Killed For The Sake Of Christ
On the orders of a Lamar, Kartar Singh was put to death for preaching the gospel. But for Kartar, death was no foe to be feared, and until he breathed his last, this was his position!
Following excerpt from 57% into The Cross is Heaven, The Life and Writings of Sadhu Sundar Singh by A. J. Appasamy
This young man was the son of Sundar Hamam Singh of Patiala. When his father heard that he was about to become a Christian, he made every possible effort to prevent it. The son's reply was: "Everywhere have I sought a Deliverer, but found him nowhere; and now at last through His Word God has revealed to me that the Saviour is the Lord Christ, and now I shall not leave Him who, in my stead, gave His life to save me." Then his father ...in a burst of anger called Kartar Singh and ordered him to put off all his clothes and to leave the house, and to renounce all connection with him from that time, that is to say, in the month of December and at night-time. There was no help for it. He could only obey. So he took off his clothes and laid them at his father's feet and said to his father, “I am not ashamed to-day to divest myself of these clothes, because the righteousness of Jesus Christ has covered all my nakedness and sin." And then, according to his father's order, he left the house, praying as he did so.
...
On the way he was baptized by the Rev. Rabarsanki, and studying day and night he learnt the Tibetan language. Afterwards, preaching as he went, he reached the Tibetan town of Tashigang and preached there for the space of three months. All the people became his enemies. On one occasion, when the people realized that he would not of himself go away, they bundled him up in a cloth, and in turn bearing him upon their shoulders took him outside their district and left him there; but in a few days' time he arrived back again. Then the Lama pronounced the sentence of death against him. On hearing this Kartar Singh said, “You may do what you wish to me, but I shall not leave this place, because the love of my Lord for me and my brotherly love to Him constrain me to offer to shed my blood even for your sakes, in order that you may believe in the truth and escape destruction. Oh Lama, repent and believe on the Lord, or else some day in this same manner the sentence of everlasting death will be passed upon you."
After this they conveyed him to a hill which was the place of execution...Then addressing the people, he said, “Are you standing to see the death of a Christian? Come and gaze attentively, that not a Christian but death itself dies here. Oh Lord! into Thy hands I commit my spirit, because it is Thine." Saying this, he entered into eternal rest with the Lord and left us an example.
On one occasion, when, on Patiala station I was speaking about this witness, I saw a venerable man who wept bitterly; and afterwards on enquiry I learned that he was the father of that Kartar Singh. Weeping he said, “Alas! I knew not that he was such a devout and Christian son, or I should not have treated him so badly." Therefore the result of his becoming a Christian and of his martyrdom was this, that his father is a secret Christian, and of those among whom he was martyred several have become Christians.
...
On the way he was baptized by the Rev. Rabarsanki, and studying day and night he learnt the Tibetan language. Afterwards, preaching as he went, he reached the Tibetan town of Tashigang and preached there for the space of three months. All the people became his enemies. On one occasion, when the people realized that he would not of himself go away, they bundled him up in a cloth, and in turn bearing him upon their shoulders took him outside their district and left him there; but in a few days' time he arrived back again. Then the Lama pronounced the sentence of death against him. On hearing this Kartar Singh said, “You may do what you wish to me, but I shall not leave this place, because the love of my Lord for me and my brotherly love to Him constrain me to offer to shed my blood even for your sakes, in order that you may believe in the truth and escape destruction. Oh Lama, repent and believe on the Lord, or else some day in this same manner the sentence of everlasting death will be passed upon you."
After this they conveyed him to a hill which was the place of execution...Then addressing the people, he said, “Are you standing to see the death of a Christian? Come and gaze attentively, that not a Christian but death itself dies here. Oh Lord! into Thy hands I commit my spirit, because it is Thine." Saying this, he entered into eternal rest with the Lord and left us an example.
On one occasion, when, on Patiala station I was speaking about this witness, I saw a venerable man who wept bitterly; and afterwards on enquiry I learned that he was the father of that Kartar Singh. Weeping he said, “Alas! I knew not that he was such a devout and Christian son, or I should not have treated him so badly." Therefore the result of his becoming a Christian and of his martyrdom was this, that his father is a secret Christian, and of those among whom he was martyred several have become Christians.
The Cross is Heaven, The Life and Writings of Sadhu Sundar Singh
by A. J. Appasamy
| Genre: | Evangelist biography |
| Subject: | Sadhu Sundar Singh |
| Publisher: | Lutterworth Press |
| Year: | 1956 |
| Location: | London |
| Library: | Carey S. Thomas Library |
| Online: | https://archive.org/details/thecrossishe... |
Scripture Testimony Index stories in this book
Sundar Singh was preaching to hostile Buddhists in Tibet and was one day driven out of a village without food and left to bear the blistering call from 13, 000 feet. But as he prayed, the Lord spoke to him; bringing him peace and the assurance that he was not alone.
Sundar Singh was prevailed upon to go see a poor man on his death-bed and on getting there he found this man—who was ill and had suffered for many years—filled with joy and hope—even as death was lurked over his room. He was not afraid to die, for he knew that he was soon to be ushered into life everlasting!
The sun was already setting, when Sadhu Sundar Singh, who was given wrong directions by a group of Christian-hating villagers, found himself in the middle of nowhere with a river before him that he could not cross. But in his moment of despair, a man came and helped him cross over. It was only after they has crossed that he realized that he had been helped—not by a man—but by an angel of the Lord.
Sundar Singh was threatened with jail time by an officer he preached the gospel to. But rather than chicken out, Sundar made it clear that so long as he was alive, he would continue to preach Jesus, and not prison or even death will stand in his way!
He came with the intention to rob the Sadhu but he left a penitent, completely changed and born again man!
When every appeal and emotional blackmail failed to get him to change his mind about becoming a Christian, Kartar Singh was not only disowned but was stripped naked before being sent away from home by his own father. But Katar was resolute, and though he left home physically naked, he knew he was covered in God's love!
On the orders of a Lamar, Kartar Singh was put to death for preaching the gospel. But for Kartar, death was no foe to be feared, and until he breathed his last, this was his position!