Thanks for joining me today. I hope you read part one of these two blogs (maybe three). It is the “kick-start” to a series of events that help me keep time with Him as my priority. By prompting me to include my book “Blue Skies, Butterflies, & Battlegrounds” in my early time with Him, the Lord used my poems, “Gain”, “Liking Stuff”, and “Distractions” again for some more soul-searching and answered questions. I hope these events will do the same for you.

So, my next big event of the day was to listen to the testimony of a South Korean pastor. He and his family are prime examples of a life totally surrendered to the Lord. His testimony itself was the catalyst for a deep examination of my own life. This pastor spoke of the dangers of the people allowing government control that chips away at our freedom of religion in particular. You can view the entire message on YouTube @RealLife.JackHibbs THE HIDDEN PLANS OF THE ENEMY.

Although South Korea is still considered a “free” country, this pastor recounted the battle he faced to keep his mega church open during COVID. This battle included 40 hearings over six years. Later, he was indicted on 12 charges for criticizing the government for trying to pass laws promoting immoral acts and plans to shut down churches and alternative schools that teach Biblical truths. He was sent to jail. As he described his cruel environment, it was difficult for me to imagine. ☹Picture in your mind a prison cell, single confinement, less than three feet wide. There is no chair, no mattress, only bugs! How inhumane! Animals live better than this!

The most incredible part of his testimony was his statement about being persecuted for Christ. During his incarceration, he made this statement that I will do my best to quote…

“In my heart, sincerely and genuinely, I was so grateful and happy being able to be persecuted to glorify God and protect freedom to worship and freedom of religion. It’s something I always dreamed about.”

He is now out on parole and does not know what his future holds, but this man is so grounded in Christ that nothing will shake his faith.

Now, how many of us will stand up and fight for freedom and Christianity like this man? He reminded us that all of us who are free enjoy it because someone fought for it and won. Our freedom came with a price. And I want to remind us that Jesus fought for us to be free from sin and death. He won the battle, and it came with a price! Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

As I considered this question again, “What would remain?”, my thoughts returned to verses in my poems I referenced in Part 1.  I looked at the scripture references after my poem “Gain”. I chose a few to share.

Matthew 16:24-26 NKJV  “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

I’d say this pastor has denied himself, has taken up his cross and followed Jesus. He lost his life (worldly gains) for Christ and found eternal life with Him! Taking up our cross means fully committing to following Jesus by giving up our own selfish desires, accepting hardship or rejection for His sake, and being ready to sacrifice our own plans for life or even physical life if needed.

And the next scripture that stood out to me was Mark 10:45 NKJV: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  

There again…“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”

The next poem that came to mind in Part 1 of this blog was “Liking Stuff”. In Matthew 6:19-20, the Lord is telling us where to and where not to store our treasures and why. 6: 21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. There is no doubt where this South Korean Pastor’s heart is.

I would be remiss if I didn’t answer that question for myself. Does this remind you of Psalm 139? V1 “Oh Lord, You have searched me and known me.” How about you?  Should I continue? I believe I should because it is good that we are examined under the Light of God’s Word. It is Light Unto Our Path and the Bread of Life. And oftentimes another believer’s testimony is the catalyst for this examination. So stay with me, please.

The last poem I referenced was “Distractions”. In Proverbs (also known as the book of wisdom), verses  4:20-22 say, “My son, pay attention to what I say, turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body”.

Isn’t this a better understanding of the importance of His Word and making time with Him our priority? We never know what we will face in the future. We desperately need to hear this man of great faith’s testimony and warning here in America and, in my opinion, in every free nation in the world. But be not hearers only, but doers of the Word.

This day continued to bring examples of life situations that sparked the realization that all could be stripped away…

“Or, suppose all was stripped away, instead of laying it down,

Could my faith remain with nothing else around?”

I am eager to tell in Part 3 of the following occurrence this incredible day.  There was a lot to consider in one day. So I hope you will continue to ask yourselves with me these questions… “What is gain?” and “What would remain?” Knowing this… we do not know what our future holds. Could our testimony be as this South Korean Pastor’s? “In my heart, sincerely and genuinely, I was so grateful and happy being able to be persecuted to glorify God and protect freedom to worship and freedom of religion. It’s something I always dreamed about.”

Father God, forgive us for taking our freedoms for granted. Help us fight to keep what others fought so hard for. Especially Your Son Jesus, for it is in His Holy name that we pray. Amen

Reba

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