Choosing to Die

Ever since I read their story as a young man I've been deeply touched by the lives and deaths of the five missionaries, Jim Elliot, Peter Fleming, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, and Nate Saint in Ecuador in 1956.  In making contact with the Auca Indians, known killers, they were speared to death even though they had guns.  Apparently one gun was fired as a warning, but none was leveled at the attackers.  This was the agreed upon procedure because, they reasoned, "The natives are not ready for heaven.  We are." 

John Piper encourages that attitude as a reason not to even own a gun.  He says, "I suspect the same could be said for almost anyone who breaks into my house."    

We could extend that to risking our lives for people in danger: "They're likely not ready for heaven.  I am."  Paul, a guy who graduated with me from Bible school went to BC the summer after graduation to plant trees.  One night a group of them were on a road in an area that was flooding.  A bridge was washed out and people ended up in the raging river.  According to reports, Paul went into that river more than once to rescue people and ended up sacrificing his life for theirs.  He was ready for heaven.  They weren't. 

As I asked in the earlier post, would I choose to die for Christ, for others?  Do I have that in me?  I really don't know.  What I do know is that Jesus says that when we die to self, then we are really alive!

Dave