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On February 15th last year, 21 believers in Christ were marched out on the shores of Libya. Each one of these saints were martyred by ISIS for their faith in Jesus Christ by having their head sawed off. Each one of these saints died with one name on their lips. That is the name of Jesus Christ. These were the paragons.
In April last year, 150 students were slain at a Bible College in Kenya by Islamic extremists. They were targeted for their faith in Jesus Christ. These were the paragons.
There are tens of thousands of Christians who are in prison for their faith in Jesus Christ in the death camps of North Korea. Estimates vary. But there could be as many as over 50,000 Believers and their families of 3 generations imprisoned for their simple faith in Jesus Christ. Their sentence is death. For they will surely die in these death camps. These are the paragons.
There are approximately 2,000 to 3000 believers who are imprisoned for their faith in Jesus Christ in Eritrea. Most of them are kept in shipping containers that are hot in the day and cold at night. Their crime of imprisonment is faith in Jesus Christ. Many have been in the shipping containers for upwards of 10 years. Many died in the shipping containers of hunger and disease. Many of these precious saints could be let go if they would renounce their faith in Christ. Refusing to do this brings certain martyrdom up on them. To the best of my knowledge not one single saint has renounced their faith in Christ for freedom. These are the paragons.
It is estimated by persecution ministries that every 5 minutes a saint spills their blood for Jesus Christ. That comes out to about 300 people a day who are martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ. That works out to about one hundred thousand saints a year who go to be under that alter that we read about in Revelation. These are the paragons.
Members of the forum the paragons are our brothers and sisters in the persecuted Church persecuted church.
Earlier today the question was posed on my devotional thread, " who are these paragons who have this simple faith in Jesus"? I believe the question was posed in a cynical and sarcastic way. The way this question is asked is very grievous to my spirit for those who take up the cross of Jesus Christ and lay down their lives for Him.
Whatever we may think about the persecuted church. And I realize the persecuted church is not a popular topic on Sermon Index. I do not believe that we have the right to malign them and be sarcastic and cynical in our attitude toward those who are being martyred for their faith in Christ.
Brothers and sisters I ask each one of you including myself. How many of us would have the courage do endure what those in North Korea or Eritrea are enduring.
Whatever we may think about our persecuted brothers and sisters. Let us not malign them or be sarcastic at our attitude toward them. If anything let us pray for them. For they are surely praying for us. They are surely praying that we will have the grace to endure the hell that will soon break out on us as they are enduring.
Posted by Blaine Scogin