North Africa and the cost for believing

| May 23, 2012 | Comments (0)
Christ prevails in the darkest time in life

Christ prevails in the darkest time in life

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

St. Francis of Assisi

One day in the nation of Morocco I encountered with a young man who was wondering about truth and where he will end up after death, he asked me where I would go if I died I replied in the arms of Jesus, he later wondered how such things can be and why I didn’t say ‘paradise.’ In the Arab world today the identity they carry is not a relationship with God but it is a relationship with their religion i.e. Islam.

Being a believer in Christ today in our world is belonging to a movement or belonging to a certain church, but to make it plain and simple being a Christian is about putting our faith in Christ. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). With my discussion with this young man in Morocco he decided to make a commitment to follow Christ no matter what comes his way, through that all he eventually got caught with the police and was sent to prison with his friends who also given their lives, as they got flogged in prison the young man prayed and asked God “please spare my friends and let them carry on the work,” the young man passed away because of serious wounds but the other two friends were free to go, till this very day they are still doing the work of Christ in Morocco.

Through our sufferings in Christ and being rooted in our security in Him, the works of this world does not shake the foundation that we have in Christ but it is through suffering for our faith is what strengthens our faith and gives us a hope to pursue in what is right. Jesus hung on the cross yet through the darkest hour never complained, refuse to curse or even hold a grudge on mankind but said “Father forgive them, for they do not know in what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Today in North Africa as I encounter with secret Christians their witness is being an example to their community, in their work place or even in their family life. What is the cost of being a Christian in North Africa? It costs everything! This example should reflect all of us which are in Christ. Following Christ means you will lose everything whether it is in family, jobs, identity and even your life. Being a disciple means going the full way with your life for Jesus but in all this Christ is He who carries us to eternity.

As J.C. Ryle said:

Religion that costs nothing is worth nothing. There are no spiritual gains without pains.

Youssef

Related posts:

Comments

Tags: , , , ,

Category: News

About Youssef: View author profile.