Inspiration Behind the Music
While on tour in Australia, I met a young lady who’s name I can’t remember, but her story was unforgettable. She was not Australian and she had not been living there very long. She was from a Muslim country but was exposed to Christianity in high school by one of her friends. She was so moved by the Gospel that her life began to change, not drastically, but in ways that her parents couldn’t ignore. As time passed, she became increasingly aware that her life was in danger. One morning her suspicions were confirmed when her mother woke her up with the news that her father was planning to kill her. She ran away from home that day and eventually had to leave her country.
I recently heard another story about an underground church in another Muslim country. One morning a church member heard a knock at her door. When she opened the door, a woman was standing there that she didn’t know. The woman asked, “can you take me to church with you?” “I want to learn more about your religion.” “How do you know that I am a Christian?” The church member asked. Because Christianity is illegal in that country, the church member wanted to make sure that this woman was not a spy. “Your daughter and I used to talk about God when we were in school” she answered. The woman began visiting the underground church and they welcomed her with open arms. One evening the police entered the church and arrested them all except the woman who had just began attending. She had lied to them. She really was a spy. After paying a fine, they were all released. Not too long after, a missionary came to their city. He was invited to this church and was told this story. The missionary began to cry, not because of their ordeal, but because of the prayer that they all prayed in one accord. They didn’t want to turn anyone away out of fear that they could be a spy, so they prayed that they would have the courage to welcome everyone with open arms and not be afraid.
Jesus said that we would be hated by all because of him. (Matthew 10:22) He went on to say that we would be persecuted and killed in his name. (John 16:2) These warnings are repeated over and over in the Gospels and also by the Apostle Paul. (II Timothy 3:12) Paul knew what it was like to live a Godly life and he also knew what it was like to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. Here is his account of his experience.
“From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;”
II Corinthians 11:24-25 NKJV
Isn’t that amazing? I don’t know anyone personally who has ever experienced anything close to what Paul went through, but what is even more amazing is his attitude about his trials.
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”
II Corinthians 4:17 NKJV
Forty stripes or lashes one time would definitely be something to remember, but five times? What most wouldn’t do for love, Paul did for the sake of the Gospel and while reflecting on his experiences he could say that all he went through was nothing compared to the satisfaction of knowing that Christ was being preached. Paul also had the foresight which enabled him to recognize that a lifetime of difficulties and hardship is only a brief moment when compared to eternity.
I have my trials and I know you do as well, but let us remember that no matter how great our trials may seem, they are nothing when compared to what our Savior went through to save us from sin. We will have even greater trials to face before Jesus comes back. The Bible tells us that a time of trouble is coming that has never been since there was a nation. (Daniel 12:1) These afflictions will finish the work of separating our affections from this world. Many of us may even face similar or greater trials than Christians living in countries where Christianity is illegal. Paul learned to live constantly with Heaven in view. His mind was so fixed upon Heavenly realities that they were more real to him than his afflictions: so much so that he could call them “light afflictions”. I am not there yet, but my prayer for myself and for you is that we will get there soon.