killed at Columbine High School immediately after
she answered "yes" when asked if she believed in God
"If you stand true to Jesus Christ you will find
that the world will react against you with a butt,
not with a caress, annoyed and antagonistic."
~ Oswald Chambers
Vindication
"And I will give power to my two witnesses ... they will prophesy ... fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies ... These have power to shut heaven ... and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire."
~ Revelation 11:3-6 (NKJV)
Imagine what faithfulness these two witnesses must have demonstrated, that God turns over the keys to His power. They have so closely aligned their will with God’s will that He allows them to kill whomever threatens them, and to destroy the earth according to their own desire.
What is the final challenge to such great faithfulness and power? The two fight the beast of the bottomless pit, they are overcome and killed, and they are denied the dignity of burial so that their many enemies may hold grandiose celebration around their decomposing bodies.
When we are faithful, we may anticipate that God will trust us with power to testify on His behalf—and perhaps allow us to suffer for His name’s sake. We could conceivably endure public humiliation or death.
Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
~ Revelation 11:11-12 (NKJV)
The vindication of the two faithful witness will be public resurrection and ascension into Heaven, before the eyes of all who hate them.
If being a Christian causes us to experience any disrespect—however small or great—we can likewise anticipate a day of vindication and reward from our God.
The Lord forgets only our sins, not our gifts of faith and love.
Lord, please teach us to be faithful, that we might be found worthy of Your use. Please strengthen us to not shrink back from any form of ridicule or maltreatment, if it is for the sake of Your great name.
I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: sheppro.com
Amen. We receive a blessing when others curse us for Christ. BTW, I'd love to hear your theory on who those two witnesses might be.
ReplyDeleteI love remembering that God will handle all vindication so much more appropriately and just than anyone on earth could.
ReplyDeleteProvides comfort.
~ Wendy
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAmen, let us be faithful, not fearful.
ReplyDeleteblessed are you when men persecute you for my sake .... blessings take unusual forms sometimes ...
ReplyDeletethe cup intact, a note on the way ... :-)
What a hope that is. Thanks Anne.
ReplyDeleteAmen to your prayer.
ReplyDeleteT ~
ReplyDeleteThe general consensus is Moses and Elijah. I'm inclined to guess Elijah and Enoch—the only two men who have yet to suffer death—since it is "appointed for men to die once ..." Enoch gets more than one mention in the NT.
Wendy ~
ReplyDeleteI think knowing God is the One to hold vindication gives us greater freedom to forgive.
Patty ~
ReplyDeleteI've endured very occasional ridicule from those who don't put faith in Christ. But judgment and condemnation have come more often from Christians—or those who call themselves such. Nonetheless, I am more inclined to work in love and unity than feed the beast with criticism. When I am inclined to point a finger, I remind myself that "satan" means "accuser," and I do not wish to ally myself with him in tearing down the church.
I often wonder how peculiar my blog title seems. But never again do I want to be part of tearing down others. May I be faithful to a calling of building up His body.
Denise ~
ReplyDeleteAlways. Amen.
Susan ~
ReplyDelete"In difficult moments, trust God."
Glad to know you're holding those words. : )
Jason ~
ReplyDeleteHope. Yes, once again, hope sustains.
Natasa ~
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear. My love to you.
Anne,
ReplyDeleteI've always been captured by the story of that faithful young woman at Columbine. What a testimony she has for us, what strength of faithful character, and how mightily God has used her story to remind us that the days of martyrs has not yet passed, and will not pass until the very End.
God bless you, Anne, and thank you for this excellent post.
Gwen ~
ReplyDeleteI read the book and loved Cassie's story. We wore out the T-shirt she inspired, which said simply, in tall letters,
YES, I
BELIEVE