So That The Message Might Be Preached

II Timothy 4:17-18

Richard Wurmbrand was born in Romania in 1909. In 1936, he married Sabine Oster. Two years later he became a Christian. Do not misunderstand! Wurmbrand did not simply start attending church. He was all in! He became a Lutheran priest and taught at the only Lutheran seminary in Romania. He began teaching that Christianity and Socialism were not compatible. This is namely because the official religion of Socialism is atheism. Wurmbrand understood that one cannot support a system that says there is no God and encourages its people to live as such, all while proclaiming that people need to turn to God.

On February 29, 1948 Wurmbrand was arrested. He would spend eight and a half years in prison the first time (released in 1956). He was warned not to preach, but immediately began his work with the underground church upon his release. He was arrested again in 1959 and sentenced to 25 years in prison. However, he received amnesty in 1964. During his time in prison, Richard was held in a cell 12 feet below ground. The guards wore felt on the soles of their shoes to not make a sound. Richard said that he maintained his sanity by writing messages each day and then preaching them to himself.

Upon his release, Richard and Sabine moved to the United States. He continued his work of helping persecuted Christians by beginning a ministry called “Jesus to the Communist World”. The name was eventually changed to Voice of the Martyrs. This ministry continues to bring awareness and help to persecuted Christians around the world today.

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”But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

II Timothy 4:17-18

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Paul endured imprisonment and torture as well. Look at what he says in verse 17, "so that the message might be preached fully through me". Paul knew that the persecution he endured only emphasized the Gospel he preached. He willingly endured this physical torture for the sake of the Gospel. He started the verse by saying, "But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me". Paul held to the truth that God would never leave him, nor forsake him" (Hebrews 13:5). He was willing to do whatever it took for the Gospel to be preached.

Paul said that he had been "delivered out of the mouth of the lions" (v. 17). Can you imagine that? I do not ever want to get on the wrong side of someone who has a lion they could feed me to. However, if I ever do, I want to have the faith and courage that Paul had. He says, "And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His Heavenly Kingdom" (v. 18). Paul knew that one way or the other he would be delivered from those who persecuted Him. Either he would be spared physically, and would continue to preach to the Glory of God, or he would be delivered into Heaven and be in the presence of God. Either way, he was content with the outcome.

Paul's motivation was that God would be glorified. He knew that if he was in prison and tortured, but remained faithful to God, God would be glorified. He also knew that if he was released, and continued to preach the gospel, and strengthen the church, God would be glorified. He would do whatever God willed, so that God would be glorified. Paul was an example of how we should live our lives. Our sole purpose in life should be that God is glorified.

Paul and Richard Wurmbrand both suffered for the Gospel. They both wanted God to be glorified by their lives. They both wanted to see people who were on their way to Hell, come to know Christ as their Savior. If they had to suffer for the Gospel's sake, so be it. Both saw many people saved during their lives. Both led jailors to Christ. Both knew that standing firm furthered the Gospel message because their "enemies" saw how resolved they were their their belief (faith). This does not mean it was fun, but life and death is not about fun.

Father, thank You for the examples we have before us. May our lives, the good and the bad, glorify You. Help us to be resolved to face this world and all of its challenges with the desire to Glorify Your Name!