We honor Christian martyrs because they offer the supreme sacrifice for the sake of Jesus. But martyrdom is not for a heroic few. We are all called to be martyrs.
The Greek word “martyr” means witness, and we should hear the full legal force of that word. History is a great trial in which God prosecutes sin and vindicates His justice through Jesus. We all testify to God’s faithfulness and justice and the love of Jesus by our words and life. No matter what the cost, we bear witness to the truth.
The costs might be very high. We might lose opportunities for financial success. We might give up profits to make sure that our employees can care for their families. We might lose clients because we won’t compromise. If we love life, we must die, not only to sin but to good things that stand in the way of witness.
Lent is a season for training martyrs, but it is not for that reason a season of defeatism. On the contrary, in union with Jesus we “overcome because of the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.” We overcome when we “do not love life even to death” (Revelation 12:11).
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