The Zealous Life
“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made- I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving & dwarfed goals.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.
I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me & when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”
Can you imagine living with such conviction…such passion? Would you be willing to take that kind of stand for Jesus? Does your life reflect Jesus the way these words do?
A Rwandan man wrote these words in 1980 as a profession of his faith mere hours before his death. Many people have found inspiration in his words. However, seeing them manifested in his life is what makes them truly convicting. The writer was forced by his tribe to either renounce his faith in Christ or die. He refused to renounce Christ and his life here on earth was ended moments later.
However tragic his story may be, it is not unique. Stories such as these are being written daily around the world, stories of bravery and courage all for the cause of Jesus Christ. The following is a story of a 15-year-old Indonesian boy, faced with a similar situation:
The teens could tell that the shouts and chanting were getting closer and closer. An older teen looked nervously at his friend. “The Muslims are coming. We’d better hide the kids,” he said. Others, following his lead, helped the smaller children find hiding places in the buildings nearby. Then they hid themselves.
It was January and a crowd of mostly Christian children and teenagers had gathered for a Bible camp at the Station Field Complex of Pattimura University on the island of Ambon, Indonesia. When the camp was over, cars came to take the laughing, rejoicing children back to their homes. But there were not enough cars to hold the young people.
Mecky Sainyakit and three other Christian men had gone to Wakal village to try to rent additional transportation to take the rest home. But they had not yet come back. What the kids waiting for rides home didn’t know was that on their way to the village, the men were attacked by a Muslim mob, who pulled them from their car and out onto the road. Mecky and one of the other men were stabbed to death, and later their bodies were burned by the mob. The two other men escaped with their lives.
Before long, the mob reached the University. They found many of the teens and forced
them to come out of hiding.
Roy Pontoh was forced from his hiding place and made to stand before the mob.
“Renounce your Jesus, or we will kill you!” they threatened.
Roy was terribly frightened. Though trembling, he answered, “I am a soldier of Christ!”
At this, one of the Muslim attackers swung a sword at his stomach. The sword hit the Bible Roy held, and ripped into it, knocking it out of his hand. The man’s next swing sliced open Roy’s stomach. His last word was “Jesus.”
The mob dragged Roy’s body out and threw it in a ditch. Four days later, his family found it. Even though they are wracked with grief, Roy’s parents stand proud of their son, who stood strong in his faith to the end.
My heart aches as I read such stories. Although I do ache for the tragic situations these martyrs face, my ache reaches far beyond that. What I find ever more gut-wrenching is the complacency I see in my own life – a complacency that has held me back from sharing the gospel – a complacency that has taught me to do what pleases me instead of what pleases God – a complacency that would, perhaps, cause me to deny Christ if faced with a similar situation. I live in a country that offers a plethora of religious freedom…a freedom that I fear has bred such complacency in my heart and the hearts of churches across America. By no means do I wish for torture, don’t misunderstand me. What I long for is a revelation, a downpour of the Holy Spirit on his church. I long to see hearts set on fire, hungry and thirsty for righteousness and truth. As I contemplate that thought, I’m prompted to ask myself why we as Americans aren’t desperately seeking God wholeheartedly.
When I was 16, I went to Jamaica on a mission trip. As I prepared for the trip, I daydreamed about all the ways God would use me while I was gone. Little did I know, God had plans of his own. In two short weeks, God turned my world upside down. I saw the ugliness of my selfish heart as I realized how much I take for granted living in America. These people had no possessions, lived in shacks, wore rags, ate scraps, and yet, when they praised God, their joy radiated. In the midst of incredible poverty, there was incredible wealth, a wealth my heart longed for.
America, in all her glory, bombards us with distractions. Everywhere we look, something else steals our attention. We live lives of comfort and ease. If we’re dissatisfied with one thing, we replace it. Nothing is out of reach; it’s the land of opportunity. And yet, all that opportunity – all that distraction – prevents us from seeking the greatest joy offered to us. We all have a void in our lives that can only be filled with Jesus. Sadly, we try to fill that void with an array of meaningless ambitions – careers, toys, relationships – that ultimately lead to disappointment, which in turn cause us to seek after new meaningless ambitions. It’s a vicious cycle.
There is, however, good news if you’ll take a moment to look through the haze of disappointment and confusion. I have found that God, in his wisdom and supernatural creativity, is the author of the greatest adventures, adventures beyond our imagination. Living a life devoted to the Gospel is risky, dangerous, exciting, fulfilling and worth every second. My eyes were opened to this truth as God pointed out story after story in the Bible of men and women who risked everything in God’s name.
Consider Esther. She put herself at risk multiple times in an effort to save the lives of her people, first by entering into the presence of King Xerxes without summons and then by revealing herself as a Jew after one of the king’s officials had convinced the king to legalize the killing of the Jews.
What about Paul? Following his conversion, Paul spent the rest of his life preaching the Gospel, in spite of local law. He was imprisoned several times throughout his ministry and ultimately sacrificed his life for the sake of the cross.
Think about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who refused (not once, but twice) to bow down and worship the golden statue King Nebuchadnezzar had made. As punishment, the three men were thrown into the fiery furnace.
Or Stephen who was stoned for preaching about Jesus. Or John the Baptist who was beheaded for his faith. Or Daniel who refused to stop praying even when it became illegal, punishable by death in a lions’ den. Or Mary who allowed herself to be impregnated by the Holy Spirit, in spite of the apparent scandal this would cause as unwed woman. Or Jesus who gave up his throne in heaven to come to earth and sacrifice his life so that you and I could be set free from the bondage of sin.
The list is endless. But they all have one thing in common: they saw the reward and knew the risk was worth it. This is my challenge for you and me, dear reader: Give God a chance to write your story. Take a step forward in faith. Be bold for him and allow him to work in you and through you. We will stand in amazement at what he does; I am sure of it.
As a lover of all things artistic, I find much inspiration in music. The song below has been just that for me in the last several months. It’s filled with passion and ambition in spite of the difficulties we face in this life. Read the lyrics. Listen to the song (http://www.myspace.com/aaronniequist). Be inspired. Go change the world.
The Resistance
aaron niequist
all creation waits bated breath in pain
for redemption’s day
all creation cries floods and charcoal skies
things are not alright
with brokenness and broken fists we beat upon the breast of falleness
we hear the call of kingdom come as one more train we chase to only miss
but we will never give up on it
we’re part of the resistance
we’re running in the revolution
we’re part of the insistence
that we are more than institution
we’re part of the tradition
of spirit- powered evolution
we’re part of the resistance
we’re running in a revolution, revolution
all creation groans in one voice alone
for them to be shown
all creation cries floods and charcoal skies
things are not alright
we’re living in a world built on the walls between the haves and never wills
but we’re following a King who’s ears are bent to those forgotten and unfilled
and He will never give up on it
repeat chorus
we’re standing up
and we’re kneeling down
and we’re digging in
and we’re reaching out
and we’re loving more
and we’re holding less
and we won’t back down
from this holy mess
and we’re choosing hope
and we’re choosing peace
we were chosen by Grace
to bring flesh and feet
to the Loving More
to the Holding Rest
and we won’t back down
and we won’t back down
and we won’t back down
and we won’t back down
and we won’t back down
and we won’t, no,
repeat chorus
**For more information on the martyred church, please visit Voice of the Martyrs at http://www.persecution.com.
