To lay down one's life

January 16, 2010

In late October, an Islamic suicide bomber tried to attack the women's area of the International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan.

But as the suicide bomber made his way to a cafeteria of some 300 to 400 women students, a Christian janitor named Pervaiz came between him and his goal.  Like many Pakistani followers of Jesus, he was relegated to the most servile of jobs.  Yet this simple man refused to let the bomber pass.  In the altercation that followed, the bomb detonated, killing Pervaiz, the bomber, and three girls nearby.  But several hundred other Muslim girls were kept from harm.

A professor the university stated that Pervaiz "rose above the barriers of caste, creed and sectarian terrorism. Despite being a Christian, he sacrificed his life to save the Muslim girls."

Perhaps it would be more accurate to say, not "despite being a Christian," but because of being a Christian, Pervaiz laid down his life.

Pray that Pervaiz's heroic actions will help Pakistani Muslims to see Christians in a different light. And pray that Islamic extremists would have their eyes opened to what it means to be a true martyr -- not suicidal bombings, but giving one's life so others might live.

~ adapted from the Christian Post