Have you ever read countless stories of people giving up their lives for the sake of furthering the kingdom of God, and then think to yourself “Could I ever do that?” Living in America we don’t really know what it is like to face death for our faith. It is easy to say “yes, I would do that.” But could we really? It is true that we don’t live in a place where we have to face that question.
But what if we did? What if all the crazy conspiracy theories come true and America is spun into a time of martial law, and that anyone resisting, especially Christians, are faced with “denounce your faith, or suffer the consequences of death.” ?
I have had many dreams in my lifetime of this very scenario. I was told that if I didn’t renounce my faith in God that it was the same as treason against the state. Every time I dreamed this I had a boldness that I can’t explain. I was a light of hope to those who faced the persecution with me. The most memorable dream I had was when I was thrown into a room for electrical shocks as a means of torture. I reassured other’s who were with me that we would not feel the pain, for our God was with us. As the electricity poured through us, we felt no pain, and it strengthened our boldness in our faith. It seems like a far fetched idea, at least for now.
But are you aware that Christians around the world are faced with this every day? They come to faith in Jesus Christ and have to run or hide from their own family in fear that they may lose their life. Maybe it couldn’t happen here in America. But what if it did? Would I be able to endure severe pain and even death for my God. My heart wants to say “yes!!!!” But my flesh screams out “I don’t know that I want to die for this God!!!” And so I pray to God to give me the strength that if I were to face this that I could boldly say “YES! Do what you will, but I will remain strong.” I know that a strength such as this could only come from God. I also am wise enough to figure out that if it can happen in the majority of the world, it can happen here. The devil is sneaky, he knows how to find a way in, even here in America. As we draw further away from God as a nation, a door becomes wide open for the possibility. And what would satan like to do more than to destroy the Christians so they can’t be light to the world? He knows we won’t renounce our faith, because God who is in us is stronger than us alone.
So pray for each other, for our faith to remain strong in the times of trouble. And pray for those who suffer persecution and even death for their faith everyday around the world. You never know if someday that might be you. And wouldn’t you want someone in the world praying for you to remain strong? I know I would.
