Well, are we engaged in the Lord’s work, in witness, in prayer, in cooperation in the many ventures and undertakings we have together? Are we serving the Lord? Do you teach Sunday school, visit the doors, or serve in a supporting role, or do you swell the ranks at the prayer meeting and in private prayer? Are you assisting in the salvation of your children by keeping the peace at home, and loving your wife as you should, and loving your husband as you should, and settling all disputes in a proper way as believers ought to do? Or are you putting on a bad demonstration, exhibition of the Christian life before the children which will put them off and distract them in some way or other? May the death of each believer be the close of a glorious chapter, your contribution to the bringing of the elect, your triumph, souls have been won.
They are a challenge, martyrs, all Christians who die with a clear testimony, are a witness to those Christians who lag behind, who waver. And all of us do at some period of our lives. We flounder and we trail behind the standards, and then we see those who take a clear stand and are convinced and deeply convicted. And it makes us ashamed, and it pulls us up, and we go before God and rededicate ourselves to him.