In 1980 a young man from Rwanda was forced by his tribe to either renounce Christ or face certain death. He refused to renounce Christ, and he was killed on the spot. The night before he had written the following commitment which was found in his room:
“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made- I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving & dwarfed goals.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.
I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me & when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
There are so many things in this world that we cling to; education, the social ladder, money, image, youth, possessions, sexuality, career, and a host of others things we desperately hold onto with our death grip, or strive to attain. We live in a culture that so often denies the reality of the spiritual world that is all around us. Much of western Christianity has also fallen into the trap of the world’s standards of image, success, and power. In the end, though, all of this stuff will leave us completely empty and despondent. We may find success and riches according to the world’s standards, but we will truly be spiritually impoverished.
To find true meaning for our lives, we must strip our lives bare of all the worldly standards, values, and attractions in order to empty ourselves of all the stuff that clutters our lives and prevents Jesus from truly being able to find a hospitable habitation within us. Finding our true identity, meaning, and fulfillment in Jesus will give us the most profound spiritual riches for eternity.
The martyr who wrote the word above loved God with his whole being and was not willing to compromise the truth and riches he found in Jesus Christ. In surrendering his life completely to Jesus, he was willing to truly take up his cross and to follow our Lord along the costly path of discipleship. The above manifesto of this Christian martyr is the example of a living faith the worlds sees as foolish. Some who call themselves Christians may see it as radical or extreme. Yet, this is an example of the kind of normal life we Christians are called to embrace. The question is…are we willing?
Fr. Greg
