Unbreakable Courage

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Transcript

Courage That Defies Instinct

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This is the martyrdom of Perpetua Infilistis. This is something about courage that doesn't make sense to this world. Because most people, when faced with pain, with suffering, with death, run. And honestly, it's human. But every once in a while, a story surfaces that completely flips the instinct on its head. A story where people don't run. They stand. And not because they're strong, not because they're fearless, but because they believe something greater than their fear is waiting for them on the other side. Today's story is one of those stories. It's the story of two women from completely different worlds who walked into death with peace. Now, the world they lived in at the time was the early third century. The Roman Empire is at its peak. It's powerful, expansive, unmatched. But Rome didn't want just obedience. It wanted worship. Citizens were expected to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. And more than that, they were expected to acknowledge that Caesar himself carried divine authority. Wild, right? This wasn't optional either. So this was law. This is the martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas. There's something about courage that doesn't make sense in the world. But because most people, when faced with pain, with suffering, with death, run. And honestly, that's human. But every once in a while, a story surfaces. It completely flips the instinct on its head. A story where people don't run. They stand. Not because they are fearless, but because they believe something greater than their fear is waiting on the other side. Today's story is one of those stories, the story of Perpetua and Felicitas. They lived in a world that was early third century. The Roman Empire is at its peak, powerful, expansive, unmatched. But Rome didn't just want obedience, it wanted worship. Citizens were expected to sacrifice to Roman gods and honor the emperor as divine. Christians refused. Perpetua, she was about 22 years old, educated, from a respective family, a new mother. She had everything to lose. But when ordered to deny Christ, she refused. She was put in prison. She was arrested. With her was Felicitas. Now Felicitas was a lot different. She was a slave, a different life, but the same faith. They became sisters in Christ at that time. Her father, her father came begging for her to recant. Think of your child. But she said, I am a Christian. In prison, she had a vision, a ladder to heaven, a serpent below. She stepped over it and climbed. At the top, at the top was Christ. Now Felicitas, she was pregnant. She prayed to give birth before execution, and she did. When mocked, though, she said, Now I suffer, but then another will suffer in me. Their execution day came and they were in the arena. Crowds filled it, they expected fear, but the Christians walked in with peace, and some even sang. In their final moments, they were attacked by animals. They fell, but stood again. Perpetua helped Felicitas. Even then, even then, they lifted each other up. In the end, they were executed, but their story spread. Their faith inspired others, and their story lives on. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Matthew 10 28. What would you stand for if it cost you everything? Christ is king.