This was on Facebook this week, and I must admit I wasn't shocked, but I was distraught when I read it. Christians all over the world are in dire trouble. Even here in Australia, where you think that Christians can lead a pretty normal life, well, they can't really.
When we come to Christ, we really do need to "Take up our cross and follow Him". In other words, no matter what is happening in our crazy world out there, being a follower of Jesus is much more important than living our lives to ourselves. After all, if we don't do that, we will pay the price when our time comes to face our judgment day.
This was on Facebook, and I quote, "Prayer for Congo Christians - July 12.
Reports out of the DRC indicate that 14 Christians were beheaded by extremists in June.
The Islamic State (Central Africa Chapter) executed six believers on June 3 and another eight on June 24. It seems to be the first time ISCAC targeted Christians in this area."
When Jesus was here with us all those years ago, he was obviously pretty popular with the crowds, mainly ordinary everyday people, and certainly none of the hobnobs that were always and constantly looking down on the poor and needy.
Luke 15 begins, and on this particular day, here they were, the Pharisees, the lawyers, or whoever thought they were pretty cool type people, mingling into the crowd where Jesus was teaching. They instantly started criticizing him over the very fact that, of all things, here he was spending time with sinners - Oh NO! he could have spent time with them - they were perfect, or so they thought!
How many times do we see "the perfect people' all around us - I must admit that I too am the most imperfect person ever to set foot on this earth - but you know Jesus died for you, and he died for me, and that makes us perfect in the eyes of God - truly remarkable and amazing!
Jesus went on to tell yet another parable, and why did he do that? Because the hobnob crowd that was there, including the Pharisees who absolutely loved money, heard all of this and were sneering at him (Luke 16:14).
It must have been pretty tense, and so the story started, and the stage was set for Jesus to tell the story about " Lazarus and the Rich Man". You can read it for yourself in Luke 16: 19-31, that is, of course, if you have a Bible.
Just a quick version of the story went like this, my words only: "Here was Lazarus, a beggar at the gate of a fine rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen. Poor old Lazarus, he was covered with sores, and he was longing to eat even from the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Even dogs came and licked his sores.
The time came, and Lazarus eventually died, and the angels came and carried him off to heaven, and he was at Abraham's side. Then the rich man died too, and he was buried probably with all pomp and ceremony.
The rich guy ended up in Hades (hell), where he was in constant torment. He looked up and saw Abraham with Lazarus by his side, and he pleaded with them to send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool his tongue because he was in agony in this fire.
Abraham replied to the rich guy and told him that in his lifetime you received all the good things, while Lazarus received all the bad things, and now there is a huge chasm between us and we can't cross over regardless.
Well said, the rich guy. Can you beg the father to send Lazarus back to my family? I have five brothers, and he can warn them so that they will not come here where I am. No, says Abraham, they have already been warned by Moses and other prophets; let them listen to them.
No, no, says the rich guy, if someone from the dead comes back to warn them, they will repent. Sorry, man says Abraham, if they did not listen to Moses and all the other prophets and so many others, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."
It is so easy to get bogged down in the details of the parable that Jesus told in the story above. So let's try to get a lot out of this one.
The rich guy in the story is pretty self-centred - and poor old Lazarus is just another old face in the crowd. He is totally invisible to the rich and wealthy, and this rich guy just disappears inside his mansion and leaves Lazarus lying in the street covered in sores and being licked by the dogs.
Jesus wants to get through to everyone listening that the person who thinks he is first and will let everyone know that fact will actually be last, and vice versa for those who feel they are last and who have made God first in their lives. They will become first in heaven when the time comes.
In the story, the rich man is nameless and will remain so, while Lazarus's name will always be remembered in the story that Jesus told the crowd.
Where are you when it comes to putting Jesus first? Or where are you if you never even think of Jesus and what he did while here on earth? Are you like the rich guy in the story, all full of yourself and never even thinking of God?
I know personally what Jesus did for me. He gave his life to pay for my sins, and actually, he paid for yours as well, but only if you accept that fact and ask him to lead your life.
Going back to the beginning of the blog about those dear Christian people who were beheaded so cruelly. They were totally committed to Christ, and no matter what others thought of them or what they did to them, nothing changed at all.
It's ghastly to even think about the price they paid for their faith in Christ, and yet we know where they are and how much they loved their Lord and Saviour.
Back in 1536, William Tyndale translated the Bible as we know it today, and actually, the translation has saved many millions of people. He was physically strangled and then burned at the stake for doing exactly that.
He was educated at the University of Oxford. He was an instructor there, and he became absolutely convinced that all people should be able to read the Bible in their own language. He certainly paid the price!
She was such a great example even at that age that many turned to Christ. She was both a princess and noted scholar, but that didn't stop old Maxentius from having her arrested and tortured, trying to get her to change her mind, and when she wouldn't, he had her burnt at the stake.
These people paid the price for giving their lives to God. Just like those martyrs at the beginning of this blog.
Making our lives with Christ is awe-inspiring and deeply satisfying and so enriching in many ways. Giving our lives to him really does ensure you will be having a totally different life to what you may have been living. It really won't matter what others think of you as long as God comes first in everything you do, say, and accomplish.
Our dear neighbours across from us cannot understand where we are coming from - they are agnostic and firmly have nothing to do with God or His Word. As the years have gone on, they try hard to ignore us. It's so sad. They truly cannot understand where we are with Jesus. They have become reclusive - so sad.
Fortunately for us, we have many other neighbours and have many friends. Although many don't believe in Christ as we do. Yet we can still be friends, and our neighbourhood is very welcoming.
Where are you with Christ? I know where I am, and I know he takes first place in my life. He will definitely do the same for you.
Thanks for reading my blog, and I really do hope to see you next time. God bless.
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