When
we consider the martyrs of the church throughout history, their devotion,
dedication and sacrifice amaze and bless us. Rightly so, and their example
encourages and challenges to love our Lord at any and every
cost.
"They
loved not their lives unto the death" (Revelation 12:11).
If we could
speak to the martyrs, however, to a man and woman they would tell us that their
devotion, dedication and sacrifice were not the reasons they were willing and
able to face the cross, the pyre, and the gun. They would rather
direct our attention to His devotion, dedication and sacrifice, that
is, they would exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. In this, they would be
absolutely correct.
"No
man ever yet hateth his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it... I will
dwell in them and walk in them... Always bearing about in our body the dying of
the Lord Jesus" (Ephesians 5:29; II Corinthians 6:16; II Corinthians
4:10).
All
genuine sacrifice in believers results from the dynamic presence of God's love
"shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5). We respond to
that love in faith and devotion, of course, and to the degree we apprehend God's
grace and truth forms the degree to which we live accordingly.
Nevertheless, devotion to God and man expressed by us always flows
from devotion to God and man revealed in us by the indwelling character and
nature of the Lord Jesus. "I labored more abundantly than they all, yet
not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (I Corinthians
15:10).
Martyrs'
crowns will be cast at feet of the Lord Jesus no less than any others.
Again, we do well to affirm our brothers and sisters who paid the last full
measure of devotion. We glance at them with rightful respect. We
gaze, however, upon the Lamb of God who formed His self sacrificial
heart in all who, in any manner, give their lives for His glory.
He is the motivation and power of all true love in us, and a long
eternity will find us joining the throng around throne who declare the anthem of
Christ only, Christ always, Christ forever...
"And I beheld, and I heard the
voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and
the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to
receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and
blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the
earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And
the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and
ever."
(Revelation
5:11-14)
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