Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the same, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted (Hebrews 12:1-3).
Our eyes must be fixed on Christ our Savior King at all times. If there was no other example to follow it would be enough to look to Him and run this race with endurance. But isn't it helpful to read of the many who lived their lives not looking for martyrdom, but rather, they were simply doing life for Christ knowing dying would be gain? Single men and women left family, friends and homeland to go to an unknown land never to see their family again. Married believers, entrusting their children to God, were willing to surrender their spouse or themselves for the the cause of Christ. These are the heroes of our faith. These are people worth knowing. These are people worth imitating.
As I leave this series on "Dying is Gain" I want to introduce you to one more sister in the Lord. Her name is Lizzie Atwater. Lizzie didn't cling to the desire to hold her baby before she died. She surrendered all.
"In June of 1900, a fierce nationalist reaction in China against Christian missionaries and churches claimed more than 32,000 lives (please read that sentence again: IN ONE MONTH 32,000 died for Christ). The worst massacres occurred in the northern province of Shanxi. The pregnant Lizzie Atwater wrote a memorable letter home before she and six others were martyred."
Dear ones, I long for a sight of your dear faces, but I fear we shall not meet on Earth. I am preparing for the end very quietly and calmly. The Lord is wonderfully near, and He will not fail me. I was very restless and excited while there seemed a chance of life, but God has taken away that feeling, and now I just pray for grace to meet the terrible end bravely. The pain will soon be over, and oh the sweetness of the welcome above! My little baby will go with me, I think God will give it to me in heaven and my dear mother will be so glad to see us. I cannot imagine the Savior's welcome. Oh, that will compensate for all these days of suspense. Dear ones, live near to God and cling less closely to Earth. There is no other way by which we can receive that peace from God which passeth understanding. I must keep calm and still these hours. I do not regret coming to China.
"On August 15, 1900, soldiers took Lizzie and ten others away from the relative safety of a nearby town and hacked them to death with their swords, tossing the bodies into a pit." (Foxe's Book of Martyrs)
My dear sisters in Christ, how are you processing what I have shared with you over the last few days? How have you been processing Tim's message from Sunday? What heroes in the faith have inspired you? For the encouragement of all we'd love to hear from you. May our Savior King Jesus be with you all today.
1 comments:
"Live near to God, and cling less closely to earth." (Lizzie Atwater)
Why do we so evidently resist such counsel? What a great secret is here laid out by this dear martyr whose story I did not know until now. Thank you Gayline-- your blogs about your friends have been so good.
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