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Martin Burnham Went to Heaven
"God took him"
(Genesis 5:24).
by Tom Stewart
Preface
n Friday morning, June 7th 2002, Martin
Burnham-- an American Christian missionary held captive along with his wife Gracia
by the Muslim Abu Sayyaf in the jungles of southern Zamboanga del Norte province
of the Philippines-- was killed in a rescue attempt by the Philippine military. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of
His Saints" (Psalm 116:15). Martin,
a graduate of Calvary Bible College of Kansas City, Missouri was a senior pilot for
New Tribes Mission in the Philippines. Fellow captive, Philippine nurse Deborah Yap
was also slain. Deborah was captured about a week after the Burnhams. Though it is
unclear whether the two were killed by friendly fire or by their captors' bullets
(since both sides used similar weapons), it is certain that the Abu Sayyaf, who
used their captives as human shields, was responsible for Martin and Deborah's life
ending circumstances in that final 20 minute firefight. "Knowing this, that the Law is not made for a righteous man,
but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy
and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for
whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers..." (1Timothy 1:9,10). Gracia Burnham was wounded in
the right leg, but was successfully freed from her captors. After being treated in
a Philippine hospital, she returned to her children and family in Rose Hill, Kansas
on June 10th. Continue to pray for Gracia and her children's spiritual and physical
welfare after having undergone this more than yearlong ordeal in the Philippines.
"Pure religion and undefiled before God
and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and
to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James
1:27). [For more background on the Burnhams' captivity, read
our editorial, "Pray for the Burnham's
Release" ---New Window.]
Martin Died Well
ince Martin and Gracia's May 27th 2001 capture, the
9-11 bombing of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon by Islamic terrorists, have
put into perspective the Burnhams' difficult experience. [See our articles,
"Significance of the Attack on the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon" ---New Window,
and "Christian Response to Terrorism" ---New Window for a Scriptural perspective on recent events, the
war on terrorism, Islam, and how we should then live.] "And of the children of Issachar, which were men that
had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (1Chronicles 12:32). The Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic separatist
group, has been engaged in terrorism and hostage taking for ransom in their struggle
against the predominantly Catholic government of the Philippines. Their conduct is
consistent with the Koran. "Fight those
who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah
and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, [which is Islam
that abolishes all other religions] of the people of the Book, [meaning the Jews
and the Christians] until they pay the Jizya [the tax imposed upon them] with willing
submission and feel themselves subdued [with humiliation and submission to the government
of Islam]" (9:29) (text from
the Koran, with a commentary in brackets from the Tafsir Al-Jalalein, i.e., Al-Jalalein
Interpretation of the Koran.) "The
time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (John 16:2). On February 23rd 1998, Osama bin Laden
issued the following "Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders: World Islamic Front
Statement": "The ruling to kill the
Americans and their allies -- civilians and military -- is an individual duty for
every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order
to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque [Mecca] from their grip, and in order for their armies to move
out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim. This is
in accordance with the words of Almighty Allah, 'and fight the pagans all together
as they fight you all together,' and 'fight them until there is no more tumult or
oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah.'"
"Make no friendship with an angry man;
and with a furious man thou shalt not go" (Proverbs
22:24).
For the last several months, U.S. Special Forces have been training Filipino Rangers
and providing support and intelligence for missions such as Operation Daybreak, assisting
the Philippine government in the war on terrorism against the al Qaeda linked Abu
Sayyaf. Current deployment of American military forces in the Philippines is scheduled
to terminate in July 2002. In Operation Daybreak, the Philippine military had been
tracking the Abu Sayyaf for twelve days, finding about 50 Muslim fighters resting
by a creek in heavy rain. The ensuing 20 minute firefight left four Abu Sayyaf dead,
seven Philippine soldiers wounded, and both Martin Burnham and Deborah Yap dead.
"For whether we live, we live unto the
LORD; and whether we die, we die unto the LORD: whether we live therefore, or die,
we are the LORD's" (Romans 14:8).
Gracia relates that Martin died well and peacefully. "I
will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in
safety" (Psalm 4:8). It was raining.
Both Martin and Gracia were resting on a hammock under a tarp, when the fighting
began. They were hit right away. Dropping to the ground, they slid down a hill. Gracia
crawled to Martin and could see from the blood on his upper body that his wounds
were serious. Both were already fully aware that they might never return home alive.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless
I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). They were emaciated and malnourished
during their year of captivity-- often on the run. Martin had been required by his
captors to carry bags of rice, which he did without complaint. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ" (2Timothy 2:3). Physically
stronger than Gracia, it was thought that he had a better chance of surviving their
ordeal. Shortly before the unexpected shots rang out, Martin had been talking about
the LORD. He had said,
"If I have to go, I want to go out strong for the LORD."
