The Crimson Gate to Eternal Bliss

Hello guys! This is my essay for the Reformation day celebration contest.

So they found him guilty, according to their laws. And after endless indignities, they burned him at the stake. Thus Faithful met his end. But I saw in my dream that, behind the crowds, there stood a chariot and horses waiting for Faithful, who (as soon as his enemies had done with him) was taken up into it, and wafted through the clouds to the sound of trumpets. So, in truth, he fared better than his friend Christian. He would arrive first at the Celestial City, and, having been faithful unto death, the King would give him a crown of life.

Martyr means witness or testimony. When John Bunyan penned these words in his Pilgrims Progress, he was in prison. He was willing to be a faithful, unwavering witness even when everything was stacked against him. Saints in times past have been ready to face death or torture for the gospel of Christ. Saints today face the same fate. They stand bold, firm, and true. This scene in Vanity Fair illustrates a painful yet glorious reality that saints past, present, and future have been and must be faithful unto death, receiving as their reward eternal rest with their beloved King.
In the story Bunyan says, “Faithful met his end” but it clearly isn’t the end of his story. The finale of his story is exiting this fallen world and being brought into the Celestial City. Through this bloody murder, eternal life was ushered in. Proceeding his death, he was a pilgrim. He had come to follow Christian on his quest for the Celestial City. As they traveled, they came to a town called Vanity, where a fair is held year round. After much mockery, the townspeople had Christian and Faithful arrested and later brought to court. In court, Faithful was accused ferociously. After the accusations had stopped the judge gave Faithful a chance to speak in his own defense. He proudly and gloriously proclaimed his King and Sovereign. This meant death and he knew it. But that fact did not alter his message nor discourage it. He was found guilty according to their laws and sentenced to death. Before death he was tortured and suffered greatly. When these had ceased he was burned at the stake. Due to his faithfulness unto death he would receive a crown of life.
The high and worthy calling of martyrdom is not for the faint of heart. Martyrs have been giving their lives for the sake of Christ and his gospel for centuries, Jesus himself said, “...if they persecute me, they will also persecute you...”
Not very long after Christ arose the first martyr died for him. Stephen was a deacon, a servant of the church. He is described as being filled with the Holy Spirit. Because of his witness he was brought before many leaders in Jerusalem. Like Faithful he was given a chance to defend himself. The sermon he preached was one of the best preached in history. Infuriated by his words, they sentenced him to death and stoned him. As he was about to enter his blessed rest he said “Behold! I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Polycarp lived in first century Rome and was a student of the apostles. He was also a minister to the churches planted by them. He traveled to the sites of churches all over the known world to preach the gospel and encourage the brothers. During one of these trips he was arrested and brought before a tribunal. When he did not recant he was brought to the arena and told to swear by the fortunes of Caesar. ‘He replied, “Since you are vainly urgent that, as you say, I should swear by the fortune of Caesar, and pretend not to know who or what I am, hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian.” His testimony condemned him and he was burned at the stake. Painful as it was, he met Christ that very instant and was rewarded for his faithfulness.
John Huss was a Bohemian priest in 1415. He preached boldly from God’s Word and was a great threat to the church leaders of is day. Because of his beliefs he was arrested and thrown into prison. After nineteen months, he was told he would be executed. He was given a last chance to recant. As he was tied to the stake where he would be burned, he said, “What error should I renounce? I am guilty of no wrong. I taught all men repentance and remission of sins, according to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that gospel I am here, with cheerful mind and courage, ready to suffer death. What I taught with my lips I now seal with my blood.” Huss died that day, he “met his end”, but oh the crown that awaited him.
Gao Zhisheng is a Christian Activist in China. He supported Christians and helped get legal help for those who needed it. The Chinese government arrested him and he was held in a secluded place. After a few months he was returned to his family with stories of endless torture, and a warning not to continue his work. Being faithful to his calling, he continued. He was again arrested and has not been seen by his family for many months now.
Asia Bibi is a mother of two living in Pakistan. She was arrested in June 2009 on blasphemy charges because co-workers said she told them about Christ being the true prophet of God. Those women she worked with beat her before turning her over to the police. On November of 2010 she was sentenced to death. Recently Asia found that one of her captors is a Christian and he has allowed her to have her Bible in her cell. She has not recanted and is being faithful with death looming. A joyous rest will be found on the day she enters heaven.
Martyrs are a large part of God’s plan for this world. In fact, one of the signs of the end of the world shall be that all martyrs have died according to his plan. “When he opened th fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice saying, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on earth?’ Then they were each given a white robe and told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”-Revelation 6:9-11
Christians of all time have been, and are, willing to die for the gospel. The allegory of Faithful is a reminder that should bring us to our knees. Are we willing to suffer even a little discomfort for Christ’s sake? We should be asking God to give us boldness and courage. Are we bold enough to face a court full of men like Lord Hate-Good, Mr. No Good, Mr. Heady, and Mr. Cruelty among others? What would we say if faced with the same fate? I hope and pray that given the opportunity, we would give Christ all the honor and glory he deserves. All of the honor whatever the expense to us. The reward in heaven would make whatever suffering void. The pain and hurt would pale in comparison to the glory and joy we would find when entering Eternal Bliss.