"The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty, but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes. It does not make life easy; rather it tries to make us great enough for life."
-James Christensen
Great enough for life…that’s a compelling thought, isn’t it? Being able to rise above life’s challenges and heartache because Christ has transformed us…the possibilities are endless when we stop to imagine what that might look like. Who comes to mind when you think of an extraordinary life that rose above what was given to them? If someone had asked me that a few years ago, the first people that would have come to my mind are Joseph, David, Esther, and Daniel.
Joseph who was sold into slavery and thrown into jail, but still clung to God and His laws.
David who was hunted for years by Saul, yet twice refused to murder Saul when he had the chance.
Esther, who on pain of death, went to the king unsummoned on behalf of her people.
Daniel who went to the lion’s den instead of praying in secret.
These people all led extraordinary lives and are great examples for us today…and yet…they are somewhat removed from our lives. I have to admit that most of the time I don’t even think of them as being real people. Growing up in the church for as long as I have and hearing the stories again and again, they’ve taken on almost a storybook personality for me. Yes, they are people, but not people in the sense that I think about as being real and being able to relate to. They have admirable qualities that I want to emulate, but I don’t look at them as being the same as me. They are too far removed from my life, here in the 21st century. For people I can relate to, I’d have to fast-forward a couple thousand years to the present. When I started learning about the persecuted church, it changed forever how I look at things. If you were to ask me today who do I think of that has an extraordinary, Christ-transformed character, I’d have to say…
Elizabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint who ministered to the Waodoni tribe after the tribe killed Elizabeth’s husband and Rachel’s brother.
The Columbian girl who forgave the man who killed her father for being a Christian and wrote to him in jail telling him so.
The two Chinese girls who encouraged and forgave their pastor right before he shot them to save his own life.
Rachel Scott and Cassie Bernall who died for their faith in the shooting at Columbine.
These are amazing transformations…to think that these people allowed Christ to change them so much that they could respond in the ways that they did to what life threw at them…it’s nothing short of miraculous. Because these responses are not from men, but from God. Only a life that is so focused on Christ could rise above their own feelings and respond in such a way. It is my prayer that as we meet to remember the persecuted church, God would be working in our own hearts. I do not want us to merely be impressed by their stories, shake our heads, and wonder if we could ever do the same in their situation. Instead, our plea should be, “God change me…transform me so that when my time comes and I have done everything to stand, that I will stand.” Make no mistake, our time is coming; whether in small decisions or big ones, the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, and he will not leave us alone. May we truly be transformed so that we can set our hearts and minds on things above where Christ is, and finally leave the earth and all its cares behind.
-James Christensen
Great enough for life…that’s a compelling thought, isn’t it? Being able to rise above life’s challenges and heartache because Christ has transformed us…the possibilities are endless when we stop to imagine what that might look like. Who comes to mind when you think of an extraordinary life that rose above what was given to them? If someone had asked me that a few years ago, the first people that would have come to my mind are Joseph, David, Esther, and Daniel.
Joseph who was sold into slavery and thrown into jail, but still clung to God and His laws.
David who was hunted for years by Saul, yet twice refused to murder Saul when he had the chance.
Esther, who on pain of death, went to the king unsummoned on behalf of her people.
Daniel who went to the lion’s den instead of praying in secret.
These people all led extraordinary lives and are great examples for us today…and yet…they are somewhat removed from our lives. I have to admit that most of the time I don’t even think of them as being real people. Growing up in the church for as long as I have and hearing the stories again and again, they’ve taken on almost a storybook personality for me. Yes, they are people, but not people in the sense that I think about as being real and being able to relate to. They have admirable qualities that I want to emulate, but I don’t look at them as being the same as me. They are too far removed from my life, here in the 21st century. For people I can relate to, I’d have to fast-forward a couple thousand years to the present. When I started learning about the persecuted church, it changed forever how I look at things. If you were to ask me today who do I think of that has an extraordinary, Christ-transformed character, I’d have to say…
Elizabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint who ministered to the Waodoni tribe after the tribe killed Elizabeth’s husband and Rachel’s brother.
The Columbian girl who forgave the man who killed her father for being a Christian and wrote to him in jail telling him so.
The two Chinese girls who encouraged and forgave their pastor right before he shot them to save his own life.
Rachel Scott and Cassie Bernall who died for their faith in the shooting at Columbine.
These are amazing transformations…to think that these people allowed Christ to change them so much that they could respond in the ways that they did to what life threw at them…it’s nothing short of miraculous. Because these responses are not from men, but from God. Only a life that is so focused on Christ could rise above their own feelings and respond in such a way. It is my prayer that as we meet to remember the persecuted church, God would be working in our own hearts. I do not want us to merely be impressed by their stories, shake our heads, and wonder if we could ever do the same in their situation. Instead, our plea should be, “God change me…transform me so that when my time comes and I have done everything to stand, that I will stand.” Make no mistake, our time is coming; whether in small decisions or big ones, the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, and he will not leave us alone. May we truly be transformed so that we can set our hearts and minds on things above where Christ is, and finally leave the earth and all its cares behind.
