A man will give all he has for his own life. (Job 2:4)
While serving in Cambodia I heard about Haim and his wife, two Christians who were killed because of their faith.
Someone threw shovels at them. “Pick up those shovels!” came the command.
Two Khmer Rouge soldiers then led Haim and his wife into the jungle where they were to dig their own graves! The soldiers had been commanded to get Haim and his wife to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, since the Khmer Rouge saw Christianity as being poison to “the glorious revolution.”
The soldiers had a plan. If the soldiers threatened Haim and his wife with death, wouldn’t they give up their faith in a Western God?
While he was digging, Haim urged his captors to repent and accept Christ as their Savior. Instead of being angry and afraid of death, Haim was speaking to his captors with compassion.
One of the soldiers, after listening to Haim for a while, yelled at him, “Stop talking about Jesus. We do not want to hear about him anymore! Tell us now that you will give up being a Christian or die.”
Haim replied, “We are ready to go!”
The two soldiers were too stunned to pull their triggers. Even after being threatened with
death, these “Christians” were not going to change their minds. Eventually, it was the commander who came and shot Haim and his wife.
Be prepared to hold onto your faith in the face of death.
Jim “Umf” Lo is a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, cross-cultural leader, intercessor, and author of several books published by Wesleyan Publishing House.
© 2021 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
