By Lisa Wilmore
My Fellow Believers in Jesus Christ,
Here’s the Truth: The Bible declares that one day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess, both in heaven and on earth-that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). It is through His name alone that we can be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus came and suffered in our place. He took the punishment that we deserved. As the prophet Isaiah said, “He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). The Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, testified that Jesus was crucified, laid in a borrowed tomb, and rose again on the third day. He did all of this to save us from the wrath of God that comes because of sin.
As John wrote, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). There is no other way to be saved except through Jesus Christ.
In her book “Hearts of Fire”, Gracia Burnham recounts the powerful testimonies of eight women who were part of an underground church in the Philippine jungle. These women had to worship Jesus in secret, under constant threat of being discovered. Yet, they remained committed to sharing the truth. One especially moving story tells of a woman named Adel in Indonesia. She and other mothers, along with their children, were forced to hide on a hill while their village and church were being attacked, due to them proclaiming the name of Jesus. Imagine if your church were raided simply because you taught the truth of Jesus Christ. The sad reality is that many of us, out of fear, might not even show up.
This is not a new story. The Bible records a similar situation in Acts chapter 7, where Stephen was stoned for telling the truth. He confronted the religious leaders of his time, calling them stiff-necked and stubborn, always resisting the Holy Spirit. He said, “Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered Him.” This enraged the council. They covered their ears, dragged Stephen out of the city, and stoned him to death.
Today, the world still needs to hear the truth, not a watered-down version of the Gospel. People may reject it. But we cannot stop proclaiming the name of Jesus. We are called to stand firm and speak boldly, no matter the cost. Jesus Himself warned us: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first” (John 15:18).
