Imagine this happening to you.    Would you run or stay... One Sunday morning during service, a 2,000 member congregation was surprised to see two men enter, both covered from head to toe in black and carrying submachine guns. One of the men proclaimed, "Anyone willing to take a bullet for Christ remain where you are." Immediately, the choir fled, the deacons fled, and most of the congregation fled.  Out of the 2,000 there only remained around 20. The man who had spoken took off his hood, looked at the preacher and said, "Okay Pastor, I got rid of all the hypocrites. Now you may begin your service. Have a nice  day!" And the two men turned and walked out.  

Jesus said the same thing in a different way. He said, "If anyone acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But if you do not acknowledge me before others, I will not acknowledge you." Those who left couldn't acknowledge Jesus by giving their lives for him. But those who stayed were committed, even at the risk of their lives. Every day we have opportunities to live our faith in Jesus in the public arena. Our human lives may not be at risk, but our eternal salvation may be.