, and on the other hand, to the brethren who's faith they believed hung on their conduct and response to the persecutions before them. As Tertullian, a Christian historian once said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
I can't skip the martyrdom of a young maid-servant named Wrunken. She lived in the house of the Mayor of Brugge. This was the time when anyone caught in possession of Scriptures suffered martyrdom. The Bible was found in the house of the Mayor, with whom Wrunken lived. Upon inquiry from the family members, they all denied possessing the Bible. Finally, Wrunken boldly declared, “I am reading it!”
The mayor, knowing the penalty for studying the Bible, tried to defend her, saying, “Oh, no, she only owns it. She doesn’t ever read from it.”
But Wrunken chose not to be defended by a lie. “This book is mine. I am reading from it, and it is more precious to me than anything!”
She was thereupon sentenced to die by suffocation.
On the day of her execution, as she stood by the wall, an official tried to get her to change her mind, saying, “So young and beautiful, and yet to die.”
Wrunken replied, “My Savior died for me. I will also die for Him.”
Again, she was warned “You will suffocate and die in here!”
“I will be with Jesus,” she answered.
For the last time, the official tried to persuade her. “Repent - just say the word and you will go free.”
But Wrunken refused, saying instead, “O Lord, forgive my murderers.” She was killed by suffocation and went to be with Jesus.
Wrunken entrusted her life to Jesus, knowing that the end of her life on earth was not the end of her life, but rather, the beginning of a much more glorious one!
PRAYER:
Lord, may I never deny You!