“ALL”
April 1, 2022PASTOR – A TEDIOUS JOB
April 3, 2022Standing for our faith in the LORD Jesus Christ is a costly affair. The history of the Church is full of examples of martyrs for Christ, who for the sake of their faith in the Saviour and LORD, willingly offered their lives. Not easy, yet they offered themselves.
Our walk with the LORD is filled with troubles and trials. There are times, when we are tested to the very core of our commitment to our LORD. We do fail and falter at times. In some instances, it is entirely our own fault. Sometimes, it is just not in our hands. However, trails and tests can make us feel lonely. We can get scared of the circumstances that we are thrown into. This is the reality, and it is part of our lives.
On 9th March 320 AD, (traditional date) Agricola, the Roman governor of Armenia, sentences forty Roman soldiers to die on the ice, for refusing to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ.
The Roman authorities left the Christian soldiers naked on the ice of a frozen pond in Sebaste, Armenia, to die a slow death of pain and agony. The Christian soldiers respond – “What is death for us, but an entrance into eternal life?” just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in Daniel 3:13.
The Roman authorities place baths of hot water around them, to tempt them to renounce their faith. Out of forty soldiers, only one renounces his faith. Seeing this, one of the Roman guards is inspired by the strength, courage and fortitude of the remaining thirty nine Christian soldiers. The guard, being convicted, joins the freezing Christians. They all died a martyrs death. This was mentioned in the writings of Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa.
Living for Christ is not easy. However, the best thing for us is to keep on going, regardless of whatever hits us, and how things shape up in our lives. The rest will be taken care of by the LORD who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light.
