The Heavenly Man - Consider the Cost

I am reading through a book called "The Heavenly Man".

 

This book is a true story of the life of Liu Zhenying, better known as Brother Yu.

PLEASE READ THIS BOOK IF YOU CAN!!!!!!

I am over half way done and the stories are just so encouraging. Just to see what this brother went through living in China and preaching the Gospel to the people closed in from the Gospel. I thank God for the work He did in brother Yu's life and that his life is an encouragment. The Christian life is not a safe one, it was never meant to be. The Bible is clear on that:

2 Timothy 3:12 - "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted"

Brother Yu lived that life and saw the truth of that in communist China. He was arrested and imprisoned and almost beat to death MANY times in his life. All because he loved Jesus and could not keep his mouth shut about his great Savior. China is still like that to this day.

There is a story in this part of the chapter about a "Sister Yuen" who had been arrested for having a Bible and spreading the gospel. When she was arrested, she was a widow and had two small children. The government brought her children to her at the jail gate and had her look out and said "You have been good thus far so we have decided to let you leave and go to your children. They have no one to care for them. Would not your God want you to care for your own children? Just write down your crimes and say you will stop them". She took the small paper and wrote down -

"Jesus cannot be replaced. Even my own children cannot replace Jesus"

She was sentenced to another 23 years in prison and her children were told by the government that their mother rejected them and did not love them. When she got out of prison her son was 34 years old and living in Tibet. She went to him to see him and talk. He rejected her, screamed that he had no mother, and pushed her out of his house. She has never seen her son again.

INDEED, ALL YOU DESIRE TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS WILL BE PERSECUTED

Here is a direct quote from the book. Page 214:

"The path of following the Lord Jesus Christ is not an easy one. Along the way lies suffering and hardship, but nothing we experience will ever compare to the suffering Jesus endured for us on the cross.

I have a problem with the "prosperity" teaching prevalent today, which tells us if we follow the Lord we'll be safe and comfortable. This is completely contrary to Scripture as well as to our experiences in China. In addition to serving years in prison, I've been arrested about thirty different times for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

To follow God is a call not only to live for him, but to die for him also

'If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord' - Romans 14:8"

Let us ponder on these words of brother in Christ, a man of God because of God's grace and mercy and strength.

Is Jesus worth it?

-Chris