When Hell Has No Fury 9-14-08
Do you ever wonder why God allows his children to be martyred? If you take a look at the first three hundred years of the church, you will find that persecution was the norm and martyrdom was fairly commonplace. I am not just talking about Christians being killed, but about Christians who willingly went to their deaths letting everyone know why they were doing so. One famous example is Polycarp (disciple of John). Polycarp was a man who had learned about Jesus from the Apostles and others who had actually known Jesus. As he aged, he remained stalwart in his faith and was often a bulwark against the shifting tides of Gnosticism. Marcion (a prominent Gnostic) reportedly came up to Polycarp and asked “Do you know me,” to which Polycarp replied “I do know you, the firstborn of Satan!”
When Polycarp was eighty-six years old he was arrested and brought before the Proconsul, who gave him multiple chances to recant and swear to Caesar (as god). Polycarp engaged in dialogue in such a way as to provoke more punishment for himself, making sure that everyone (especially the Proconsul) knew that Polycarp worshipped and served only Jesus. When he was threatened with being thrown to wild beasts, Polycarp said “call for them.” When he was threatened with burning at the stake, he explained that he had no fear of the fire that burned for only a little while but rather he feared the fire that burned eternally! When they went to nail him to the stake, Polycarp told them that Jesus had granted that he would endure the fire, so he would also grant to Polycarp to remain at the fire with the “security” of the nails.
What faith allows men and women to face horrible death, even making it worse on themselves, just to testify to others? What faith allowed Stephen to pray for forgiveness for the hateful mob that was hurling stones at him before he was finally killed? Of course, the answer is the faith that comes from an intense desire to be like Jesus. Jesus could have stopped at any time and not have endured the cross. Jesus could have defended himself, or called upon his Father who would have sent legions of angels. Jesus could have defended himself in that trial. Jesus could have done something else, but then we would all be lost in our sins and facing eternity in hell. Jesus loved us, so he died in our stead; Jesus loved us, so he entered the grave; Jesus loved us, so he raised from the dead.
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: these are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. “ (Revelation 2:8-11 NIV)
The Christians in Smyrna were being slandered by the Jews and were being persecuted for their faith. But Jesus (through John) told them to stay strong, even if it costs them their life. Why? Because he (Jesus) was guaranteeing their eternal life! The lesson for us today is the same as that given to the Symrnan Christians: put your faith in Jesus, be buried in baptism with him, and have no fear of the Second Death (the lake of fire in Revelation 20:11-15).
See, the Christian view of life and death are a bit different from the world’s view. The world would have us be pragmatic, saying that it makes perfect sense to renounce Christ to avoid danger, and then to repent and be forgiven. What cowardly nonsense! No, Jesus told us plainly that if we deny him, he will deny us to the Father; but if we confess him, he will confess us to the Father. If we overcome the lies and slander of the world through truth and abiding with Jesus, then hell has no fury for us!
-Charles Peterson