Dying for The Truth

I recently got a book reader program working on my blackberry, and downloaded a collection of Christian classics, including “Fox’s Book of Martyrs.” Sounds like pretty somber nighttime reading, right?

But it is striking that Jesus said, “I am the way, and The Truth, and the life….”; and, for telling the truth the religious leaders conspired with the Roman official, and very shortly thereafter, Jesus was crucified, died and was buried for the truth.

We know that shortly thereafter, He resurrected to life everlasting, the firstborn from the dead. And, this truth so inflamed His disciples with zeal for the gospel, that they went forth and changed the world with their eye witness testimony.

But, how did the world greet this “gospel” or good news? The world system that loved the darkness, reacted violently to the truth. The disciples and leaders of the local churches were systematically killed, martyred for their faith and testimony.* One of the great proofs of their witness, was their profession of the truth without recanting their message, even to the point of death.

Hebrews tells us that men and women of God must always be willing to sacrifice for the truth. But, we must all die to self, for the truth to be manifest in our lives.

Are we willing to speak the truth to a dying world, despite the discomfort? Would we be willing to die for the truth?

*Excerpt, chapter One, Fox’s Book of Martyrs
· Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God crucified, AD 30
· Stephen, the deacon, stoned, c. AD 32
· James, son of Zebedee, disciple, beheaded, AD 44
· Philip, disciple, scourged and crucified, AD 54
· Matthew, (Levi), disciple, slain with a halberd (axe) AD 60
· James, step brother to Jesus, elder of Jerusalem, beat, stoned, and clubbed to death, AD 95
· Andrew, disciple, brother of Peter, crucified on an X shaped cross.
· Peter, disciple, crucified upside down
· Paul, disciple to the gentiles, beheaded in Rome by Nero
· …