The wonderful Christian song, I Have Decided To Follow Jesus, not only has solid, blessed Bible-based lyrics, but the martyrdom origin of its composition makes it even better!
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus and The Martyr
Its account goes like this. A Christian missionary went to India and converted a whole family to the Lord Jesus from a head hunter tribe about 150 years ago. The man’s faith influenced other villagers to be converted too. That angered the tribal chief, who had the entire village assemble, including the family who initially converted to Christianity. That family was told to renounce their faith or die. In reply the husband and father sang, I have decided to follow Jesus. (3 times) No turning back, no turning back.
The tribal chief ordered archers to kill his two sons. As they were dying the chief asked him again to renounce his faith or lose his wife too. He replied in song again — The world behind me, the cross before me. (3 times) No turning back, no turning back.
The chief ordered his wife to be shot with arrows and she died. Finally the chief said, “I will give you one more opportunity to deny your faith and live.” With that he sang out, Though none go with me, still I will follow. (3 Times) No turning back, no turning back.
He too was shot and died. His faithfulness to the point of death not only saved him from the lake of fire (Rev. 2:10,11), it also affected the village chief himself and the whole village to afterwards become Christians!
Make I Have Decided To Follow Jesus a Favorite
Dear reader, consider making I Have Decided To Follow Jesus one of your own personal praise and worship songs to the Lord! To make a solid stand for God, even in the face of death, may be required of you! I Have Decided To Follow Jesus is one musical sermon which should bless you and help give your courage to continue on even if it means becoming a martyr yourself.
