ONE WHO GOT HIS FINGERNAILS TAKEN

A TRUE story

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

Information about Brother Ling obtained from the publication “Voice of the Martyrs Magazine”

 

Matthew 5:11-12

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

 

We all face hardships, but not all of us in America face persecution for our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a different story in many foreign countries. Many governments have passed laws making it illegal to evangelize the lost and share salvation through Christ alone. A man by the name of Ling who lives in China can attest to this fact.

 

Members of the police in China or the “Public Security Bureau” had watched Ling for many months. They tracked his activities that reflected his pursuit to introduce others to Christ as Savior. When they could no longer stand his righteous proselytizing they raided his home. There in his meager living quarters was the evidence they needed, large amounts of Christian contraband, Bibles, Christian literature, He Lived Among Us Gospel storybooks, Christian video discs and other materials. What angered them the most was these materials had been produced inside Mainland China and had not been brought in by missionaries. They knew they must discover who had printed and reproduced such materials. The interrogation began immediately.

 

“Where did these things come from?” shouted a policeman.

 

“Who are you working with?” yelled the other.

 

“Who gives you the money to buy such items?” demanded another policeman.

 

Ling was surrounded but not overwhelmed. He knew the Holy Spirit would guide him in what to do and he prayed as he stood in the middle of the shouting policemen. He could never divulge the names of any of his brothers and sisters in Christ. They would surely be persecuted as well if he revealed any of their identities. The shouting of the policemen grew louder. Their tone of voice grew harsh and cruel. Then the threats of physical harm fell upon his ears.

 

Ling sat silently at the mercy of the policemen but full of grace from the Lord. His only response to their persistent questioning was silence. This incensed them and they grabbed his hands and placed them on the edge of a table. One by one they pulled out his fingernails, all ten of them. The pain was almost unbearable but Ling knew what the Lord was calling him to do. He must remain silent to protect his fellow servants so that others might come to knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior. Giving into the policemen would not bring glory to his precious Savior, but resisting would honor His Lord and King.

 

Unsuccessful in obtaining the information they desired the policemen took Ling into custody and he was sent to a “re-education labor camp.” While there he endured even further physical sufferings. He was beaten often and his body burned with cigarettes. But no matter what form of torture or coercion they used he refused to deny his faith.

 

Finally after three years he was released and the “re-education” efforts had proved fruitless in removing Ling’s resolve to remain a child of God, a servant of the Most High, a man of God sealed with the Holy Spirit.

 

No sooner had Ling hit the streets of freedom and he was back at his ministry of distributing Christian literature. He was now known not as Ling, but as “The One Who Got His Fingernails Taken.”

 

It is hard for us as free American citizens to understand this type of experience. Some might say that we are spoiled in the United States with religious freedoms that know no boundaries. Yes, we have our difficulties in sharing our faith. Sometimes we have lost friends and jobs because we shared our faith. Rarely have we had to put our physical safety and lives on the line for our Savior. We are blessed with this lack of persecution, or are we? Is it possible that the reason we often struggle in remaining faithful to our Lord in the land of the free is that we are not strengthened by hardships that test our faith? I’m not saying we should seek out persecution and physical torture to grow strong in the Lord. But do we have a calling to strive to spiritually thrive in America where we have the abundant religious freedoms that we do?

 

Ling’s stand for Jesus Christ is an example of someone who did not let hardship and sacrifice snuff out his desire to spread the gospel. I know Ling’s desire is to live out Matthew 5:43-45 where it says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” 

 

True Christians are motivated by the power of God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to love even those who persecute them. Those of us who are not under severe persecution should thank God for this blessing and pray for those who are enduring such hardships.

 

We who live with abundant material possessions should assist those who are less fortunate, especially our Christian brothers and sisters. In Acts 2:44 we are told of how Christians lived in the first century. It states, “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” In today’s world the Christian community is worldwide and we should share our financial resources and possessions with those across the continents. In the comfort of our homes here in America we can pray for such people as Ling who are serving Christ just like us but live in more Spartan living conditions.

 

Ling serves as an example for us in how we can live for our Savior in any situation no matter how others treat us. We can do this; not in our own strength, but in the strength that God gives us through His Spirit with the encouragement of His Word and the empowerment that comes from the prayers of our fellow servants in Christ.

 

No matter what you or I face in this life we are conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37). We are living sacrifices for our Lord (Romans 12:1). We know that through the struggles we face God will make us strong (1 Peter 5:10). We are encouraged by the faith of those around us (Romans 1:12). We survive hardships, endure persecution, overcome adversity, defeat evil and bring great honor and glory to our God when we seek to obey Him and serve others. 2 Corinthians 4:8-11 says it well when it states,

 

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”

 

May God bless you this week as you bring glory to God when you endure your own particular situations of testing, serve others in the love of Christ and pray for the saints wherever they may be.