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How to get your head chopped off

(Garth D. Wiebe, 7/12/1991, posted to website in 1998)

(A parody on a Dallas Theological Seminary tract entitled "How to have a happy and meaningful life")

Many people are experiencing a happy and meaningful life. This life consists of:

a good time
friends
lots of money
doing something worthwhile
getting to the top

In contrast, the following is said about some of the early Christians:

"Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property..." (Heb 10:33-34)

"Others were tortured and refused to be released... 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." (Heb 11:35-38)

According to the Bible, look what being a Christian may offer you:

persecution - people who will treat you unjustly for your faith
bodily injury - people who will physically harm you
loss of property - people who will take your worldly possessions
loss of standard of living - people who will deny you jobs and money
ridicule - people who will make a laughingstock out of you

After having been betrayed by one who was his disciple, the Lord Jesus was turned over to the authorities, who had him sentenced to death on some trumped up charges and false testimony. He had his back ripped to shreds by leather whips laced with bits of stone and glass. His face was marred past the point of recognition by repeatedly being struck by the fists of his captors, who also mocked him and spit on him. His head was bloodied by a crown of thorns made up of barbed wire. He was made to carry a Roman cross to Golgatha, outside of Jerusalem. His hands and feet were nailed to this cross with iron stakes. Upon the cross, Jesus died a slow, painful, horrible death.

Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" (Matt 16:24-26)

This Jesus died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve. He was buried, and then he rose up from the dead after having been in the grave for three days and three nights. He is the Lord of heaven and earth, and he sits at the right hand of God, waiting to bring terrible judgment to those who do not receive him, and salvation to those who would place their faith in him.

God is satisfied with what Jesus Christ has done. What will be your response?

Wouldn't you like to trust Jesus Christ and join the ranks of those who would gladly forfeit the "happy and meaningful life" that they are experiencing, so that they can gain an eternity with Jesus?

"And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God..." (Rev 20:4)