"Afraid?" 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? This poem was written by E.H. Hamiliton, after hearing of the death of his missionary collegue Jack Vinson. Vinson was martyred in 1931 and showed no fear of death to his Chinese captors, telling them, "Kill me, if you wish. I will go straight to God."   This poem, and others, is featured in a poetry booklet put together by Jerry Bouey. http://www.earnestlycontending.com/realmccoy/PoetrySeasons.html Devotional by Jerry Bouey 1) In the Bible, the Greek word for "witness" is "martus", where we get our word martyr from. So, a martyr is someone who died because of their witness (or testimony) of Jesus Christ. If you won't live for the Lord here and now, you will not "die" for Him! You may face death, and even be killed, but it won't be as a martyr. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:3, "...and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." Charity means "love" - love for God as well as love for man. If you don't love the Lord, your death as a "martyr" will not profit you anything. I have paraphrased a saying I've heard before: The Final Proof of our Love is in the Faithful Pattern of our Living. 2) If you are a born-again child of God, through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, then you need not fear death, even the cruel death of martyrdom. Romans 8:38-39 says nothing can separate us from the love of God (and from God Himself), not even death - which as you may note, is the first thing listed. In fact, death for the children of God only brings them home to be with the Lord, to live in His presence forever! Why fear that? 3) Finally, Paul makes another comment which is very appropriate to the trials and sufferings we face as a Christian, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18 Nothing we go through can compare to the glory that will be revealed in Heaven! Just some food for thought. May we all be faithful in our walk with the Lord. December 21st/04 Jerry Bouey   Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10 Contact Us Home - Trenholms of Kelowna   /   Earnestly Contending  /  Looking Unto Jesus Backgrounds and Prints Home of the Real McCoy   /   Eagle's Wings Ministries Graphics by Angel Heart Creations Artwork Courtesy of Thomas Kinkade and Christ Centered Art