Living and Dying for Jesus
Imagine that you have been taken hostage by a band of bandits in a foreign land. Your hands are bound. Things look dire. You have heard bad stories about these particular thugs. Next, a gun is put against your head, and the statement is made, “I am going to kill you. Aren’t you afraid?” This is not a made-up story. This happened to a missionary named John Vinson. This grim story happened in North Kiangsu, China. The date was November 2, 1931. What John did and the statement he made in that frightful situation have encouraged and inspired Christians over the decades since. His answers remind us of what faithful heroes through the ages have said when facing hardship and danger. For example, Queen Esther said, “If I perish, I perish.” Nehemiah, “Should such a one as I flee?” The Apostle Paul, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Martin Luther, “Though every tile on every roof in [the city of] Worms be a Demon, I will go there.”
John Vinson looked his tormentor in the eye and calmly replied, “No, I am not afraid. If you kill me, I will go straight to Heaven.” Who was John Vinson? He was born on December 28, 1880, in the small town of Winnsboro, South Carolina. He was born to devout Christian parents. As a young man, he was drawn to the mission field and eventually accepted the call to minister in China. While in China, he met his wife, Jeanie. The Chinese missionary life was hard. It claimed 3 of their 6 children in their early years. Jeanie died on the mission field at the age of 45 in 1923. After Jeanie’s death, thousands gathered to remember the “Missionary Mother” who made such a difference to many in the small towns where the Vinson family preached and served.
The incident above happened 8 years after Jeanie’s death. China was in the throes of revolution. The atheistic Communist “Red” Party waged war and killed every Christian they could find. In the fall of 1931, under cover of darkness, Communist bandits swooped into a small town and took John Vinson and 150 others as captives. When the local government army surrounded the town, John was offered his freedom by the bandits. When Vinson asked if the other 150 captives would be released, the bandit leader said they would not be released. In response, John said he would not leave. The bandits were desperate to escape. They made a plan to shoot their way out of town and escape into the local hills. Just before they left town, they shot and killed John Vinson. He was beheaded as well. A small girl witnessed this horrific drama. She was the daughter of one of the local Chinese ministers whom John had trained. She relayed the final details of John Vinson’s life. One of Vinson’s co-workers, E. H. Hamilton, heard the girl’s story and wrote this poem.
AFRAID?
Afraid? Of What?
To feel the spirit’s glad release? To pass from pain to perfect peace?
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid—of that? Afraid—of that?
Afraid to see the Saviors face?
To hear His welcome and to trace the glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid—of that? Afraid—of that?
A flash—a crash—a pierced heart;
Darkness—Light—O Heavens art! A wound of his counterpart!
Afraid—of that? Afraid—of that?
To do by death what life could not—Baptize with blood a stony plot.
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid—of that? Afraid—of that?
In this world we live in, there will always be those who pay with their lives - the cost of standing for Jesus. Nearly 100 years after John Vinson gave his life in the service of Jesus, we grieve the loss of Charlie Kirk. Charlie was an ambassador for Jesus. We, too, are called to be ambassadors for the cause of Christ. Let us remember that before we can “die for Jesus,” we must first start living for Jesus. Keep looking up!