Hundreds of thousands of Christians risk their lives daily, for their faith in Jesus Christ. We're not talking about believers mentioned in Scripture, but believers that are alive today. Here in America, in Montana we know no such persecution.
One such modern day martyr is Richard Wurmbrand of Bartlesville Oklahoma. In 1937 Richard and his wife Sabina were Jews living in an obscure Romanian village, when a godly old carpenter named Christian Wolfkes began praying for and witnessing to this young couple, and within a year this man and woman dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ. In 1941, during the Nazi terror, Richard Wurmbrand was now a young Pastor, and he and his wife Sabina were now victims of repeated arrests and beatings. Sabina's entire family perished in the mass extermination of Jews. In 1956 Richard was imprisoned for his faith and suffered horrific tortures, but after his release, he resumed his witnessing and preaching. In 1965 the Wurmbrands, along with their young son and eventually made their way to America and in 1967 a magazine known as THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS was birthed. In the November 1997 issue of the magazine, Richard wrote the following:
"and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. John 11:26 Let me tell you about a girl my wife, Sabina met while she was in prison. Sabina was in a prison cell with some 20 or 30 ladies. Among them was a young girl of perhaps 20, who had been sentenced to death for her faith. Her day had come to be executed. The executions always took place at midnight. It was her last evening and the guards had brought in some food. All of the women in the cell were hungry, but no one cared to eat, as they all pitied the young, beautiful girl. Her face began to shine. Then she lifted her dishes of food and said,,, "I have a fiancée. I love him wholeheartedly and he loves me. He hoped that one day I would be in his embraces. But tonight I will be shot, and after a few hours my body will become clay, just like the clay out of which this dish has been made. Who knows what has gone into it? Perhaps what has been the dreaming eye of a lover? After a few more years, my body will have decomposed, but my spirit will not die. I have had many physical bodies, such as that of an embryo, an infant, a young girl, and now a woman. But I am an eternal spirit, and that cannot be killed. Jesus said,' whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die' and I believe these words of Jesus. I believe them more than the rifles, which will be stretched out. I believe the words of Jesus more than the bullets, which will enter my heart. I believe them more than the open grave, which awaits me. For me this grave is a doorway to a heavenly city. Who can tell the beauty of that city? There sadness is not known. No one ever weeps or sighs. There is only joy and song. Everyone is dressed in white robes of righteousness because of their faith. We can see God face to face. There are such joys that human language cannot express."
A few minutes before midnight, the prison guards came to take her As she walked toward her death, she began reciting the Christian creed. We have seen Christians walking to their death with songs on their lips. They were going to their Beloved One. Why should I weep and why should I be sad? It is a joy for them to sacrifice themselves for Christ, knowing that Christ has sacrificed Himself for them. Love has been His promise. How terrible to marry when one loves and the other does not! How terrible when Christ loves us and we do not love Him! He loves us with a flame of ardent love; so our love must be for Him.
The ladies who had remained behind in prison were in tears. They heard a few shots. The poor Communists believed they had killed her. They did not know that they had sent her into the embraces of her Heavenly Bridegroom. We have eternal life through Christ. All who put their trust in God's provision can be happy and joyous, because our life will be eternal. That is the message I bring you out of prison in captive nations. Each one of you knows suffering. Each one of you has also had joys in this life. Discover the joy of following Jesus wherever He leads.
Sincerely in Christ Richard Wurmbrand