“A Martyr For Christ”

Jarrod Jacobs

On my wall, I have a picture of several preachers of the gospel from the 1800’s and 1900’s. A picture of brother W.M. King stands out to me. It stands out because above his picture there is a caption which reads, “A Martyr For Christ”. That inscription speaks volumes! This simple, yet deeply moving epitaph reminds me of the statement made about Antipas in Revelation 2:13. Of course, Antipas and bro. King are not the only ones who have died because they were faithful to God. What can we learn from the example of martyrs?

A Martyr Is “Faithful Unto Death” (Rev. 2:10).

Being “faithful unto death” literally means being faithful to the very taking of your life. This is what martyrs do! When faced with the possibility of losing their lives or losing favor with God, people like Antipas and bro. King chose to lose their lives!

In addition to these, another martyr for Christ was Polycarp. Polycarp lived contemporary with the apostle John. When threatened with being burned at the stake for his refusal to worship Caesar, he responded: “For eighty-six years I’ve served Jesus, and he has never wronged me in any way. How, then, can I possibly curse my very King and Savior?”

All Christians need to be faithful to God to the very taking of our lives. Martyrs for the cause of Christ show us what it means to be faithful.

A Martyr’s Example Abides.

In contrast with the evil ones that are often forgotten after their death (Ecc. 8:10), the example of various martyrs for Christ remains. Paul taught that the good works of the faithful cannot be hid (I Tim. 5:25). In addition to the martyrs we have mentioned, don’t forget Stephen (Acts 7). He left an example that not only teaches us, but also left an impression on Saul of Tarsus (Acts 7:58)! Stephen, when he knew he was going to be killed, did not apologize, change his teaching, nor in any way compromise so as to “live another day.” His good example abides and teaches us bravery in the face of man’s hatred. Without question, many other examples could be added to this list.

A Martyr Has Vision.

In addition to the martyrs we have mentioned, Hebrews 11:35-38 lists things that happened to the Lord’s faithful: “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated — of whom the world was not worthy — ….” One’s life ending in a cruel death is not what people desire. Yet, these folks died knowing that they would “rise again to a better life”! They understood that true purpose in life is not to be found on earth, but with God!

Hebrews 11:35-38 is but one passage where we see the vision of the faithful. Their principles would not allow them to forsake the Lord. Therefore, they accepted the consequences of being the friend of God and an enemy of the world (cf. Jas. 4:4; Jn. 15:18-20). Hebrews 11:13-15 applies to them as well. They “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” The man who has his eyes upon the “here and now” will not have the vision necessary to see the “city” that is yet to come! Let us thank God for those who were faithful to the very taking of their lives, and died in His service.

Conclusion

Let us examine ourselves (II Cor. 13:5). Are we faithful to the Lord (Rev. 2:10)? Does I Corinthians 15:58 describe us? Are we standing strong and enduring (Matt. 10:22; Eph. 6:10)? Are we better than the martyrs? Are we enduring more than they did? Are our enemies stronger than theirs? The Holy Spirit said, “Now the just shall live by faith: and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” May the words of Hebrews 10:38-39 ring in our ears and settle in our hearts, so that we live it in our lives!

“Physical And Spiritual Illness”

Jarrod Jacobs

Many in this congregation, and in this area of Kentucky, have fallen victim to the “flu bug” in recent weeks. Many are fighting this illness right now and feel miserable. In addition to this, we have brethren in the congregation who are fighting cancer, and other severe physical problems. These folks are striving daily to overcome these diseases as best they can. We know there are times each year when illnesses flare up, but this time it has been especially bad, it seems. We need to keep these folks in our prayers, as well as show kindness and generosity to them in other ways (I Thess. 5:17; Matt. 7:12, 22:39, 25:36, 43; Jas. 2:15-18, 5:15-16).

I find it more than a coincidence that the Bible makes a comparison to physical and spiritual illness on several occasions. When speaking about the sins of the nation of Israel, God said, “Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment” (Isa. 1:5-6). In speaking about the sins of a nation, God compared their sins to someone stricken with a grave illness. Similar descriptions are given by David when he said his “wounds stink and are corrupt,” referring to his sins in his life (Ps. 38:3-5). Hosea (Hosea 5:12-13) and many others said similar things when comparing sin in the lives of people to illness or disease.

Jesus used this imagery when describing the sin of the people. On one occasion when Jesus was criticized for associating with the publicans and harlots, He responded, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mk. 2:17). Notice how the Lord equates physical illness with spiritual problems. Whether one is physically sick, or spiritually sick, Jesus said these folks needed a “physician”! In this case, the spiritually sick needed Jesus. He was exactly where He needed to be! Jesus also called some men “blind” due to their rebellion against the truth (Matt. 23:16-17; Jn. 9:40- 41). In Matthew 9, when Jesus healed the paralyzed man who had been lowered into the room by his friends, Christ equated healing the physically ill with the spiritually ill so that folks understood He has the power to forgive man’s sin (Matt. 9:6).

Illness, disease, and finally death has not come from God, but is a consequence of sin (Gen. 3:16-19). Thus, we deal with these problems daily. Whether we are the ones suffering, or we are the care-givers to those who have the problem, we have to deal with illnesses almost daily.

While we cannot always control the physical illnesses, the bacteria, and viruses that enter our bodies, we can control the lusts, and sinful behavior that can enter our minds! We control this by being “sober” and “vigilant” (I Pet. 5:8). We control this by thinking on the right things (Phil. 4:8) and then acting on that truth (Phil. 4:9)! We can control our thoughts, and thus control our speech (Jas. 3)! We do this by resisting the devil and not yielding to temptation (Jas. 4:7)! This is a necessary thing, for sin has far worse consequences than any physical illness (Jn. 8:24; Rev. 21:8; Matt. 25:41)!