CHAPTER XXX
Be Faithful
Life may be compared to this book in two respects. First, it has a beginning, second, an end. It must not be measured, however, by the number of years one lives as we would number the pages of this book, for “length of years is no proper test of length of life.” But life must be measured by what one feels, thinks and does. In the matchless phrase of Paul: “To live is Christ.”
The exhortation of this chapter is beautifully illustrated by many characters of the Bible and history. Hananiah, “a faithful man;” Timothy, “faithful in the Lord;” Tychius and Epaphras, “faithful ministers;” Onesimus and Silvanus, “faithful brothers,” and Antipas, “a faithful martyr.” Julius Palmer in Queen Mary’s time, being asked to recant his faith in Christ, said that he rather would yield his life. Latimer said that Smithfield had long groaned for him, but he had prayed that he might be firm in death. When the hour of execution came, he knelt and prayed, and, as the flames shot up about him, he cried: “Father of heaven, receive my soul.”
In the first century lived a boy by the name of Polycarp. He was taught by John the Apostle. After embracing the Christian religion he studied to preach and finally became a bishop. Persecution soon raged against the followers of Christ and this man was arrested. On the way to court, Irenarch, Herod and his father Nicetes met him. They took him into their chariot and counseled him: “What harm is it to say ‘Lord Cæsar’ and to sacrifice and be safe?” Polycarp replied, “I will not follow your advice,” whereupon they thrust him from the chariot, bruising his thigh. At the Stadium the procunsul urged him: “Swear and I will release thee.” “Reproach Christ!” rejoined Polycarp, “eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has never wronged me, and how can I blaspheme my King who hath saved me?” “Swear by the fortune of Cæsar,” cried the procunsul. “If you still vainly contend to make me swear by the fortune of Cæsar,” said Polycarp, “affecting an ignorance of my real character, hear me frankly declare what I am. I am a Christian.” “I will have wild beasts,” cried the procunsul, “I will expose you to them unless you repent.” “Call them,” replied Polycarp. “I will tame your spirit by fire, since you despise the wild beasts, unless you repent,” said the officer. “You threaten,” answered Polycarp, “with fire that burns for a moment, and is then extinct, but you are ignorant of the future judgment, and the fire of eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly. But why delay? Do as you please.” Saying this he was led away and burnt at the stake, which he made memorable by one of the most beautiful prayers ever uttered.
A Roman Emperor said to a Greek architect, “Build me a grand coliseum, and if it suits me, I will crown you in the presence of my people, and I will make a great day of festival on your account.” The architect did the work magnificently. The day for opening arrived. In the coliseum were the emperor and the architect. The former arose, amid the plaudits of a vast assembly, and said, “We have gathered here to-day to open this coliseum, and to honor the Greek architect. It is a great day for the Roman Empire. Let this building be prosperous, and let honor be put on the Greek architect. O! we must have a festival day. Bring out those Christians and let them be put to death at the mouth of the lions!”
The Christians were put in the center of the amphitheater. It was to be a great celebration in their destruction. Then the lions, hungry and three-fourths starved, were let out of their dens in the side of the amphitheater, and they came forth with mighty spring to destroy and rend the Christians, and all the galleries shouted, “Huzza! Huzza! Long live the Emperor!” Then the Greek architect arose in one of the galleries, and shouted until, in the vast assemblage, all heard him, “I, too, am a Christian!”
They seized him in their fury and flung him to the wild beasts, until his body, bleeding and dead, was tumbled over and over again in the dust of the amphitheater. He was “faithful unto death!”
UNFAITHFULNESS AND ITS CAUSE.
Many boys start well in the Christian life, but in a brief time stray away. They put their hand to the plow but soon look back. They boil over with enthusiasm while the interest is at white heat, but when trials and ridicule come they follow Christ at a distance. They renounce the world for a season, but like Demas soon come to it again. Many who have at some time been numbered with the saints have later, like Judas, turned out to be betrayers.