After a recent trip to Prague, Czech Republic to visit our missionaries the Rettigs and the church there, this phrase from the song “Am I a Soldier of the Cross,” has been going through my mind. The entire song is WELL worth meditating on, but for time and space here, I will just include verse two.
Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to
win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
After once again visiting with the handful of precious people in the church in Prague, I was reminded anew, what spoiled Christians we all are here in the United States. In the same way that it is easy to take for granted all we have physically and monetarily in this country, we can also do the same in our spiritual lives.
Not every church receives the spiritual meals that we here at New Testament Baptist receive each and every week, but as a whole in our country, if you want to find a church that preaches the true Gospel, if you look, you can find it! In the spiritually bankrupt country of Czech Republic, there are maybe a handful of preachers there, preaching the Truth. The country is steeped in atheism, and consequently, the oppression that goes along with it when a person and nation is without God.
The dear people who have been reached with the Gospel of Christ there in Prague, have such an appreciation for their salvation, and where and what they’ve been brought out from! They truly knew NOTHING about Who Jesus is, and what He did so that they could be saved from their sins, until the Lord led them to the Rettigs. The Rettigs then spent countless hours with each one, showing them first, WHO Jesus is, and then secondly, who they were, and what Jesus did that they might be saved from their sins. Because of this, when you talk to them, you are struck with first, their humility and thankfulness for their salvation, and then the huge burden they have for their lost friends and loved ones. They know and understand personally, the great spiritual darkness and deception that the people in their country live in. They understand HOW MUCH they need God’s power to work and move in their lives and the lives of those they witness to. Three of the men in particular, will come every Friday evening to the Rettigs, kneel down on the carpet with their faces to the floor, and pray for several hours for the many needs there in Czech Republic and for those here at New Testament Baptist in Larimore , N.D. When I heard this, I was immediately humbled and ashamed. How much more these people understand the spiritual warfare in their new Christian lives, than so many of us who are living here in our “flowerly beds of ease.” We take it for granted that each time we come to church we will hear a good message and see the many familiar faces of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We even take them for granted at times, and look with judgment on one another, because we’ve lost our love and appreciation not only for them, but for the gift from God that they are!
The small assembly in Prague prays and begs God for visitors who will come and not just visit, but continue to seek for the Truth that is in God’s word. One of the young women in the church stated that every time she goes out, her heart just breaks for people and she has to give them a tract or something! She remembers where she used to be - so lost, and living under the burden of her sin.
Do WE remember where we used to be and feel that same burden when we see the lost, or have we become encumbered with the business and materialism of this life? I know I stand guilty. With all that is in me though, I do not want to lose what I have seen and learned from these dear brothers and sisters in Christ. They might be new to the truths of God’s word and the Christian life, but they understand already, the spiritual battle we are in. I believe we have much to learn from them. The next time I feel afraid to say something to someone when God is prompting me, may God remind me of those people in Prague. While brothers and sisters around the world are fighting for the cause of Christ and enduring persecution, I do NOT want to be content living on “flowerly beds of ease.” My Lord suffered unto death for ME. How much more does He deserve in return?
Ephesians 5:15-16 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
3 comments:
Cherith, thank you for your article! It brought tears to my eyes...your words perfectly describe people that we love and admire. Emilie
Thank you for posting this... I need this perspective adjustment, especially as the new college semester begins. I want to keep the priority of my life living in and for Christ first place.
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