Last night, I completed my first summer read. It was called "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn. It was 395 pages of a novel that had an awesome true story weaved into it. This was a story about the persecuted church in China, how people change throughout the course of their lives: some relying more and more on God each day, others trying to convince themselves they are fine on their own, about how businesses can look the other way when they can find cheap labor, and about how people learn to stick up for what is good and right in their lives and the lives of other people they care about. It's a book about finding out where you true home is and returning "safely home" to it at the end of your days here on Earth.
This book really challenged me to think about things a little differently. I am a Christian, I am a follower of Jesus Christ. He is my Savior, my Lord, and my King. I can say that because here in America I have no fear of following Him. We have freedom of religion, where we can choose who we want to follow. Though I know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). I face no persecution for following in the footsteps of my Lord. I do not have to hide my Bible under the cement floor for fear that if someone found it I could be beaten, thrown in jail, lose everything, or worse, be killed. I do not have to travel at 2am in the morning to hide in the darkness to meet secretly in a house church in order to worship my God. Here in America, we can worship on the street corner if we want. I can walk down the pedestrian walkway at UT and sing my praises to Him if I wanted. Though at some point it can be uncomfortable when someone finds out you are a Christian in say a biology class at a liberal college that believes in evolution...you might even get made fun of or called "unintelligent"...or in the worst case scenario...you may lose a few friends who think that religion is stupid. Other than that....you probably are not going to face anything worse. Certainly nothing like those in say China, Africa and many other places who have the government tell them what to follow and who to follow. The Christians in these areas know the true meaning of "take up your cross and follow me" and like when Jesus told the rich young ruler that in order to follow him he had to give up everything he had, to sell all his treasures, to hate his father and mother and follow him...to trust only in Him...they understand that. I think these amazing people understand that more than I ever will understand that.
I am a Christian. I love my Lord and Savior with everything I am. I have faced no persecution for being a Christian. I really have never faced any type of persecution at all. After reading this book about the persecuted church and how the characters of this book, the people in China, Ben Fielding (one of the main characters from the US) learn to depend on God for absolutely everything in their lives, even unto the point of asking "Is this the day I die?" because they know it is coming and they are willing to die for their Lord or "Yesu" in Chinese. It is uplifting to see a story like this fold out and realize that there are people living this life at this very moment. As I am sitting here watching TV while I'm off work for the day, typing this blog out on my laptop that is connected to the wireless internet, writing about Christ and what he can do...there are people dying (physically dying) for Him and for their witness to Him. It both encourages and challeneges me to really stand up for my faith, for what I believe in. It makes me want to change how I go about everyday life. I want to be radical for Jesus. To do something crazy for Him. I want people to see a difference in me, and when asked what that difference is...to be able to witness to them about the gospel and saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Not your typical light summer reading...but a book with a great story, a great message, and a great challenge to Christians. I pray that one day, I too, will be"Safely Home" to be with my Lord and Savior, celebrating and singing praise to the one who gave it all for me! I want to leave you all with a quote from a song sang in the book that has been on my heart since I read it:
"I am willing to take up the cross and go forward,
To follow the apostles down the road of sacrifice.
That tens of thousands of precious souls can be saved,
I am willing to leave all and be a martyr for the Lord.
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