Cyprian was martyred in the year 258.
He died confessing His allegiance to the Lordship of Christ over all.
When I read through some fragments from his writings recently, they convinced me that this man is rightly considered a hero. He willingly, even eagerly, laid down his life. He did this because He knew His Bible and loved His Savior.
He was ready to die because he was utterly sure of the truth about life, death and eternity.
The first fragment recounted below explains why he was unafraid of death. It seems that in his mind it was simple, inevitable, that we would not fear death if we knew the God of life.
The second fragment unfolds a beautiful understanding of persecution and martyrdom.
Let him fear to die who, not born of the Spirit, is the property of the eternal fire. Let him fear to die who is to pass from death here the second death.
In persecution, earth is shut, but heaven opens; Antichrist threatens, but Christ protects; death enters, but immortality ensues; the world is taken from us, but Paradise is awarded; the life of time is quenched, but the life of eternity is accomplished.
I want us to be ready.