«He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame» (Proverbs 10:5).
YOUSEF NADARKHANI, a Protestant pastor, was sentenced to death in Iran for the crime of becoming a Christian, seeing that he was born into a Muslim family. To renounce the Muslim faith is regarded in his country as apostasy, which constitutes an offense punishable by death. According to Amnesty International and Yousef’s lawyers, the Iranian government offered him freedom in exchange for renouncing Christianity and practicing the Muslim religion again, but he did not accept the agreement. He has been in prison several times, also accused of proselytizing (evangelizing Muslims); and is currently in prison since July 2018.
In March 2005, someone wrote on the walls of the Adventist Theological Seminary in Belgrade in Serbia the following message: «Death to Adventists.» Serbia is in Europe—not Iran, nor North Korea, nor Saudi Arabia. In Serbia there is religious freedom, at least officially, but that does not guarantee that people look favorably upon those preaching the gospel. Among those groups are Adventists.
According to the World Report on Religious Freedom of 2004—2005, in 32 countries of the world there is no religious freedom, in 48 they enjoy freedom with restrictions, and in 124 it is guaranteed. This report further documents that religious freedom remains protected in most countries, albeit in some with certain restrictions. But religious intolerance is not very forgiving. If you are one of those people who suffer because of their faith, do not give up; perhaps you are the voice of those who have no voice. But for those of us who live in a country where religious freedom is guaranteed, what are we doing with that gift that God has given us?
‘You don’t know what you have until it’s gone,» goes the saying. And it is true. Many of us, having so much freedom, do not take advantage of it. If the dreaded moment comes when we may lose it and no longer be able to speak of Christ, we will fully understand the dimension of the opportunity we are wasting.
I think we need to be awakened, to be committed Christians who proclaim the message of salvation while it is possible to do so; now that there is still time and that we enjoy peace and freedom. Jesus said to His disciples, «‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few»‘ (Matthew 9:37). May we be counted among those few.
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Take From: Daily Devotions for Women’s 2020
«One Day at a Time»
From: Patricia Muñoz Bertozzi
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Alejandra Zavala
