From The Fourth Dimension, by Dr. David Yonggi Cho, 1979, Logos International Press, pages 103-104. Dr. Cho is the pastor of the largest church in the world. It is in Seoul, South Korea.
The Communists were vicious to the ministers. One minister’s family was captured in Inchon, Korea, and the Communist leaders put them on what they called a “People’s Trial.” The accusers would say, “This man is guilty of causing this kind of sin, and for that kind of sin it is proper that he be punished.” The only response then given would be a chorus of voices agreeing, “Yah, Yah!”
This time they dug a large hole, putting the pastor, his wife, and several of his children in. Then the leader spoke, “Mister, all these years you misled the people with the superstition of the Bible. Now if you will publicly disclaim it before these people, and repent of this misdemeanor, then you, your wife, and your children will be freed. But if you persist in your superstitions, all of your family is going to be buried alive. Make a decision!”
All of his children then blurted, “Oh Daddy! Daddy! Think of us! Daddy!”
Think of it. If you were in his place, what would you do? I am the father of three children, and would almost feel like going to hell rather than see my children killed.
This father was shaken. He lifted up his hand and said, “Yes, yes, I’ll do it. I am going to denounce … my… “
But before he could finish his sentence his wife nudged him, saying, “Daddy, say NO!”
And to her children, she said, “Hush children, tonight we are going to have supper with the King of kings, the Lord of lords!” She led them in singing “In the Sweet By and By,” her husband and children following, while the Communists began to bury them. Soon the children were buried, but until the soil came up to their necks they sang, and all the people watched.
God did not deliver them, but almost all of those people who watched this execution became Christians, and many are now members of my church. Through their suffering the grace of redemption flowed. God gave His only begotten Son to be crucified on the cross so that this world could be saved and redeemed. That is God’s uppermost goal– the redemption of souls. So when you desire your divine healing, or an answer from above, always look through the lenses of the uppermost goal, the redeeming of your souls. If you see that your suffering brings about more redemption than your healing, then do not ask for deliverance, but ask God to give you the strength to persevere.
There were more Christian martyrs in the 20th century than in all previous centuries.
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Matthew 5:10-12 — (Jesus said), “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Luke 12:4-5 — (Jesus said), “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”
Mark 8:34-38 — Then (Jesus) called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
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O Christ, the hope of all people, our refuge and our strength, whose light shines upon us through the dark clouds and across the stormy ocean so that we may be directed to you, our haven: Grant, O Lord, that I may not perish in the waves, that the tempest may not drown me, nor the deep swallow me up: bring me from this troubled sea to you, my only consolation; whom I behold from afar awaiting me on the shore of my heavenly home. Hear me, O God of my salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth; you see my danger, save me by your mercy, deliver me from my distress, and bring me joyfully to the haven where I long to be. Amen. –source lost