Gut-check time. Complete this sentence: "It would be hell to me if . . . ."
Henry Martyn (1781-1812), Anglican missionary, was the guest of a muslim friend for dinner. His host described for him a painting he had seen of Jesus bowing down before Muhammad. Martyn tells us what happened next:
"I was cut to the soul at this blasphemy. Mirza Seid Ali perceived that I was considerably disordered and asked what it was that was so offensive? I told him 'I could not endure existence if Jesus was not glorified; it would be hell to me if He were to be always thus dishonored.' He was astonished and again asked 'Why?' 'If anyone pluck out your eyes,' I replied, 'there is no saying why you feel pain; it is feeling. It is because I am one with Christ that I am thus dreadfully wounded.'"
Quoted in Constance E. Padwick, Henry Martyn: Confessor Of The Faith, page 265.
The ultimate personal motive for evangelism, missions and revival: "I could not endure existence, if the world were to go on trivializing Jesus. It would be hell to me, if the blasphemies obscuring the display of his glory were to succeed in my generation."
Lord, preserve us in this passion.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
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7 comments:
Lord, create this passion in us...
Thanks, Joel. Good point. If we do not die a martyr's death, may we live with a martyr's heart.
Ray, that is a great comment.
"If we do not die a martyr's death, may we live with a martyr's heart."
Amen!
Thanks, Nicholas. I wish it were original to me, but I read it somewhere.
God bless you in the army. We honor you for putting your life on the line for the rest of us. We receive it with profound thanks.
Wow.
Bro. Ray,
I'm glad to do what I do. The truth is, you will do as much if not more than me in terms of my military service for America by influencing people towards Christ. So, in that regard, thank you for what you are doing!
In Christ,
Nicholas Z. Cardot
As I read this, the thought occurred to me that Heaven itself should seem as hell to us, if Christ were not there.
I do wish that He was always that precious to us, but I'm afraid it's not so, at least in my own fickle heart.
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