FAITH OF A MARTYR

A True Account from Foxes Book of Martyrs

 

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

©  God’s Breath Publications

 

The young Jewish man sat down on the stone bench near the entrance to the coliseum. He looks at the sandy soil beneath his feet as he prays to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A conflicting mixture of jubilant cheering and tortuous screams pierces the thick wooden gate he is about to enter. He prays his Lord would give him the strength to die as a martyr.

 

He was raised a Jew and had been faithful to his religion observing all points of the law. One day he met a man, a Christian. The man shared the news of the Messiah Jesus Christ with him. Overwhelmed with the knowledge of such a Savior, he committed his life to Christ. He never regretted his decision. Even now as he waits for his turn to die in the coliseum by the perverted imaginations of the evil Romans he knows he made the right decision. Today is another celebration for the Romans. One more mindless excuse to torture and kill innocent Christians by horrible means. The manner chosen today to send his fellow believers to their heavenly home is gruesome. Starved wild beasts such as bears, lions, and tigers are let loose on defenseless, men, women and children. A bloodthirsty crowd fills the coliseum to witness Christians torn to pieces by tooth and claw.

 

The Christian prays, “Father God, most holy Jesus, let your Spirit fill me this day to demonstrate your glory. Let those who witness my death, know that there is a God that is mightier than the false ones they worship. Give me strength to die well. Let your name be on my last breath.”

 

A Roman Centurion kicks the Christian, “Your turn.”

 

The young Christian Jew enters the sun drenched coliseum. Scoffing jeers and booing, buffet his ears. He glances around the arena and notices human body parts being drug away by slaves. They are clearing the way for the next spectacle. He continues walking towards the center of the coliseum across blood drenched sand. He reaches a spot he feels suitable to begin his martyrdom and stops. A man dressed in a beautiful silk robe stands up in the high booth mounted in the seating area containing government dignitaries. He shouts in a loud voice, “Roman citizens, you have beheld Christian women and children being devoured in glorious fashion, now we shall see how a single man claiming to be a Christian fares.”

 

The Christian readies himself and takes a defensive stance. He senses God’s Spirit in his mind and heart. He will live and die for his Lord and Master today.

 

The Christian notices a large gate opening at one end of the coliseum. A huge lion emerges. It trots left, then right, roaring in a vicious thundering voice. It’s hungry. The eyes of the furry hunter lock onto the young Christian. It charges. Clumps of sand fly up into the air as the lion’s massive paws dig into the ground. It has found its prey. The lion lunges at the Christian with bared teeth. The Christian dodges quickly and manages to avoid the sharp saliva wet teeth of the lion. The Christian, with clasped fists, pounds down hard on the neck of the lion as it passes by. The lion, stunned, trips and falls. The Christian pounces onto the back of the lion, grabs its lower jaw, and with a strong purposeful twist breaks its neck.

 

Sweat drips heavily down the face of the triumphant Christian. The crowd goes wild with displeasure at the survival of this man who calls himself a follower of Christ.

 

 The Christian turns and sees the gate opening again with another large animal emerging. It is another lion, as hungry and ferocious as the one he has just killed. The golden beast heads towards the Believer. Man and beast collide in a mass of flesh and fur. The Christian avoids the initial attack of deadly white teeth, but in the struggle is wounded several times on the arms and legs. Through strength that could only come from God, the Christian is able to gain the advantage and again break the neck of his second adversary.

 

The Christian lays on the hard soil of the coliseum, chest heaving up and down as he gasps for air. He bleeds from a dozen wounds on his exhausted body. More jeers of derision come from the crowds. They have come to see the weak Christians torn to pieces, not lions killed. Their disappointment is evident in their profanity propelled at the man lying on the floor of the arena as they shake their fists in mocking anger at the man of God.

 

The Christian manages to struggle to his feet. He knows his God is near. Oh the love he has for his Lord. Oh the deep love his Lord has for him.

 

The gate opens yet again and a huge orange tiger emerges. The Christian weary from battle attempts to gain another stance of defiance. The tiger is as hungry as his slain lion comrades and heads for the Christian. Muscles ripple beneath orange fur as the tiger races across the arena. Just before the tiger reaches his human prey, the Christian falls to the ground and rolls. The tiger caught off guard, stumbles over the body of the Christian. The Christian taking advantage gets to his feet and mounts the tiger grabbing the massive furry head in his arms. He strains to control the tiger as it attempts to free itself. The Christian hasn’t the strength to complete his task.

 

The Christian senses God’s Spirit speaking. It is time. It is time to go home, time to meet your Master and Lord. Time to rest and leave the worries, the pain, and the torture of this life behind.

 

The Romans have many lions, but he has but one life to give to his Lord.

 

The Christian shouts, “JESUS MY LORD AND SAVIOR!” and releases the head of the tiger and bares his throat to the animal. The animal responds as only he could. He sends the Christian on his way to the mansion that Jesus has prepared for him.

 

The coliseum is deadly quiet.

 

All those present know that they have witnessed a man of God die today.

 

A man of the ONE TRUE God…

 

This is a true story recorded in the historical records of those who have died through the centuries for Jesus Christ our Lord. While I have taken liberties to describe the event, the facts are that such a Christian man died in the Roman coliseum, defeating two wild beasts and then choosing to allow the third to take his life. God grants us faith and strength if we are but willing to be used by Him to glorify Him in all we do. God calls us to a life of faith. Let us live and die for Him.

 

Hebrews 11:32 12:3

“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”