Hey guys, sorry about the recent lack of blogging! Exams took over for a while and then revision began again. This blog will maybe be a bit shorter but I've a quick challenge for you. I've heard many preachers in my life telling a true story of how a young girl in America (about my age) was sitting in a school library one day. Suddenly a gunman entered the room and spread gunfire all around. He walked up to the girl, who was a Christian, put the gun to her head and said "Renounce your God and I won't shoot." The girl refused to renounce God and the man shot her dead.
There's no doubting that the young girl had a lot of things. She had strength. She had courage. But most of all, she had an outstanding faith. I wonder how many of us today could say that we would have the faith and courage to choose between our lives and our God, and make the right choice. Many of the first Christians (in the time when Jesus was on earth), suffered great persecution at the hands of the Romans. Yet, they refused to renounce their God because they had an awesome faith in Him. There are Christians all over the world today who are in prison, whose homes have been taken away from them, and some are even facing death. Why? Simply because they believe in God and take a stand for Him.
The question that comes at the end of all this is: How much are YOU willing to sacrifice for God? A God who suffered and died for you. Is there a point that you'd get to in life where you'd say "No, I'm not giving that up for God."? Paul said in the New Testament "To live is Christ and to die is gain." What Paul was saying here is that our time on earth should be spent with God and telling others about Him. To live is to be in Christ. So why is it gain to die? Because when we die, if you're a Christian, you don't just get to be in God on earth. You get to be with God in Heaven.
Finally, a Christian hymn that sums up the point perfectly. Not one by Casting Crowns or Matt Redman, but certainly the words are true:
"I have heard how Christians long ago,
Where brought before a tyrant's throne,
They were told that he would spare their lives,
If they would renunce the Name of Christ.
But one by one, they chose to die,
The Son of God they would not deny,
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE LAMB
WITH ALL MY STRENGTH, WITH ALL I AM,
I WILL SEEK TO HONOUR HIS COMMANDS,
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE LAMB."
Can you honestly say that last chorus?
