The Sake of the Call.

On January 8, 1956, Jim Elliot and six other missionaries were killed by the Auca Indians- men whom Jim had diligently prayed for and sought to serve for six years. He willingly gave his life for the sake of Christ, and his example infused millions with passion for the Gospel.

This is an amazing quote from Jim’s wife Elisabeth Elliot:

“Jim’s aim was to know God. His course, obedience–the only course that could lead to the fulfillment of his aim. His end was what some would call an extraordinary death, although in facing death he had quietly pointed out that many have died because of obedience to God.
He and the other men with whom he died were hailed as heroes, “martyrs.” I do not approve. Nor would they have approved.
Is the distinction between living for Christ and dying for Him, after all, so great? Is not the second the logical conclusion of the first? Furthermore, to live for God is to die, “daily,” as the apostle Paul put it. It is to lose everything that we may gain Christ. It is in thus laying down our lives that we find them.”

After Jim’s death, Elisabeth chose to continue to give her life in service to the very people who had killed her husband. (Eventually, they came to except the gospel message)

For some reason, this got me thinking about another man I read about in a Leslie Ludy book one time:

“A Chinese pastor who was thrown into solitary confinement for more than a year because of his faith. Day after day, week after week, month after month he crouched in a tiny cell hardly big enough to stand up in. He remained there in total darkness. There was no light, no human companionship. It was just him and God. When he was finally released, he had nearly gone blind from the long lack of light. His body was weak and fragile. But his face was radiant and glowing. He seemed to effervesce with joy and peace. His Christian friends peppered him with questions. “How did you survive solitary confinement so long? What was it like?”

The frail pastor paused and smiled. “It was like a honeymoon with Jesus!”

That statement amazes me because here was a man who hadn’t even talked to another human being in a year and yet he was totally fulfilled and fully satisfied with Jesus Christ alone.

These two stories have really made me think. Faced with the circumstances, would I choose to love Jesus more than I love my own life? If everything I had was stripped away (friends, family, facebook) and I was thrown into a prison cell, would Christ be enough?

As we were sitting in church this morning singing “Fairest Lord Jesus,” I realized that I don’t have to be threatened by death or thrown into a prison cell to decide if Jesus is enough for me. I make this decision every day with how I spend my time and energy. Do I willingly die to my selfish desires and lay down my life every day, knowing that Jesus is more than enough? Can I honestly sing “Jesus you’re everything to me” or am I still holding on to things this world offers?

I hope these questions and thoughts will challenge you as they have challenged me!

Okay one final thought. (Sorry, I know this post has been kinda long). But in Acts 7 when Stephen (the first martyr) is right in the middle of being persecuted, it says he “looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (verse 55). And that kind of sums up what all of these stories are all about. When our eyes are fixed on Christ, EVERYTHING else, even our lives, seems less important compared to proclaiming His eternal glory.

-CD :)