By Life or by Death
Hebrews 11:35, 37-38
By J. Kenneth Bassett

On December 6, 1934, Chinese communist forced broke the governemnt’s wall of protection around Tsingteh and began brutalizing the town. It all occurred so fast that China Inland missionaries John and Betty Stam were unable to escape.

The Stams had come to China as single people and had only been married a little more than a year. Now, their lives and that of their infant daughter were in mortal jeopardy. The ruthless soldiers demanded a $20,000 ransom for their release. Yet, as John passed that information on to his superiors, he prayerfully added, “May God be glorified whether by life or by death.”

Two days later, the kidnappers, unwilling to wait any longer, led the Stams to a secluded wooded area outside of town. Stripped of their clothes and pushed to a kneeling position, the Stams were in the presence of the Lord before the sword could be wiped clean. Mercifully, their baby daughter, Helen, was spared.

The Bible refers to the Stams and others of similar devotion to Christ with this epitaph, “…others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection…they were put to death with the sword…men of whom the world was not worthy” (from Heb. 11:35, 37-38).

Christians who are “not worthy” of this world’s kingdom are “noteworthy” in the kingdom of God!

J. Kenneth Bassett
Timeless Signatures