He did. "I have fought
a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2Timothy
4:7).
God Prepared Martin
efore that fatal day, Martin had the feeling that
he was not going to see his children again; so, he composed a farewell letter, which
he had given to Gracia. The letter was lost during the firefight, but was later recovered
by the Philippine military at Gracia's request. "6 For I am now ready to be offered,
and the time of my departure is at hand... 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which
the LORD, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but
unto all them also that love His appearing" (2Timothy
4:6, 8). Likewise, Christ's departure was necessary to prepare His
disciples for their departure. "2 In My Father's house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may
be also" (John 14:2-3). The good
that Martin would do in his farewell letter, would prepare his family for their subsequent
departure. "25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone
preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more... 32
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and
to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance
among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:25,
32).
Christian readiness to do the right thing now is essential for us to be ready to
depart for Heaven in the immediate or distant future. "14 Knowing that shortly I must put off
this my tabernacle, even as our LORD Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye
may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance" (2Peter 1:14-15). The prophet Ezekiel did not take
casually the necessity to be ready to depart for Heaven-- knowing that, those who
are not ready, could not depart for Heaven. "12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto
the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver
him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall
not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the
righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I shall say to the righteous,
that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity,
all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath
committed, he shall die for it" (Ezekiel 33:12-13). If we did not have to cooperate with the LORD in our preparation to be
taken Home by death or Rapture, then He would not have troubled Himself to tell us
so plainly to be ready to meet Him at any moment. "Therefore
be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh" (Matthew 24:44). Christ's directions to us are filled
with admonitions to be ready. "Watch ye
therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things
that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man"
(Luke 21:36). A lack of actively following the LORD in readiness
means that we will not see Him. "Follow
peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD" (Hebrews 12:14). [See our article, "How to Be Ready for the Rapture" ---New Window, to see the relation between
our actions and His in making us ready to be raptured.] But, we must
arm ourselves with the "Exceeding Great
and Precious Promises" (2Peter 1:4)
and look "unto Jesus the Author and Finisher
of Our Faith" (Hebrews 12:2), not
looking down at the angry waves that would pull us down, for He is "able to make [us] stand" (Romans 14:4).
We must cooperate in our readiness, but it is God's role to make ready those
who are trusting Him. "LORD, Thou hast
heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine
ear to hear" (Psalm 10:17). Though
the New Covenant offers even more opportunity for the Professed People of God to
be ready, even the Old Testament gave the Faithful the opportunity for that readiness.
"The preparations of the heart in man,
and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD" (Proverbs
16:1). It is God's New Covenant purpose and function to prepare His
people to obey Him now and to be ready to meet Him then. "And
I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall
keep My Judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:27). It should not surprise us that the LORD used the Philippine jungles
and the Abu Sayyaf to complete Martin Burnham's preparation for Heaven. "And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Wherever we need completion of the
work begun in us, God will faithfully finish the job-- of course, only with
our cooperation. "Being confident of this
very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the
Day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
It is He that works in us "to will and
to do of His good pleasure" (2:13).
His faithfulness to complete the work is not the issue. "Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it" (1Thessalonians 5:24). Ours is to faithfully cooperate
with the Holy Spirit in the sanctification that fits us for Heaven. "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto,
and I work" (John 5:17).
God Proved Martin
t is part of our sanctification that God must prove
us. "And Moses said unto the people, Fear
not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that
ye sin not" (Exodus 20:20). God's
history with His people demonstrates our need of being proved and tested by our Heavenly
Father. "And it came to pass after these
things, that God did tempt [Hebrew, nacah] Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I
am" (Genesis 22:1). In this instance,
the LORD God proved Abraham to see whether he would "keep
His Commandments, or no" (Deuteronomy 8:2). Martin had to be proved by the Almighty-- as we must be-- of His
willingness to love and obey the LORD-- even to the end. "Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from
Heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day,
that I may prove [Hebrew, nacah] them,
whether they will walk in My Law, or no" (Exodus
16:4). God's purpose in proving us, is to do us good. "Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy
fathers knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove [nacah] thee, to do thee good at
thy latter end" (Deuteronomy 8:16).
Whether it was Abraham being proved on Mount Moriah or the Children of Israel being
proved for forty years in the Wilderness, the point of our suffering and tribulation
on this planet, is that God would demonstrate for Himself a people "holy and without blame before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:4). Either we esteem ourselves higher
than we ought to think, or our estimation of God's holiness is too low, but we do
not seem to realize the need for the Almighty to prove us. "2 My
brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3
knowing this, that the trying of your faith
worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and
entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:2-4).
