The universe was bound in sin. The entire human race was locked under a curse that no wisdom of man could undo. We were headed toward a Christless grave, without hope, without God, and without a future. Scripture says plainly: “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) And again, “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) That is the dark code that ruled our lives. Sin, death, and separation from God were written into the very fabric of humanity and the universe.
But then Jesus came. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14) God stooped low, entering His own creation, clothing Himself in humanity. Jesus walked among us as a man—hungry, weary, tempted in all points as we are—yet without sin. And when the time came, he cracked the code. In reality, he already knew what it would take.
At the cross, He gave His life. He poured out His very life blood. And in that act of sacrifice, He destroyed the works of Satan. John wrote, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8) His resurrection sealed the victory. The grave was broken open, the power of death was crushed, and the code that bound humanity in hopelessness was shattered forever. This is the gospel we proclaim.
And yet, even with the victory of Christ, there are people groups still locked in darkness. Our teams serve among M communities, animistic tribes, and Catholic villages across the world. We carry the good news with joy. But often we find hearts are resistant, minds are closed, and doors are barred.
For years I have asked the Lord: what is the key? How do we “crack the code” of reaching the M world in particular? There are over a billion M on this earth. They pray daily. They live by strict religious rules. And yet they remain outside of Christ, bound by a different code—a code of law, fear, and ritual.
Earlier this week, Joel and I, along with another visiting family from one of our sending churches, gathered in the prayer garden. The sun was shining bright. We stopped at each stone to pray over the challenges our teams face and the victories God has given. It was a beautiful time of intercession and fellowship.
As we prayed, I felt the familiar burden rise within me. I had been praying this past year about the “code” of reaching M. What will it take, Lord? What must be given, Lord? I was about to open my mouth and share that prayer burden when Joel began to speak. He told of a conversation he recently had with another brother. The brother had said, “I think it’s going to take our blood to open the door.”
Those words stopped me. Could it be that the door into the M world will not swing wide until we ourselves are willing to lay down our lives? Just as Jesus shed His blood for the redemption of mankind, could it be that His followers are called to seal their testimony with blood?
Let me be clear: only the blood of Jesus redeems. There is no saving power in my blood or yours. Only faith in Christ brings salvation. Yet we are called to follow in His steps. Jesus Himself said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)
The history of the church confirms this. The early church father Tertullian declared, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Wherever Christians have laid down their lives in obedience to Christ, the gospel has spread like fire. Revelation gives us this picture: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11)
This is the costly code: the advance of God’s kingdom often requires sacrifice. Sometimes a living sacrifice, sometimes a dying, blood-shedding one. Paul exhorted us to present our bodies as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) Every believer is called to live for Christ daily—laying down ambitions, comforts, and self. But some are also called to die for Christ—laying down even their physical life.
Perhaps you recoil at the thought. But we must remember, Jesus Himself taught that a grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die before it bears much fruit. (John 12:24) The church has grown on this principle. And perhaps, for the M world, the long awaited, the final unlocking of hearts will come when men and women of God walk boldly into their villages, their mosques, and their homes, knowing full well it could cost them their lives. I think it should not be abnormal for us to give our very life blood for the growth of the church. I intend to. Will you follow me as I follow Jesus Christ?
Jesus cracked the ultimate code to loose the bonds of sin and even death itself. That is finished. That is eternal victory. But the advance of the gospel into the hardest places often requires that His followers bear the cross in very real ways too. C. T. Studd said it well:
“The ‘romance’ of a missionary is often made up of monotony and drudgery; there often is no glamour in it; it doesn’t stir a man’s spirit or blood. So don’t come out to be a missionary as an experiment; it is useless and dangerous. Only come if you feel you would rather die than not come. Don’t come if you want to make a great name or want to live long. Come if you feel there is no greater honor, after living for Christ, than to die for Him.”
This is not easy language. It is not glamorous. But it is true.
The code was cracked once for all at the cross. Now the call is for us to follow the Lamb wherever He goes—whether that means living as faithful witnesses or dying as faithful martyrs. And in the end, the church of Jesus Christ will be gathered from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.
— Harold R. Troyer