That might be your choice sooner than you think.

John the Baptist was killed for his faith just because some woman didn’t like him.
Because he spoke up for God’s standards in God’s country to God’s people.
And she didn’t like it. So his earthly life was terminated.

When Yeshua was arrested, Petros thought he was going to be too. And I’m sure he figured that if he was, then he’d be killed.
John the Baptist had only rippled the water. Petros had been one of the main guys hanging around with Yeshua. Real troublemakers. They had been causing massive waves in the established Jewish community.
Not just one self important woman this time.
This time the whole Jewish leadership had decided that Yeshua had to go. (As in dead).

So Petros thought he was on the list too. So he lied. He deserted Yeshua, who had to listen to Petros telling the guards he never even knew him! All to protect his own life. After all they had been through together.
When it came to the choice of renounce Yeshua or die, Petros went with “Yeshua who?”
Totally gutless.

Now you might have told yourself that if you had been in Petros’ sandals you would have chosen differently.
Maybe you would have.
But the way the world is going, you might get the chance to prove it before 2030 is over.

Your country’s system of law might no longer protect your freedom of religion. It might no longer protect your life as a good honest, law abiding citizen.
In the next few years, your refusal to compromise your Christian beliefs could well cost you your life.
And unlike Petros. You might not get a second chance to choose Yeshua again. So choose well.

I was having coffee yesterday with a couple of Christian friends. And they were talking about situations where they had seen people having to make this choice. Or even worse sometimes, “Renounce Yeshua or watch your family die.”

Stephanos, in Acts 6, is usually seen as the first Christian martyr. While the soon to be apostle Paulus was watching and minding the coats.

Most of us who went to Sunday school know of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who refused to deny their faith in Yahweh. And were thrown into a furnace, and came out alive after having a mysterious visitor! And of course Daniel himself in the den of lions.
But it doesn’t always end with physical protection. Usually the choice is quite real and quite final.

Thousands of years later, Polycarp of Smyrna, a disciple of the apostle Yohannes, was arrested by the Romans who demanded that he swear sole allegiance to Caesar. He answered, “I have served him (Yeshua) eighty six years. He never did me any injury. So how can I blaspheme my king and my saviour!”.
They burned him at the stake, but according to witness reports, the flames didn’t consume him, so they killed him with a sword.

Down through history there are stories of martyrs who refused to renounce their faith.
The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, Perpetua and Felicity, The Singing Martyrs of Uganda, Pastor Wurmbrand and Underground Believers, and many more.

So, renounce Yeshua or die?
What are you going to do when it’s your turn to decide?
Will your name be added to the list?

When it comes down to it, will you lay your life down for Yeshua who almost 2,000 years ago had to make the same choice for you, and willingly laid his life down for you.

You might not have long to wait to find out.