Hebrews 11:35-38 –

“Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.  Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; —the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.”   NIV

Aroused and motivated by faith –

Throughout history men and women aroused and motivated by faith have suffered the hardships, contempt and abuse – even unto death –  for their faith in God.  Their witness and hearts looking to the greater hope and treasure promised by Him.

Moses refused and turned away from all the treasures of Egypt to share the oppression and bear the shame of the people of God.  He held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly.

Noah, by faith, built the ark and preached righteousness in the midst of a sinful people, yet they rejected God and were without excuse.

From the First Century church to this very day, Christian martyrdom continues the unbroken trail of blood and persecution.

Suffering and persecution of the faithful –

With pen and tears, the late Richard Wurmbrand,  author of Tortured for Christ and founder of “The Voice of the Martyrs” exposed the truth of the Twentieth Century suffering, persecution and unspeakable torture of our fellow brothers and sisters under the Nazi, Communist and Marxist philosophy.

He and members of the Underground Church endured years of suffering.  After his second release from prison, two Christian organizations paid a ransom so he could leave Romania.

In his book he wrote:

“I had been a very dynamic type in my youth.  But prison, and especially the years of solitary confinement, had transformed me into a meditative, contemplative man.  All the storms in the heart had been stilled.  I did not mind communism; I did not even notice it.  I was in the embraces of the heavenly Bridegroom.  I prayed for those who tormented us and loved them with all of my heart.

I had had very little hope of ever being released.  From time to time I wondered what I would do in case I were released.  I always considered that I would retire somewhere and continue the life of sweet union in the desert with the heavenly Bridegroom.

God is the “Truth”.

The Bible is the “truth about the Truth”.

Theology is the “truth about the truth about the Truth”.

Christian people live in these many truths about the Truth, and, because of them, have not “the Truth”.

Hungry, beaten, and drugged, we had forgotten theology and the Bible.  We had forgotten the “truth about the Truth”, therefore we lived in “the Truth”.  It is written, “The Son of man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him”  (Matthew 24:44).  We could not think anymore.  In our darkest hours of torture, the Son of man came to us, making the prison walls shine like diamonds and filling the cells with light.  Somewhere, far away, were the tortures below us in the sphere of the body.  But the spirit rejoiced in the Lord.  We would not have given up this joy for that of kingly palaces.”

God’s “Truth”  is the Truth –

His Words are the daily bread He provides to feed and nourish our souls.  His Spirit opens the eyes of our hearts to see more clearly, to grow in wisdom and to be ready and unflinching when times of trouble come our way.  His love letter given to mankind to study, to carry in our hearts and to live by.  God’s Words do not come back void, but changes and transforms our desires, our hearts and our souls.

Many of our homes contain numerous Bibles –

Some sitting on shelves collecting dust, but never read.

Some out and displayed as a token to say we believe, but rarely read or regarded as our shield, refuge and defense for daily living.

Others tattered, worn and poured over with love, tears and prayers.  Each page held dearly as leaves of gold – our treasure.

Even today, many of our brothers and sisters in Christ beg for one page of the Bible to feed their souls.  Some work for months to secretly purchase one Bible to share in their meeting places – willing to die for possessing what many of us take for granted.

Who can completely comprehend God’s Truth?  

The Word (Christ) is proclaimed throughout Scripture and He is More Precious Than Silver or anything we could ever possess.

May we be mindful to pray, daily, for our brothers and sisters who suffer for their faith in Him.