The Life of Riley

It's pretty interesting to investigate where figures of speech have come from. Sometimes the way we think they should be intrepreted really aren't the way they started out at all. The one I currently have investigated is one that really isn't used too much anymore. It belongs more to my generation and the generation of my mother and even grandparents. I guess I heard them use it and picked it up as well. 'The Life of Riley' is the saying I have been looking at this week. This saying may have originated as early as the 1880s when James Witcomb Riley's poems were written, depicting a prosperous home life. Riley even minted his own money in his home, and those coins were accepted even in England. The coins were called 'Reilley's' or 'O'Reilley's' and the term became synonomous with a monied or comfortable person. Later, in the 1940's there was a radio show called "The Life of Riley" starring William Bendix. The show spawned television shows, a movie, and other catch phrases that were embedded into our culture. At this point, I'll bet you're wondering where I'm going with this......truth be known you are probably ALWAYS wondering where I'm going with things! The 'Life of Riley' term came into mind as I was reading the new book I wanted to talk to you about. Although it sounds rather flippant, the book I'm thinking about deals with one of the most difficult subjects we American Christians can hear about. Compared to the people in the book I'm reading, we Christians in this country indeed have 'The Life of Riley", an easy, pampered,even spoiled existance. After reading only 2 chapters from this book, I am thinking more about the words spoiled, brat, and whiner. I have tended to feel sorry for myself when I get ill will from others of any kind. It's been important to me that people "like" me, so when they don't I worry about that. It has even been difficult for me to accept negative comments and feedback from others about Christ and my relationship with Him. Not that I would ever stop what I do in regard to Christ, but when others are negative it is hard for me. And then this week I began reading "Tortured for Christ" by Richard Wurmbrand. This book, written by a Romanian Jew, has had millions of copies published in 65 languages. Mr. Wurmbrand lived from 1909 until 2001. He became a Christian in 1938, after being raised as a Communist and atheist in Russia. He became a follower of Christ in 1938, a salvation story that is in itself, miraculous. The book was penned shortly after he was released from prison, and was completely written in three days. There are many amazing stories in this book. I would like to share them all, but I will only share one this time, and a few more later. The story of his conversion from atheist to one who was 'tortured for Christ' is obviously an experience that was manipulated by God to happen. Wurmbrand was convinced there was no God, but it saddened him that this was true. He entered a Catholic church and saw people kneeling and praying. He repeated the Hail Mary with them, but when he looked at the statue of Mary and nothing happpened as he expected it to, he was saddened then also. One day he prayed to God, saying he knew God didn't exist, but if He did, it was His duty to reveal Himself to him. At about this time, an old carpenter was living in the mountains of Romania. He was praying to have the reward of leading a Jew to Christ before he died. He prayed that being old and sick, he could not travel to find a Jew, so God would have to bring one to him. Well, Wurmbrand was irresistably drawn to that village for no apparent reason.He had never been there before, and he had no reason to go to that village over others he could go to. He met up with the carpenter. The carpenter gave him a Bible that had been prayed over for hours for the conversion of a Jew and his wife. Wurmbrand had read the Bible before, but he could scarsely read this one. All he could do was weep over it, marvel at the love of Christ, and become a saved man. The carpenter's prayers had been answered. Wurmbrand's wife was also converted soon after. Amazing, isn't it? Our God goes to great lengths to see that we come to Him. He pursues us in miraculous, supernatural ways. In the 63 years that followed his conversion, Wurmbrand lived a life so sold out to Christ that it puts most Christians to shame. There are so many lessons to be learned from this book, and I will share more of them in the next posts. The thought I want to leave you with is one I have been thinking since I started reading this book. I don't want to live a selfish, easy "Life of Riley" as a Christian. I want to do something that makes me at least a tiny bit deserving of the name. Of course, for reasons I will never understand, my acceptance of the Son gives me the ability to use the name. But reading stories like this makes me want to do more. People all over the world,even today, are suffering,placing themselves in mortal danger, and even dying horrible deaths simply by being called Christians. We don't like to think about things like this, but it is so true. Do a little investigating, and you will see that Christians are being persecuted more now than ever before worldwide. I have so many Bibles at my disposal it's shameful. And yet, many would give anything to have one they could read. Be thinking about this subject this next week. Do some research. Give some feedback on what you discover. And I will tell you more of Richard Wurmbrand's remarkable life later. No 'Life of Riley' I guarantee you.