And you, why would you give your life for?

From the first man, Stephen, continuing the persecutions in Germany, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, until arriving in America, going through the Inquisition and persecutions by the papacy in Italy, thousands of people have given their lives for a cause, preach the gospel.

Stephen is known as the first martyr. His story is told in chapter seven of the book of Acts of the Apostles, this book was written between 80 and 90 AD, since then, many people have been deprived of his life for preaching the gospel, for not being silent before the injustices and false doctrines taught by other people.

These martyrs have had to suffer, injustices, imprisonment, terrible torture, and public humiliation; both men, women, and children have gone through painful circumstances such as death by lashes, by the edge of the sword, starvation, dismemberment, rape. Victims were tied hand and foot to the two ends of a device, it was stretched slowly until all its joints dislocated, other victims were cut in half, others had their eyes, ears, fingers removed, others were threatened as long as they denied their faith and joined popular doctrine.

Each time they invented new tortures and applied them to these people who, having done no wrong, punished them in the worst possible way.

I would like to say that all those who suffered from these persecutions did not abandon their faith, but it was not the case, there were a couple of people who faced such tragic circumstances, moved by fear, abandoned their faith to save their lives, but It is worth mentioning that these same people repented of having denied their faith. Many other people bravely suffered because of this same faith.

Is it worth giving your life because of the gospel? In 1 Peter 3:17, it says “For it is better to suffer for doing good if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” Christ himself is the perfect example that illustrates this Bible passage, Christ, the son of God, lived without committing any sin, lived a holy and godly life, helped people, fed thousands of people, healed sick, taught, performed miracles, was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross; he was innocent, but he suffered for the bad. He gave his life to the rescue of many.

The Apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 13 rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, he also tells us to be very glad when they insult us for this same cause since the glorious Spirit of God is continually upon us. And why is life given because of the gospel? Because God has destined us for something better, in Hebrews 11:35 he says "So that they might rise again to a better life."

In my opinion, there are two good ways to die, one, helping another person, and the second way, giving your life because of Christ.

I don't say it's easy, losing everything you have, losing the people you love, but you better lose your own life that I may gain Christ.

It takes courage, knowledge of God, of his Holy Spirit, and the gift of faith to stand firm until the end. God is our greatest reward. As the Apostle Paul says, for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain, Philippians 1:21.

Book of The Martyrs, by John Fox.