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INTRODUCTION
Tears filled my eyes uncontrollably as I read Brother Joshua Yu's book, The Narrow Way of the Cross (from which this book is excerpted). Captivated and constrained by the Lord's profound love, some of God's children followed Him on the way of the Cross, vowing to sacrifice their all at any cost - distress, poverty, afflictions, persecutions, starvation, sword, mockery or even to be slaughtered as sheep. However, in an actual situation of raging furnace or lion-den, whether one could be as composed and prepared for martyrdom as Stephen was is quite another matter. Even the brave and strong-minded Peter had the painful experience of denying the Lord thrice. This is because, in actual fact, the way of the Cross is not only a narrow way but is also a way of suffering, of thorns, of blood, or of death. We can easily be caught up in the billow if only we are slightly off-focused.
Satan, our enemy, is not only like a roaring lion prowling around looking for someone to devour but is also a disguised angel of light who beguiled the innocent just as the crafty serpent did in the garden of Eden. God's children who are just slightly off-guard will fall prey.
For this reason, the Lord Jesus repeatedly warned His followers to be on constant alert against the enemy's craftiness and attacks. He said:
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:25-27,33
Let us forsake what we should forsake and strive to attain what we should attain as we imitate Christ and take His yoke, following Him all the way to Calvary.
For 21 long years, Brother Joshua Yu endured an indescribably hard life of numerous persecutions, all for his steadfastness of faith in Christ. His only desire was to hold fast with a clear conscience as he sought to please the Lord in all he did, allowing God's will for him to be fulfilled. When the appropriate time did arrive, the hand of God delivered him from the pit of death and made him a God-glorifying witness before the public.
Brother Yu's testimony is truthful and credible. In these end-times of suffering, Satan is rampant; yet our God always sits on the eternal throne and the Cross is always the only path to victory for God's children. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
Brother in Christ,
Elisha Wu
September 27, 2005
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