"Ye have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin" (Heb. 12:4).
"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20)...
The life of the American Christian is not one devoid of its share of trials, travails, and challenges and yet is sprinkled with laughter and triumphs. The Word of Truth explicitly teaches believers in Jesus Christ that trouble will not only come (Job 5:7; Jam. 1:2-4; I Pet. 3:12-16), but that they should even expect trouble and to also be conformed to the image of Christ by the trouble. We frequently face ridicule and derision by this world. Our Lord and faith are scorned in the marketplace of ideas and ferociously mocked by the godless entertainment system of this society. Like other Americans, Christians are paying bills--some mightily struggling; like our fellow countrymen, illness and death touch us and our loved ones; like just about anyone else, we attend graduations, baby christenings, court hearings and funerals. But, there is far more to the Christian walk than going to Heaven when our time time here on earth is done.
There is a CNN article I read online that continued to follow the plight of a lovely Sudanese Christian woman, betrothed to an American Cristian man. (I have embedded in this post video of the ordeal.) Meriam Yehya Ibrahim is, even now, languishing in a Khartoum prison for the specific crime of "apostasy." According to Shariah law the children of Muslim men are required to adopt and practice the religion of their fathers. The charge of apostasy has been levied because Meriam refuses to adhere to the tenets of Islam and is a devout follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. The practices of the Ayatollahs, clerics, Ummahs, and sheiks of the Islamic nations have long grieved and angered me, as they continue to use the heavy mallet of Sharia to rule as dictators and despots crushing free will, and all of the inalienable rights we enjoy free exercise of (that we often take for granted) in the United States.
Beautiful Meriam stares death in the face right now at the hands of men absent of pity, bankrupt of mercy, and who possess not an iota of compassion. Even while I write this post in the peaceful comfort of my home, sitting on a plush, comfortable bed Sister Meriam is in prison with her 20-month old son Martin as well as another infant, a girl. Her husband Daniel who is also a Christian says of his beloved that she'll see this ordeal to the end, even her own death. This is particularly difficult when we consider what brutalities could be done to her babies in an attempt to force her to renounce Christ and embrace Islam. I'm sure that every motherly instinct within her screams for compliance with her captors' demands for the sake of her children but she has bravely chosen to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ's power to protect her and her children and that His perfect will would be done in this terrible situation. Sister Meriam stands as a pillar of Christian virtue, persecution, and most importantly faith, just as the Patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs have stood throughout human history.
This brings me to reconsider my own personal trials and challenges. In comparison to Sis. Meriam, what I am going through is nothing. Even now, I am shamed by my faithlessness, prayerlessness, disobedience, and lack of perseverance at times. I know that I shouldn't be comparing my burdens to another Christian's (Gal. 6:4-5), for all events are ordered and presided over by the Lord Jesus and He expertly knows what to allow and that which to prohibit in our individual lives before Him. However, Meriam's persecution has made me recommit to intercessory prayer for the saints being persecuted across the globe and to not allow any situation I encounter to overwhelm me or to make me take my eyes off of my Lord and King.
I had to ask myself after reading the article, would I faithfully and unhesitatingly cling to Jesus Christ if my life could be forfeit? Like the innumerable heroes of the faith, I had to ask myself, surrounded by countless comforts if I was a "to-the-death Christian." I had to look deep down within and honestly examine myself to see if I would stand tall for my Lord. As it stands now, it's hard for me to confidently say that I would do the same as Sis. Meriam. However, i thank God that my perseverance is totally dependent on the Holy Spirit who would ensure that I would say what He would have me say and do that which He would have me do in that hour (Mk. 13:11) just as He is doing for my dear sister Meriam. Let us all prepare now for the day when we will have to with distinction bear witness to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAY FOR SISTER MERIAM AND DANIEL!
