In the thirteenth chapter of Hebrews and in verse number five, we are told by our Savior, "I will never leave thee." The writer of the book of Hebrews told us in the preceding two chapters of those who lived by faith, and many that died in faith. We are told of the horrific deaths of some that were stoned for their belief in Christ. We are told of some the were "sawn asunder". The tales of those that have died for the cause of Christ are endless. We have in modern time similar stories.
Muslim radicals beheaded 25-year-old Farhan Haji Mose last year in the southern regions of Somalia. Mose drew suspicion when he returned to Barawa, in Somalia’s Lower Shebelle Region. He had received Christ into his heart. “His body was split into two, then carried away, only to be dumped near the beach of Barawa city,” a Christian source who witnessed the murder told Morning Star News, a newspaper out of Nairobi.
We are told of Bible characters such as the Apostle James in Acts 12 who was beheaded for his love for Jesus. Martyrdom is as much a part of the Bible as the crucifixion of Christ. The blood of beleivers' has been shed by those of different faiths for centuries. Why would God allow such harm to come to the lives of those who believe in His Son, Jesus? Maybe it is so that through their death, the eyes of the unbeliever might be opened to the love of God. It was a renegade, Saul of Tarsus, in Acts 7:58 that observed the stoning of Stephen. God used this event to shape the heart of Saul so that later he would get saved and become the great Apostle Paul. God uses the suffering of the saved to reach the hard-cases for Him.
For the persecuted believer, God's Word tells us that through our torment He will never leave us. God was ever present with Stephen when the stones dashed against his skull and quenched his final breathe. Even Acts 7:55 tells us that as his spirit was conveyed to the Heavens, Jesus rose to his feet to welcome this godly servant home. Is Jesus aware when we suffer loss? Is he present when we close our eyes in death? YES! He was there for Stephen! He was there for the Apostle James! He was there for Farhan of Somali! He declared for all of us, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE". "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15)
Muslim radicals beheaded 25-year-old Farhan Haji Mose last year in the southern regions of Somalia. Mose drew suspicion when he returned to Barawa, in Somalia’s Lower Shebelle Region. He had received Christ into his heart. “His body was split into two, then carried away, only to be dumped near the beach of Barawa city,” a Christian source who witnessed the murder told Morning Star News, a newspaper out of Nairobi. We are told of Bible characters such as the Apostle James in Acts 12 who was beheaded for his love for Jesus. Martyrdom is as much a part of the Bible as the crucifixion of Christ. The blood of beleivers' has been shed by those of different faiths for centuries. Why would God allow such harm to come to the lives of those who believe in His Son, Jesus? Maybe it is so that through their death, the eyes of the unbeliever might be opened to the love of God. It was a renegade, Saul of Tarsus, in Acts 7:58 that observed the stoning of Stephen. God used this event to shape the heart of Saul so that later he would get saved and become the great Apostle Paul. God uses the suffering of the saved to reach the hard-cases for Him.
For the persecuted believer, God's Word tells us that through our torment He will never leave us. God was ever present with Stephen when the stones dashed against his skull and quenched his final breathe. Even Acts 7:55 tells us that as his spirit was conveyed to the Heavens, Jesus rose to his feet to welcome this godly servant home. Is Jesus aware when we suffer loss? Is he present when we close our eyes in death? YES! He was there for Stephen! He was there for the Apostle James! He was there for Farhan of Somali! He declared for all of us, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE". "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15)
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