Revelation 12:11, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
Throughout history there have been many Christians who have given up their lives for the sake of their faith in Christ and for the preaching of the gospel. Since at least the fourth century, much of the church at large has celebrated November 1st as a feast day in memory of these martyrs who gave the ultimate sacrifice because of their steadfast faith. Their unwillingness to recant their profession of Christ as Lord no matter the cost is an inspiration to us all. We honor them, because they are truly the best of us and we aspire to have the same resolve as they if we were faced with suffering and/or death because of Christ. The Lord Himself honors them and calls them blessed.
Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
It is good to remember those who have given us a wonderful example of what it means to follow Jesus at all costs. We remember men and women who lived and died like Stephen the Deacon in Acts 7, nearly all of the Apostles, many of the Prophets, Ignatius of Antioch, more recent cases such as Jan Hus, William Tyndale, and modern missionaries such as Jim Elliott. These Christians became like heroes to us, not because they were great themselves, but because they bowed so low in honor of their Lord Jesus Christ. They knew well this statement from John the Baptist, “He must increase and I must decrease.”
The heroes of the Christian faith are not those who make much of themselves, but are rather those who become small so that Christ can be demonstrated as great through our lives. The intention of a fully devoted Christian is stated best in Scripture, “they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:16).
Today we take a moment to remember all of those who have demonstrated this principle with their very lifeblood. May the Lord grant us grace and mercy to walk the path they have helped to pave before us. May we honor Christ, and desire His kingdom above all according to their example.
