Choose Honor

When considering the death of early disciples who were murdered viciously we think about people like John the baptist (Imprisoned and beheaded), Stephen (stoned to death) James the Apostle (beheaded), etc.

Here’s the thing… everyone is going to die… everyone. But very few of us get to choose how we die… it’s always some level of surprise.

Jesus’ disciples knew they that they would all die violent deaths (because of their faith in Jesus Christ). They chose to die that way.

They weren’t going to die in bed of organ failure or some infectious disease. They wouldn’t die accidentally in a chariot crash. They wouldn’t die of cancer or of Alzheimer’s disease…. they would die through the hands of violent men.

What honor is there in dying due to natural causes after all? Almost none. But living a life for Jesus Christ and giving up that life in a way that mimics Jesus’ death would be a very honorable death.

If you ask most people how they would like to die many would say they would like to live to a ripe old age and die in their sleep with no pain.

I would like to live to a ripe old age as well but if I could choose how I would die I wish I could go back in a time machine and be nailed to a cross right next to Jesus and at his death and mine enter into Paradise with my Lord and Savior holding my hand.

Dying with Jesus would be a death of the highest honor. There is none higher.

The disciples manner of death was chosen for them and they accepted it with gladness. We can’t choose how we will die but we can choose how we will live and how we choose to live also brings great honor no matter how we die.

Choose honor.