Extreme Places - Romania:

(Pastor Richard Wurmbrand)

Richard Wumbrand, a Romanian pastor who suffered

 in prison for fourteen years, once told a story that he

had heard from a fellow prisoner. It had helped him

through his most difficult times of
torture.

The brother told him: " I once went to a circus and

 witnessed a most impressive scene. A sharpshooter

 placed a burning candle on his wife's head. he then

stepped out of the center of the arena and, from
quite a distance, shot the candle off her head.

After the show was over. I approached her and asked if

she was ever afraid the arrow would strike her. She

replied, ' Why should I be? He was aiming at the

candle, not at me."

When Pastor Wumbrand heard this story he thought,

" Why should I be afraid of the torturers? They

don't aim at me, They may beat my body but my real

being is Christ within. I am seated with him in
heavenly places, and therefore they cannot touch

my real person. From this incredible viewpoint I

can look down and see the futility of their
efforts."

Pastor Wumbrand lived through
years of suffering and had neared death many times.

But he was encouraged with this simple lesson and

even flourished spiritually because he knew his place

with Christ was secure, no matter what
happened to his body.

Persecution, though indescribably painful, has

its limits. Neither physical nor emotional trauma

can destroy the deepest parts of who we
are.

What we carry on the inside is the most valuable

 part of ourselves- our souls. Christ's spirit lives

within us and protects our soul from emotional

and physical harm. True, our enemies may strike

us and even kill our bodies.

However, when our enemies take
a swipe at us, they are really mangling the name

of Christ- the one who lives within. And he can

never die again.

However personal and pointed the opposition, it is

really a part of a bigger picture. The battle may involve

us. but it concerns an over arching war between

 good and evil.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute

you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you

because of me. Matthew 5:11

Extreme Devotions:

 The Voice of the Martyrs Daily Devotional

Stories of Ancient to Modern Day Believers

Who Sacrificed Everything for Christ

Back to Inspirational Poems and Stories

Bye 4 Now!

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