To live is CHRIST, to die is GAIN

“They triumphed over him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; 
they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” –Rev: 12:11

This past week at the Kanakuk Institute we studied Church History. Over three days we started with the Great Commission and ended in present times. It was so interesting to learn how the different denominations began and how different theologians have inspired us and have led us to a deeper understanding of the Lord.

One of my favorite parts of the week though, would have to be the stories of all the people who had given their lives for what they believe in. There are so many incredible stories of how time and time again, followers of Christ were asked to recant from their faith in Jesus Christ in order that they might live, but they never did. These are my heroes. I pray, that if faced with the same decision, I too, would have the faith and strength to stand up for Jesus.

One of the men that was mentioned this week in class was a man by the name of Adoniram Judson. Andoniram Judson became one of the first missionaries to the country of Burma, where he and his wife would continuously suffer trials for the sake of bringing the gospel to the Burmese people. Immediately upon entering Burma, Judson and his wife, Ann, began language studies. But it wouldn’t be until 5 years later that Judson would have a first convert into Christianity.

As the gospel spread throughout Burma and Judson’s completion of translating the Gospel into Burmese was complete, opposition began to rise. Most of the opposition came from the war between Burma and the British East Indian government. The Burmese skepticism of Judson and his western heritage, led them to arrest him and his colleague in 1824. They were then taken to a death prison where they were repeatedly tortured. For eleven months they were kept here, only surviving starvation through the daily visits form Judson’s wife who would bring them as much food as was allowed.

After eleven months in this prison, Judson was moved to an even worse prison. He would be in this prison for six months, again only surviving by his wife’s visits. Judson prison guards were forbidden to execute him due to his phenomenal language skills that the Burmese desired to use for negotiations in the war. Eventually, they would release Judson as a result of British involvement.

Immediately following his release, Judson continued tirelessly in missionary work. However, this wasn’t the end to his trials. His wife would die a few months following his release from prison. He would eventually remarry, many years later to a woman named Sarah Boardman. But after having children together, she too would die leaving him with children to raise on his own.

It would be years later, before Judson would again remarry. He and his third wife served tirelessly in Burma for years sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ boldly. Incredibly enough, Judson’s goal was to share with 100 people and that 100 Burmese would come to know Christ. But as a result of his faithful obedience to the Lord’s calling on his life to live in Burma, over 3,000 Burmese would come to have personal relationships with the Lord Jesus.

Judson would eventually die of a disease. But his faithful obedience to follow the Lord has led Burma to have thousands of Baptist Churches there today. Judson’s story is one of remarkable suffering, but in the midst of it all, his legacy will be remembered forever as one who daily died to self, and gave up his life for the cause of Christ. Adoniram Judson is just one of many heroes of the faith who believed that Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross for us was worth laying down their own lives for the sake of others.