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Chapter 8: The Trials and Afflictions of Alexander, Lillias and their son John Proved that their Faith was Genuine |
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Some may ask "WHY" - what was God's purpose in allowing Alexander, Lillias and their son John to be tossed about by the Waves of many Afflictions that Lillias wrote about in her heart wrenching poems and letters.
The key to understanding "Why" is found in 1 Peter 1:6-7!
1 Peter 1:6-7 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (NLT)
1 Peter 1:6- 7 reveals that even though their faith was far more precious than mere gold that God used these trials in their lives to test their faith as fire tests and purifies gold. But "Why".
To understand "why" we go through trials Peter used the analogy between the testing of the genuineness of our faith with the refining process of gold. And, just as gold is refined by fire - our faith that is far more precious than temporal gold - if tested - is refined by the fire of our trials.
And, so it was with Lillias, Alexander and John who could rejoice because their faith - that was far more precious than temporal gold refined by fire - when tested proved that their Faith was Genuine.
And, once the knowledge of 1 Peter 1:6-7 enters into your soul - that God has a purpose for the trials that we may have to endure - that our faith when refined by trials is far more precious than temporal gold refined by fire - then that knowledge will be as pleasant to your soul as it is to my soul.
Proverbs 2:10-11 10 For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, And knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee: (ASV)
If temporal gold is worth refining - then how much more our faith which has eternal value.
When her husband, son and son-in-law were imprisoned for their faith Lillias wrote a poem that speaks of their "Patient Sufferings" during their trials and conflicts.
And, James 1:2-4 reveals that it was the testing of their faith that produced their patience that Lillias wrote about. And, when our faith produces patience and endurance that is when we will be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4 2 My
brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith
produces patience. 4 But let
patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking nothing. (NKJV) James 5:10-11 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. (NKJV)
The following is a copy of the above mentioned poem that Lillias wrote about and, as always, Lillias praised the Lord for His steadfast love. The poem is from page 91 of "The Bards of Bon-Accord." |
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It's important that you understand "Why" because it's not a matter of "if" - it's just a matter of "when" you find yourselves in a "Spiritual Battle" - where you too are tossed about by the waves of many afflictions.
In Acts 7-8 we find that God used Persecution to Scatter the Believers. And, everywhere they went - they went preaching the Good News of the Gospel. And, just as the Lord used the death of Stephen, the first Christian Martyr, and the great wave of persecution that swept over the church in Jerusalem to scatter the Believers - what a wonderful joy to know - that the Lord used the deaths of many of the Quakers in Aberdeen to cause my forebear John, who was threatened with death if he didn't leave Scotland, to come and bring the knowledge of the "Whole" Gospel Jesus Christ to America.
Matthew 10:23 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. (KJV)
But, know this - everything that the Lord allows to happen in your life He allows it for a Kingdom purpose. It's encouraging to know that the Lord will even use those bad things in our lives for His good. Romans 8
We live in a world where the secular Believer and the spiritual Believer coexist together. And, sadly those of us who hunger for "Spiritual Freedom" to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth can expect, as illustrated in Scripture history, greater sorrow and cruelty than usual to befall them from the hand of those who would rather hold on to the traditions of man that nullify the Word of God rather than worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
And, what a wonderful joy to know that the Lord used the trials of Alexander, Lillias and John's lives to bring Religious Liberty to Scotland. When all was said and done, those like Alexander, Lillias and John paved the way so others like themselves could worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth without having their property taken away from them or being imprisoned.
The following three chapters, one dedicated to each of my forebears, gives an account of their own personal experiences. In addition to my comments I have included pages scanned in from the Books that I have in my possession concerning their experiences during the time they were being persecuted.
And, without a doubt, their "witness unto the Lord" will bring a joy to the heart of each and every one of their spiritual offspring.
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