Think about an engagement ring. That is an item that is purchased for a large sum of money. And not only that, but after that initial purchase, the item gains meaning for us. Not only is it something that is purchased at a great personal, financial cost, but it’s also something that has a great deal of symbolism that heightens the value of the ring. It’s a symbol of love, of a vow, a commitment, and a covenant between two people. Those things make that ring priceless. 

Now imagine, after all that intrinsic and irreplaceable value, would you suddenly turn around and sell that engagement ring at a garage sale? Probably not. A garage sale is where items of a much lesser value are sold, and no one is going to pay the price that a diamond ring is worth standing in your driveway. That would be grossly undercutting the worth of it.

The Bible is clear about martyrs and the fact that many will suffer for the gospel. Hebrews 11 famously talks about believers that were tortured, stoned, mistreated, and viciously killed for spreading the word of God. We know that this kind of persecution for faith in God continues today, especially in countries that have no freedom to practice Christianity like China or the Middle East.

But a lot of the time, we don’t share stories of those martyrs and the truths they died for. And why? Because in the end, they are stories that could help to strengthen and fortify our own faith. The truth is, we’re deeply blessed. We live in a country where it’s still widely condoned to go to church and practice our faith, but what if that weren’t the case?