Once upon a time you woke up on a Sunday morning. You get
dressed in your Sunday best then get your children up. The children are tired
but you know they will eventually get up. Then you go downstairs. Your little
girl comes bounding down the steps in her pink, flower dress. She is squealing
with delight because she gets to go see her friends at church today; and she
gets to learn about God.
You start to eat your breakfast when you realize your
teenage son isn’t up yet. You yell upstairs “it is time to get up.” After a
while your son comes down the steps. He asks the same question he asks every
week: “do I have to go to church?” To this you answer “yes.” After some
grumbling, your son gets his breakfast.
Then you all pile in the car and head off to church. When
you get there you are greeted by one of the Elders. An old friend comes up and
asks how you are doing. After talking for a little you drop your little girl
off at children’s church. Then you walk into the sanctuary and sit in your
normal seat.
The service begins and you start singing I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin. Suddenly
you hear a commotion at the back of the church. You hear yelling and then shots
are fired. The music stops. Time seems to slow down as men in masks carrying
guns come in. They yell at everyone to line up along a wall. Quickly everyone
listens. You look around the room and see fear on everyone’s faces. Sweat
begins to drip down your face.
A man with a gun walks up to one of the Deacons. The
Deacon has been a part of the church for a long time. He gives money to
charities, volunteers at homeless shelters, and leads Bible studies. The man
with the gun says to the Deacon: “denounce your faith in Jesus Christ today,
and you will live.” The Deacon looks around nervously. The man with the gun
says “choose now!” Then he puts the gun against the Deacon’s head. The Deacon
falls to his knees and wails “I denounce my faith in Jesus Christ.” Your mouth
drops.
The man with the gun moves to the next person. This
person was a troubled young adult. His body is covered in tattoos; you know
that he drinks and that he has been arrested many times. You heard that the boy had
accepted Christ just last week; but you don’t know if it is true. The man with
the gun says to the boy “denounce your faith in Jesus Christ today and you will
live.” The boy looks down nervously. You think you know what he will say. Abruptly
the boy looks up and says “how can I denounce the one who has given me life?”
The man with the gun pauses for a little then pulls the trigger. The boy slumps
down in a pool of blood.
Your mouth drops again; but even further this time. And,
time slows down again. You cannot believe the boy said that. It takes you a
while to register that the man with the gun has come to you. He says “denounce
your faith in Jesus Christ.” You look around and everyone is staring at you. As
you look around all you can think about is your little girl. Then your eyes
stop on your teenage son. He looks at you nervously waiting for your answer. You
want to be a good example for your children; but how can you do that if you are
dead. The man with the gun yells “choose now!”
Our country hasn’t quite gotten to the point where our
faith will be tested like this; but there will come a time when our faith will
be tested. What would you say or do in this situation? What would God want you
to do?
Matthew 16:25, Matthew 10:39
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