Thursday 10 September 2015

What do you pursue?

God is grand in designing examples for us to follow. His designs of examples sometimes baffle us, challenge us for sure, shock us and at other times engulf us in total shame.
Oh yes! Take a trip through the books of the Bible, the examples that God sets before us are often unscalable epitomes, especially the youth. The valiant young David, the blameless Joseph, the fastidious Daniel et al.

Recently I came across a trenchant story of a young woman by name Vibia Perpetua. Young at 22 years of age she was with a newborn child and was arrested for being a Christian. She was anticipating persecution because of her Christian faith. During his visits, her father implored her to renounce faith in this new and dangerous religion. But her determination was invincible. She never did sway even to her own father's relentless pleading or coaxing. Her father must be thoroughly convinced that just like every other youth she must have been not only deluded but injudiciously adamant as well. Something incongruent has taken over her mind. But did it? Absolutely not! Rather something profound had happened to her. Something ethereal. Perpetua knew that the celestial city Christians called Heaven had taken residence in her heart. The world around her paled in significance when apposed with the little heaven inside her heart. So magnificent was the influence of her new heart that even death cowered at her stance.

Vibia Perpetua lived in a city called Carthage in the country of Tunisia. It grew to be the second largest city in the western half of the Roman Empire. It was the center of the Roman province of Africa. It became a center of early Christianity. Paula Fredriksen, Boston University says that pagan rituals were part of the normal fabric of life in Roman city. Jews were exempted from performing these pagan sacrifices but the Christians were not. It was not a criminal offense to be a Christian but you've got to have a chit that says that you have sacrificed for the well-being of the empire. Christians responded to this mandate in various ways. Some sent their servants to do it for them. Some bribed a friend who was a magistrate to get the chit without performing the act. Some even sacrificed knowing that these gods were nothing after all. But there were some people who really didn't budge to this insanity of the empire, like Perpetua. By being audaciously defiant they got the attention of the Governors.

While enjoying a fellowship breakfast with her fellow Christian prisoners, Perpetua was summoned by Governor Hilarianus for a hearing. Perpetua's father was present there. With tears welling up in his eyes and for the last time he desperately tried to save his daughter by persuading her to recant faith in Christianity. But as always had been the case, Perpetua with a heavy heart denied to heed to her old father.

Hilarianus asked "Are you a Christian?". "Yes, I am". With that chilling confession, Perpetua sealed her own end when the Governor sentenced her to be given over to the beasts. Now all kinds of predators were used to have these Christians killed like lions, tigers, boars, leopards, bears etc. These Christians even discussed what kind of animals they should be mauled by. It was sheer joy for them to die this gruesome death for the sake of their Saviour.

On that day Perpetua and her friends were brought to the arena in the presence of a restless, blood-thirsty mob. Rather than being petrified they warned the mob of the impending judgement of God if they didn't submit to Jesus. Then all kinds of animals were unleashed. Perpetua was knocked down by a mad heifer and then she was mauled by other animals too. In the end, Perpetua took the trembling hand of a gladiator with a sword and assisted him to reach her throat to be cut.

In her youthful age, Perpetua persistently sought to lose her life so that she may gain it. She smiled at death's face trusting her Lord. She was uncompromising and undaunted when threatened about following Jesus. She could have opted for the many ways to make a sacrifice and have her life spared especially from a gory death like this. But she didn't. In fact she was gladly welcoming a death like that. A great life, a great epitome of faith and wisdom. In her youth she pursued suffering for her Lord rather than pleasure. What about you?

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