And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Revelation 12:11 ESV
The song “I have Decided to Follow Jesus”, is sung universally in the Church today. There is a back-story to this song that will make you sing it an even greater amount of conviction.
The story unfolds in the late 19th or early 20th century in village in northeast India. A Welch Missionary, Sadhu Sundar Sign, wrote the song after he encountered a man of the Garo people named Nokseng. He and his family were the first people converted to Christianity in a village through British missionaries.
The tribal Chief was enraged at this family’s conversion and brought them before him in a type of tribunal. The Chief told Nokeng that if he did not recant his faith in Christ, he would kill his two young sons. Nokseng’s response was, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back. His two sons were slain. The Chief then gave Nokseng a second chance to renounces his faith in Christ or he would have his wife killed. Nokseng said, though none go with me, still I will follow, no turning back” and she was slain. Finally, the Chief gave Nokseng one last opportunity to renounce his faith and save his own life. Just before he passed into heaven, Nokseng said, “the Cross before me the world behind me, no turning back.” Praise be to the Lamb of God who was slain for Nokseng’s family and for you and me.
When i first became involved in missionary work in the 1970s, we were told of persecution of the Church happening n Communist eastern Europe. I would often say that we may never see that in the West. With the assignation of Charlie Kirk, I was wrong. The Gospel has always been spread through the blood of the Saints. History has shown that you either accept the Gospel or you must organize yourself against it. Will you and I be brave like Charlie Kirk, or Nokseng? If so, we will take our example from Revelation 12:11 ESV, And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. If we are not willing to die for Jesus, we are not willing to live for him.
The image is used by permission from Microsoft.
Ken Barnes, the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing and Broken Vessels through Kindle Direct Publishing.
Ken’s Website— https://kenbarnes.us/
Ken blogs at https://kenbarnes.us/blog/
Email- [email protected]
