The Martyrs' Grave

Jim Elliott was 28 years old when he was murdered in Ecuador by the very Indians he was bringing the gospel to. Jim wrote in the fly leaf of his Bible the following words which have always challenged me. He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

Think about that friends. Here was a young man along with four other young missionaries who died as martyrs for the sake of souls and the furtherance of the gospel. He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

The biblical translation of this is found in the gospel of John in chapter 12 and in verse 25 which states, He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. I believe God is looking for men and women who are willing to risk their all for Christ and the gospel. God can do wonders with such a person who is willing to gamble their lives away on Christ and trust him with the consequences.

The title of my message this evening friends is The Martyr's Grave. I remember praying many years ago that I would be willing to lay down my life as a martyr for Christ if he so ordered it. I don't know if I'll go out that way or not, if I'll ever have that privilege, but I'm willing to for the cause of Christ and the sake of the gospel.

I believe that the martyr's grave occurs long before a coffin is dropped in there. You get a sense of this from the words of Christ in the preceding verses before our text this evening. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. Yes, friends, I believe the martyr's grave occurs long before a body is dropped in there.

I believe Jim Elliott and his missionary companions counted the cost long before they boarded that plane to the jungles of Ecuador. In their minds, the martyr's grave was already dug and the body was already in it, for they were dead to the world and its allurements and were ready to be poured out like a drink offering for Christ and the gospel if necessary. He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

I'm going to talk about the things we don't want to give up for God. I'm going to talk about the hindrances to usefulness tonight. I believe these hindrances hinge on a door that swings both ways.

On one side of the door is the word self. On the other side of the door is the word preservation. And the hinge that keeps them together is fear.

And that door closes on missed opportunities that God had waiting for us. We didn't want to pass through that door because of the cost involved. We held back.

Self-preservation is the main hindrance, I believe, to usefulness for God. Jesus declared, He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. There are three main areas of self-preservation I'd like to bring before you this evening, friends, and they each center on fear.

We don't serve God as we could because of, Number one, the fear of losing our financial security. You work hard and accumulate an estate and a house and a bank account and an investment portfolio, perhaps. These are the things you're counting on for retirement.

Your security lies in these things. And the last thing you want to do is to lose it all. The fear of not having money or security is a dread that grips your heart.

Don't mistake my words here, friends. I'm not saying that in order to be used to God, you have to lose your financial security. What I'm saying is you have to be willing to lose it if God needs you to for his sake and the gospel.

The martyr's grave begins here in the bank account or wallet. Fear of losing your financial security keeps you back from serving God as you could. Number two, we don't serve God as we could because of the fear of losing our reputation.

We spent years cultivating a good name for ourselves within our community, and we wouldn't want to suffer reproach for Christ's sake because of this fear of losing our reputation. I'm not saying, friends, you have to lose your reputation for Christ, but you have to be willing to. Fear holds you back from going all out for God.

The martyr's grave is dug with the shovel of a lost reputation. Christ hung naked on a scandalous cross, crucified between two criminals. You want to be his follower so long as you don't have to be crucified yourself, if I may so speak.

Number three, the fear of losing a loved one. This is a real fear. Many missionary families were decreased on the mission field as loved ones died from disease or being killed.

The fear of losing a loved one holds you back from serving the one who loved you enough that he gave his life for you. The father gave up his only begotten son so you could live. But this fear of losing someone close to you keeps you back.

F.J. Hegel, the missionary to Mexico. His little toddler, his precious little four-year-old daughter, was poisoned by the very people he was reaching the gospel with. A martyr's grave is dug deep to accommodate all relations who fill it.

I'm not saying you have to lose a loved one to serve God in a greater way. I'm saying you have to be willing to. Fear holds you back.

The swinging door of self-preservation closes on many opportunities to advance the gospel in our generation. Fear is the hinge that holds the door shut. But he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

The things of this world are holding many back while eternity waits. The martyr's grave lies empty in many nations across this globe in many generations. Because the corn of wheat did not want to give up control and drop down into the grave of self-annihilation.

Because of the swinging door of self-preservation hinged on fear of losing something dear by entering into the fellowship of his sufferings. Let us pray.