While populating the electronic form for a tourist visa there was a field labeled Religion * with the asterisk indicating a required field. It is a strange and even uncomfortable thing to consider that to go to this place, you absoutely must indicate your religious beliefs. This caused me to pause for a moment as we are traveling to a communist nation that is not very tolerant of Christians. The pause brought me to reflection as to the importance of the answer, an eternal answer not to be taken lightly.
While I wanted to be smarty and say “I am not religious, I am a follower of Jesus Christ”, I typed “Christian”. So many thoughts went through my mind while I responded. Just one word with so much meaning and power. Follower of Jesus Christ. Forgiven. Chosen. Child of God. No power on this earth or beyond, no government, no one can take this away. The application was submitted without shame or fear as our God is eternal and all-powerful and he will be there with us.
And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. (Revelation 17:6)
There have been Christian martyrs before and there will be many to come. They all typed “Christian” and are (or will be) washed clean and deemed innocent on judgment day which is one day closer today than it was yesterday.
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)
Will you be with him and be called chosen and faithful?
Today’s reading: Job 24-27, Revelation 17