It was not in answer to a taunt, "Doth
Job fear God for nought?" (Job 1:9),
from the Wicked One that Job was tested; but, it was that the LORD would refine and
prove Job, whom the Almighty considered to be already a "perfect
and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil"
(1:8), that Job was proved and tested. Only an All Wise
God is fit to tell why it took over a year of captivity to prove and prepare Martin
Burnham; but, how much longer would it take for the rest of us? "Thou shalt guide me with Thy Counsel, and afterward
receive me to glory" (Psalm 73:24).
And, we can be sure that all that name the name of Christ will be likewise proved
in manifold different ways. "Yea, and
all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2Timothy 3:12).
Martin Was a Type for the Rapture
artin Burnham was an individual, who friend Clay
Bowlin recalls as being embarrassed by too much attention; but still, Martin's death
has brought him much attention. For Martin, "to
live [was] Christ, and
to die [was] gain" (Philippians 1:21). His past life testified that
he wanted simply to be a follower of Christ. "Then
said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew
16:24). Speaking at Rose Hill Bible Church, Martin's home church in
Rose Hill, Kansas on May 23rd 2001, four days before his capture, Martin said,
"I wasn't called to be a missionary;
I wasn't called to the Philippines;
I was just called to follow Christ; and that is what I'm doing."
Every bush for a Christian is a burning bush, and all ground is holy ground. "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation" (1Peter 1:15). Martin's life, in its simplicity of following Christ, makes him an apt picture of what the Church ought to be-- followers of Christ. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps" (1Peter 2:21).
"We might not leave this jungle
alive,
but at least we can leave this world serving the Lord with gladness.
We can serve Him right here where we are, and with gladness."
If we will endeavour to serve the LORD in the fullest way that we understand, then we will be exercising the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us. "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal" (1Corinthians 12:7). If we "walk in love" (Ephesians 5:2), we will be exercising our spiritual gift, whatever it is, even if we know not what to call it. "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing" (1Corinthians 13:2). If we are pointing to Christ, then we are walking "in faith and love" (2Timothy 1:13). We will either be evangelizing the Lost, revitalizing the Backslidden, or discipling the Faithful. "Make full proof of thy ministry" (2Timothy 4:5).
Conclusion
s a True Christian, Martin Burnham lived for God,
and rightly but secondarily for "his neighbour
as himself" (Mark 12:33). On June
14th, Martin, a native of Rose Hill, Kansas, was memorialized at a two-hour service
in Rose Hill, attended by about 2.600 people-- including Philippines Ambassador Albert
del Rosario, Sen. Sam Brownback, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, and former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole.
Gracia reminisced that Martin, who as a rule was nightly handcuffed to a tree by
his captors, would look his armed captors in the face and say, "Thank you very much," each time
he was so restrained, because he had purposed that he would remain joyous even during
this most trying time of his life. "In
every thing give thanks: for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1Thessalonians 5:18). Sure, it is easy to thank
God for the good times, but we must also thank Him for the difficult times, because
our times are in the hands of our Gracious, All Knowing, and Omnipotent Father. "My times are in Thy hand: deliver me from the hand
of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me" (Psalm
31:15).
The following letter was movingly read on the Ken Burns PBS documentary "The
Civil War," while the series theme song, a Scottish lament, "Ashokan [a-shó-kun]
Farewell"-- composed by Jay Ungar-- was played with great feeling by a violin
accompanied with guitar. It was reported that Martin Burnham's memorial service on
June 14th in Rose Hill, Kansas was to include a sermon by a college friend of Martin,
Kansas City Pastor Clay Bowlin, with a special song, "Ashokan Farewell"--
which was specially requested by Martin, should he die as a hostage. Notice the similarities
between Maj. Sullivan Ballou's thoughts about impending death, his gratitude to God
for his wife and family, his feelings about the necessity of the service that he
had undertaken, and his hope of seeing his wife again... in the Resurrection.
(A week before the battle of Bull Run, Sullivan Ballou, a Major in the 2nd
Rhode Island Volunteers, wrote home to his wife in Smithfield.)
July 14,1861
Camp Clark, Washington DC
Dear Sarah:
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. And lest I should not be able to write you again I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I am no more.
I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing - perfectly willing - to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt.
Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you, that I have enjoyed them for so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and see our boys grown up to honorable manhood around us.
If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name...
Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been!...
But, 0 Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you, in the brightest day and in the darkest night... always, always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.
Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again...
(Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the 1st Battle of Bull Run.)
"13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning
them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with Him. 15 For this we say unto you by the Word of the LORD, that we which are
alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the
LORD Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the LORD. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these Words" (1Thessalonians 4:13-18).
"We might not leave this jungle
alive,
but at least we can leave this world serving the Lord with gladness.
We can serve Him right here where we are, and with gladness"
-- Martin Burnham.
Maranatha!
Related Topic:
Why God Must Prove Us ---New
Window
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