A Pastor’s Perspective

“Lay Down Your Life” by Mike Hill, pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen        

Listen to CALVARY RADIO 90.3 FM  (mjhill@ida.net)                                       

      If you were going to be arrested and tried in court for being a Christian, would they have enough evidence to convict you?  A few weeks ago, I wrote about a fellow evangelist/pastor friend named Saeed who was imprisoned in Iran for sharing the gospel.  According to the laws in Iran, there was enough evidence against Saeed to have him executed.  Miraculously, Saeed was released, and he returned to his family in Boise.  It appears the two other Christian women who were held in custody in Iran will be released as well.  Kind of reminds me of how Peter was divinely delivered awaiting potential capital punishment (Acts 12:7).  What reckless abandon!  What commitment to Christ!  I’m impressed and challenged by the genuine faith of such dedication to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).  Though they knew telling others about Jesus would get them into trouble, nevertheless, they were willing to lay down their lives for the truth.

     Chet Bitterman, missionary for the Wycliffe Bible Translators, was another believer who was willing to lay down his life—and did.  While serving the Lord in Colombia, Bitterman was kidnapped, held hostage, and killed by terrorists.  Al Wheeler, the director of Wycliffe in the 80’s, provided the following news interview as detailed in Called to Die by Steve Estes:

     “We understand that you were the original terrorist target, and that Chester Bitterman died in your place.  How does this make you feel?” A reporter asked.  Al ran a hand through his hair in characteristic fashion.  “That’s right,” he said.  “He died in my place and it moved me very much.  But Chet’s not the first person to have done this for me.”  He collected his thoughts.  “Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ did the same thing—voluntarily.  His life for mine.  Anyone accepting Christ’s death as sufficient payment for his sins receives the gift of eternal life.” 

     Later, at the funeral service, several of Chet’s friends reflected upon his life and impact.  Tom Banks shared:

     “It was just a dream, really, a foolish one, I suppose.  But I pictured Chet…after he had heard those words, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’…I pictured him saying, ‘Lord, I never got to finish.’…Then I thought of Chet playing soccer.  It was Chet’s manner to play to the right, forward wing.  You remember.  He had a definite style—you could count on it.  Whenever he got the ball he would drive as far and hard into the opposition’s territory as possible.  Then he’d kick the ball across the center for someone else to score.  I think the Lord said to Chet today, in a way none of us can understand, ‘Chet, you carried the ball far, deep into the enemy’s territory.  You talked to those men, shared the gospel with them.  You made them see what they’re doing, and made them understand what the translators are all about.  I let you do it.  I knew that’s the way you were.’  Then I got to feeling that Chet really did carry the ball as far into opposition ground as possible.  And now he’s kicked the ball to us.” 

     Chet’s willingness to lay down his life for the sake of the gospel was not in vain.  The gospel was communicated through television news agencies across the globe; Wycliffe was now allowed to continue its ministry in Columbia; and missionary applications doubled in Wycliffe the following year. 

     Jesus indicated that to really live you have to be willing to die (Mark 8:35, 36; Luke 9:23; John 12:24, 25).  The lives of ordinary people have had an extraordinary impact for eternity, because they were willing to yield their lives over to Christ completely.  Don’t you want your life to have that kind of impact?  What would you like the Lord Jesus and other people say about you after you die?