Would You be Willing to Die?

By Patrick Hawthorne

“Would you be willing to die for your faith?”  That was a question I asked myself the other day.  “Pat, if it came down to it, would you be willing to die for a God who you have never seen?  Would you be willing to suffer the pain of being beat and humiliated for your faith all based on things you have read from a book?  Would you be willing to suffer fire, sword, imprisonment…?”

Tough questions, if we are really honest about it.  Even the disciples, who walked with the Living Word (Jesus) for three years ran when their faith was put to the test.  Granted, they were not yet filled with the Holy Spirit, but less men had died defending less causes.  What was different?

What got me to thinking about this was that I had just read a sermon written by John G. Lake from 1922.  In this sermon he wrote, “The reason men lived for the Word of God and died for the Word of God, the reason they were ready to endure dungeon, fire, and sword was because of the fact that the Word of God became a living reality to them – not just a theory.”

“…the Word of God became a living reality to them – not just a theory.”

From my initial question, more questions arose.  “Is the Word of God a reality or simply a theory to me?” Do I believe the whole of the Word or just the parts I find flavorful?  Do I believe the whole of the Word or just what my denomination, my pastor, my doctrine tells me to believe?

I know my answer.  What about you?  Be blessed.

^“29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, ³⁰ by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:29-31 NKJV)