Afraid-of what?

“Persecution in America and Canada? That’ll never happen!” said millions of people ten years ago.

Now that it’s taking place in a limited fashion, people are shocked. “But this is an hour of glory!”

For sure!

But, as the Lord taught us in Matthew 13, the wheat and the tares mature together. The good plants and weeds grow up together. Light and darkness both have their greatest expression when juxtaposed one against the other. Given this truth, the darkness will become more sophisticated in its attempts to snuff out the light. The Lord warned us of this.

BUT He also said, “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God” (Luke 12:4-6).

I recently came across a poem titled “Afraid?” which was written by missionary E.H. Hamilton following the martyrdom of one of his colleagues, J.W. Vinson, at the hands of rebel soldiers in northern China. A small Chinese girl that escaped from the bandits related the incident that provided the inspiration for Hamilton’s poem.

“Are you afraid?” the bandits asked Vinson as they menacingly waved a gun in front of him.

“No,” he replied with complete assurance. “If you shoot, I go straight to Heaven.”

His decapitated body was found later.

The man stood firm on the absolute truth. The Lord said not to fear 366 times in His Word. On no day is panic helpful. In Christ, the end is actually a wonderful new beginning!

I will leave you with these faith-filled words:

Afraid? Of what?
To feel the spirit’s glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Saviour’s face,
To hear His welcome, and to trace,
The glory gleam from wounds of grace,
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
A flash – a crash – a pierced heart;
Brief darkness – Light – O Heaven’s art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To enter into Heaven’s rest,
And yet to serve the Master blessed?
From service good to service best?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To do by death what life could not –
Baptize with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid? Of that?