It began with a simple but incredibly consequential decision that, to the lost, is almost incomprehensible.
In the quiet of an early morning, Tabiruka weighed all his treasures in this life and found them wanting in comparison to what he had found in Jesus. It was then that he decided that he’d rather die at the hands of his own father than turn away from Jesus.
His choice, floating across time and space, should float like a feather down into your heart. Depending on your wiring, you may feel admiration, courage, fear, wonder, and a host of other emotions.
But as believers, for some reason we take his choice for granted because we know his decision was the correct one Biblically. We then jump to the question, “I wonder what I would do in his shoes.”
But his choice should go past your heart and trigger a question in your mind. That simple question is, “What is it about Jesus that causes the martyr to choose death over life?”
As the long-time president of Persecution.org, I have been immersed in the stories of the persecuted and the martyrs and turned this question over and over in my mind for decades.
The martyrs I’ve studied aren’t historical figures but modern human beings whose lives echo those we see in the Book of Acts. They embody a conviction that is not merely intellectual but visceral, a conviction that passes the ultimate test.
But what fuels and empowers the martyr to make such an incredibly brave choice when a simple spoken denial (they could even lie) would save their life?
The answer, as it turns out, is both simple and profound, and hidden in plain sight: they have encountered a love so overwhelming, so transformative, that it eclipses even the instinct for survival.
Tabiruka’s journey began not in light, but in darkness. As a young Muslim, he was well acquainted with a god who demanded strict obedience, yet remained distant, unapproachable. His life was one of rigid adherence to rituals that left him empty and yearning for something more.
But then, a glimmer of light appeared—a whisper of a different kind of God, one who didn’t demand obedience but was reaching out His hand in forgiveness, acceptance, love and relationship.
As he learned more about Jesus, the light grew, piercing the darkness of his doubts and fears. If you have been a believer for years or grown up as a believer, then there’s a good chance you have grown blind where Tabiruku could see. Our long association with Jesus makes us like an old married couple. Comfortable, committed, but you no longer see your spouse you did when you first met them in all their beauty.
Jesus is stunning to the lost and whispers the answers to the existential questions that plague the lost: “who am I, why am I here, and where am I going?
Jesus filled the deep, unspoken longing in Tabiruka’s heart—a longing for home, for a Father who truly loved him.
When Tabiruka finally decided to follow Jesus, he did so with full knowledge of the cost. He knew that his choice would at the very least alienate him from his family, his community, his entire world. And at worst, would cost him his life.
Even as his father’s fury descended upon him in the form of unhinged violence, Tabiruka’s faith held firm.
Tabiruka was an orphan long before his father took his life. He was born into a world fractured by the Fall, a world where our connection to the heavenly Father was severed long ago. The Fall left us all as orphans living on the streets of the big city in winter, alone, cold, and in great danger, constantly longing for a home we can’t find.
Jesus whispered into the depth of Tabiruka’s soul and told him he could leave the streets and the cold and that He would adopt him. So once the street urchin was safe, warm, and truly loved, no threat or beating could cause him to leave his finally-found-Father and HOME.
He would never go back to the streets.
Most people would say that Tabiruka followed Jesus to his death, but I think it’s clear: he followed Him to Life. And if he could bridge the gap back to this world, he would shout to us at the top of his lungs”
Now I can truly see what God is and He’s more than I could have imagined. He is the answer to the death that you call life, and the life that you call death. My “death” was merely the doorway to life. So, with everything you have, with all your effort, stop living on the streets and find HOME.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/m-gucci
He has testified before the U.S. Congress on persecution and has been interviewed or quoted by most of the world’s top outlets, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the BBC.
He is a three-time author, and his podcast is Faith Under Fire, where he helps Christians deepen and defend their faith.
Jeff is available as a guest speaker.
To learn more, go to the Jeff King Blog.