Nobody likes pain. We all try to avoid it all costs. Why would anyone purposely put themselves in a position to suffer for their action? Yet it happens more often than you might think. Every Friday night, teenagers across this country suit up to go hit somebody and be hit by somebody in order to push a football over a goal line. It happens every Saturday afternoon on college campuses and on Sunday afternoons at the professional level.
Recently I was watching a preview special about Ken Burns' "American Experience" on "The War." In this special, Burns interviews participants and surviving family members of WWII. It was interesting to hear the stories from soldiers some 60 years removed from the fighting. They described the horrors and atrocities of war with a solemness and even emotional quiver in their voices. The memories of their pain and suffering were as fresh today as it was when they came home from the war.
Their cause was just and necessary. They endured the pain, suffering and horrendous conditions of ensure a victory over tyrannical rule. These soldiers knew that any day could be their last. They willingly laid down their life for the cause of freedom. Some came home to embrace their loved ones and friends. Others fell on the field of battle.
As great a cause WWII was, that of the early Christians was of greater significance. They stood for the cause of spiritual freedom and eternal life. Jesus died to pay the penalty of yours and my sin; for all people for all time. His disciples, commissioned with the message and promise of the Good News, threw themselves whole heartedly into the cause of Christ. Even the threat of prison and potential execution did not deter them. In fact, they counted it a privilege to suffer for Christ's sake.
Other than a little ribbing, I've never really suffered for Christ. Sure, I've foregone the opportunities to pursue financial success in business. But that's not a cause I could die for anyway. I have taken a variety of stands for Christ, but never had to pay much of a consequence. I've had my share of hate mail through the years, but that has come from disgruntled Christians. I would like to think that I would stand fast if threatened for my faith. But since I've never faced it, I can't honestly predict my response. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. So the question is, what kind of statement does your life and behavior proclaim about the message and promise of Christ?
Lord, I say that my life is in your hands, but you know that I've never really been tested. I do want my life to be a proclamation of your Good News.
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