Thought for the Month - July 2015

"Beacon of Hope" by Barry Adair
(Bonfire Night)

As I write this Thought the young lads are busy collecting wood for the annual 11th July "bonfire night" here in Belfast, Northern Ireland.  This is a prelude to the 12th July celebrations of a battle in 1690, which occurred, funnily enough, on 12th July. Just the other day I observed a security guard chasing a couple of lads who had "liberated" about half a dozen wooden pallets from a building site close to where I live. They later returned to retrieve their wheeled buggy, minus the pallets!

As I thought about this Bonfire Night, my mind turned to another bonfire night even longer ago than July 1690. It was 16th Oct 1555 in Oxford, England. Three men had previously been sentenced to be burned at the stake for their part in the 'English Reformation'. This was the period of breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church and its erroneous teachings about Christ's actual presence in the Mass, payment for indulgences and personal salvation. The three men were Church of England Bishops Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer and Archbishop Cranmer. On the day in question Ridley and Latimer were burned at the stake and Archbishop Cranmer was forced to watch from a nearby tower.

This cruel death was made worse for Ridley by his brother in law foolishly putting more faggots on the pyre which actually caused only Ridley’s lower parts to burn. Latimer was credited with these words to Ridley… " Be of good comfort, and play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out".

Cranmer was burned to death nearly 6 months later on 21st March 1556. Today these men are known as the Oxford Martyrs for their bravery in standing up for Biblical truth, even unto death.

As I watch the night sky being lit up by the bonfires on 11th July I will think again of the sacrifice of these men in standing up for the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

No church can get you into heaven
No pope can get you into heaven
No prelate can get you into heaven
No works can get you into heaven

Personal salvation is only available through the grace of God. Unlike in the 16th century, the Bible is freely available in our own language. Its teaching on personal salvation is clear…

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
(Eph. 2:8-9)

Another Man suffered like no other man has ever suffered. Jesus endured physical agony on a cruel Roman cross and even more mental agony in taking on Himself the sin of the world. He died for you and me. We merely have to acknowledge His sacrifice for us and accept, with repentance, this free gift of personal salvation and a home in Heaven.

It is a beacon of hope for all mankind!

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
(John 8:12)

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
(Phil 2:8)

Until next month (dv)…

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