You can't leave without your ticket!

Corrie Ten Boom tells a story from her childhood.

She remembers reading about martyrs for Christ and all they had suffered in the two thousand years since Christ's own suffering.

She told her father that she didn't see how she could possibly be strong enough to suffer the cruel punishments so many Christians had experienced.

His reply was something like this: 'Tell me, when you take a train trip, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Several weeks early?'
'No,' she replied. 'You give it to me just as I get on the train.'

His wise response to her earnest question: 'Well, that's how God does it. Your Father in heaven knows when you are going to need the strength to endure the suffering. That's when He gives it to you. You don't need it right now, but when you do, He will supply it -- just in time.'

Later, while in one of the Nazi concentration camps (where she and her family were imprisoned for the crime of hiding and rescuing Jewish refugees) she thought of those words and shared them with her companions.


Her suffering was great. Any prisoner caught with a Bible or praying would face a death by cruel torture.

But she endured. Reading her Bible and praying. Her sister died there. She lost other family members.

But Corrie Ten Boom survived.

In the presence of my enemies....

Years later she was telling her story to a small village in Africa, where the struggling church was facing intense persecution by a hostile government.

[When I was growing up Corrie was a popular speaker - often on Billy Graham's programs and with many other hosts. We all read her book, The Hiding Place -- and yes, there was even a movie!]

As she looked out on her audience she knew many of these new Christians would be killed in the near future. They were fearful and anxious, but as she spoke she saw confidence and joy appearing on their faces. Peace began to fill their hearts.

She learned later that over half of her audience had died a martyr's death shortly after she left.

And now, dear friends of mine, I beg you not to be unduly alarmed at the fiery ordeals which come to test your faith, as if this were some abnormal experience.  You should be glad, because it means you are called to share Christ's sufferings. One day, when He shows Himself in full splendor to men, you will be filled with the most tremendous joy. If you are reproached for being Christ's followers, that is a great privilege, for you can be sure that God's spirit of glory is resting upon you.             1 Peter 4:12-14, Phillips

 ...you should be glad....you will be filled with tremendous joy...a great privilege...God's spirit of glory is resting upon you.

Just as Peter and his Christian family were facing persecution under Nero, so did Corrie Ten Boom and all those other Christians who suffered under the Nazis, most of them for trying to resist Hitler and to help Jews.

God's spirit of glory rested upon them, and will in eternity, when they are wearing the martyrs' crowns.

Let's remember to pray for today's persecuted church

Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  (Matthew 5)

[I got this story from a book by Nancy Guthrie, a fine compilation of thoughts about suffering. Nancy has lost two children, and has been able to share great insights about grief and pain.