Tuesday, June 16, 2009

"The Truth Does Not Change..."

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (Jn. 14:6 ESV)

Not only does the Bible say that Jesus is "the truth" it also says He is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8). Therefore, we know that "the truth" never changes. Serghey Mechen also believed this and applied it to the persecuted.

Serghey lived in Russia (around 1923) when the Communists took over and things were changing drastically. The Russian government had launched the "Living Church" which was nothing more than communism dressed up in "Christianity". So, when asked to comply with the Communists in reading the prescribed prayers and preaching watered-down sermons, Pastor Mechen refused. He made the decision to preach the truth to his flock, even when he knew it might cause him personal suffering.

Then, for five years, Serghey was imprisoned and the government closed his church down. However, his imprisonment only prepared Mechen even more for the Christian ministry. He believed in Jesus' words that "a good shepherd gives his life for his sheep." In the end, Serghey Mechen was executed (in 1941) by a firing squad for his Christian activities. His messages still remains though, "The truth does not change to benefit one's needs."

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