“Only in silence could people pray and read Scripture. It was a treat just to move our lips and shape the name of God.” From the book God is Red by Liao Yiwu .
What we value in life becomes a treat for us. The problem is that we easily forget how much we value something until it is taken away. I read testimonies like the one above where a man is living as a believer within the Cultural Revolution and his life is turned upside down because of his decision to remain true to Christ. And I think my life has been turned upside down when something doesn’t go the way I planned it. I read these stories and my perspective gives way to change. Having a grateful heart is a choice that helps our perspectives change, so that when we look at our situations truly thankful towards Him, instead of becoming disheartened we become encouraged. Hearing the real struggles of other believers around our world where belief in God translates to an extremely hard and persecuted life, radically changes my perspective on the small problems I face daily.
I am still in the middle of reading God is Red, but I encourage others to take a look at it as well. If I ever get to meet this man, I would be humiliated by what I define as a struggling life compared to what he went through and countless others that have even died for our Lord. I want to live being grateful that I still have an opportunity to share my life and beliefs with others. Our world hasn’t always been kind to Christians, and today in different parts of the world this is sadly true, but to live our lives blind to that fact would be to not understand how the world truly views us. Times of peace with the world granted to us by the Lord gives us opportunity to praise Him out loud, to share our faith without repercussion, and to live among others without fear of being hurt. We should take these opportunities and use this time wisely as He has given us. Tomorrow could change and the world could return to its distaste of believers once again.
