A Martyrs Crown

I have not often considered the heavenly crown that Christ lays up for those that love Him.

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Peter 5:4

But recently I read "Tortured for Christ", by Richard Wurmbrand. It was a challenge, heartbreaking, encouraging, and eye opening! I suppose that is the normal response but I also felt a tinge of jealousy for their crown in this life and in the next.

Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Isaiah 62:8

How beautiful is one who suffers for their God....

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:43-45

They have never ending love for their torturers! They have compassion, sorrowful over their blindness, crying out to God over their souls, even taking their punishments! They see not the communist, but a lost sheep that Christ is seeking.

Forgiving the ones that are destroying their lives, ruining their health, taking their earthly possessions, beating, leaving their families homeless or even killing their loved ones!

Their body's, scarred, weakened, disfigured from countless torturing sessions! Playing with their minds, lying to them, beating them, torturing them beyond imagination, solitary confinement, killing or beating their families, mothers watching their children go hungry, fathers watching their families left on the street, wives told their husbands dead, or they had denounced their faith, parents forced to pay for their children's atheistic schooling, watching on as someone else raises their children, deprived of sleep and food, until their bodies collapse and their minds a blur, but yet they will not deny their Christ!

They love Christ, they are not trained theologians, many of them have not ever even held or read from a bible, have not heard scripture for years, yet they hold fast to faith and minister the gospel to others! These people truly have met with Christ!

Unspeakable joy in the worst circumstances, without bitterness, without complaining, forgiving, loving, giving any little thing they have, even the little food that stands between them and malnourishment. Greeting their persecutors with love and a smile, encouraging one another. No joy can be found in these circumstances but an unnatural, heaven sent joy in the Creator and Savior of the universe, whom they know so intimately and are partaking of His sufferings so willingly!

Perseverant to the end, speaking of Christ when they know the outcome, arrested, beaten, released, and in the same hour speaking of Christ again! Speaking of Christ, being trampled on, standing up and resuming their speech!

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Matthew 10:28

I saw under the alter the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God. 

Revelation 6:9

"In a letter smuggled out secretly, the Underground Church said, "We don't pray to be better Christians, but that we may be the only kind of Christians God means us to be: Christlike Christians, that is, Christians who bear willingly the cross for God's glory."

O what a crown will be theirs throughout all eternity! They who have willingly suffered for Christ, will this not spur us on? We western Christians who have so much yet so little fruit. Who say we love Christ, yet are submersed in the world? We who call ourselves Christians, yet refuse to give any of our comforts or conveniences to minister to a lost a dying world! O Christian do not forget, what Christ has done for us, or others who have laid down their lives that we might know and have the truth! O may we pick up in this battle and fight against the enemy, fighting for the souls of men! May we not forsake our brothers and sisters in bonds but faithfully pray for them, and provide them with the tools to advance the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. John 15:20

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10:22

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:10-12

Pray for their persecutors, Christ has overcome them already, they are not to powerful a foe! Communists are being persuaded to believe!

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 

1 Corinthians 12:25-27