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I wonder how many people are familiar with the story of Walter Mill? He may not be the best-known people in British history but he is one who played a significant part in the history of the Christian Church in Britain.
Walter Mill’s testimony to God's grace
and his faithfulness as a follower of Christ is quite inspiring. He was hunted down even though he held no position and posed no threat. He was arrested and imprisoned in the castle of St. Andrews. On the day his trial Walter Mill entered the courtroom at the Cathedral of St. Andrews and fell to his knees in prayer. The authorities forced this aged and physically weak believer to stop praying. By this time Mill, so feeble from his time in prison feared that he would be to weak to speak in defence of himself. However, strengthened by the unseen hand of his Heavenly Father he spoke with passion of his Lord and was yet still condemned to be burned at the stake. His treatment was so harsh that after he was tied to the stake to be burned the people assembled demanded that he be given a chance to speak. The crowd fell quite as Walter Mill spoke,
"Dear friends, the cause why I
suffer this day, is not for any crime laid to my charge, thought I
acknowledge myself a miserable sinner before God, but only for the
defence of the truths of Jesus Christ set forth in the Old and New
Testaments. I praise God that he hath called me, among the rest of
his servants to seal his truth with my life; and that I have received
it of him, so I willingly offer it up for his glory...(I urge you to)
depend only upon Jesus Christ and his mercy, that so you may be
delivered from condemnation." Walter Mill died in 1538. He went to be with Jesus of that we can be sure as the word of God reads in 2 Timothy 4 v 6 – 8;
‘For I am already being poured out like a drink
offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the
good fight, I have finished the race and I have kept the faith. Now
there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteousness judge, will award to me on that day – and not only
to men, but also to all those who have longed for his appearance.’
From his ashes rose an establishment of the Christian
faith in Scotland. Those who watched the burning of this 82-year-old
man, who was fragile to begin with, were so upset that they demanded
an end to the burning of Christians. From the days of the early Church right through until this generation Christians have met with persecution for their faith in and love of the Lord Jesus. Walter Mill was given numerous opportunities to recant his faith in Christ and save his life, but he couldn’t do that – he wouldn’t do that! How would you respond if your life depended upon holding firm to Christ or denying Him? Would you be tempted to say that your family needs you and you are only denying Him for your family needs or think in your head that you are not really denying your faith, but just "saying it?" Think how this man's death may have saved so many lives by him being faithful to His Lord. He was the last martyr of this time in British history and it could be his faithfulness that saved many. It is a lesson to us all to seek to be faithful to our blessed and high calling. Today more and more believers are being persecuted for their faith in Christ. This list of countries who’s rulers have been blinded by Satan and led by him to harm the modern day saints of God grows bigger each week. Becoming a Christian means adopting a sacrificial lifestyle. Following Jesus may mean that we have to change our personal life plan for the sake of the King. What are you willing to do for him because he gave everything for you. |