SUFFERING IN HIS NAME by Augusta W. Heald

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 1, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 18.

SUFFERING IN HIS NAME.

By Augusta W. Heald

WHILE our loved Jesus was on earth, He often talked with the disciples of the trials which awaited them. They would be brought to witness before kings and rulers. They would be scourged in the synagogs, and hated of all men, for His name’s sake, and the time would even come when whosoever would kill them would think he was doing God service. They were to expect all these things; for surely “the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20. But said Jesus: “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” “Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 10:28, 32, 33.

In fulfilment of the Saviour’s words, a storm of persecution soon burst upon the church. Stephen, a man of great faith and wisdom and mightily endowed with the Holy Spirit, became involved in a dispute with enemies of the faith, and when they could not answer his arguments, they accused him of blasphemy. Being permitted to answer to this charge, Stephen showed that the Jewish nation had slain the Just One of God. This so increased their rage that they rushed madly upon him and stoned him to death. In his dying hour Stephen “looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55. And so the first Christian martyr “fell asleep,” calling upon the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit, and saying, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” Verse 60.

Persecution soon became so great in Jerusalem that the great body of Christians were scattered and dispersed thru the surrounding regions. Wherever they went they preached the Word, and thus the Gospel was spread abroad. Saul of Tarsus, in his blind zeal, entered into houses, and, dragging forth men and women, committed them to prison, believing that in so doing he was serving God. But as Saul journeyed to Damascus, intending to slaughter the saints of God, a light far exceeding that of the sun shone around him at midday, and a voice called to him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?”

Saul fell to the earth, struck blind by the light from God’s throne, and, trembling with fear, he said, “Who art thou, Lord?” and as these words penetrated his awe-stricken senses, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest” (Acts 22:7, 8), he tremblingly asked, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do (Acts 9:6)?” Thus miraculously was the church delivered from her fierce enemy, who became, under God, “a chosen vessel” to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles.

After a few years, the Christians again suffered persecution, under Herod Agrippa, who beheaded James, the brother of John, and cast Peter into prison. Now indeed was the church in deep distress, and took refuge in prayer. Supplications ceased not, but arose continually from one little praying band after another, and reached the throne on high.

As Peter slept soundly within prison walls, bound with a chain on either hand to the Roman soldiers who guarded him, the angel of the Lord appeared, and a great light shone within the gloomy dungeon. Peter’s chains fell off, and he, as in a vision, and not knowing whither he went, followed the angel. The massive iron gate swung open, and when they had passed thru, the angel departed, and Peter stood half dazed in the street of the city, not yet able to realize the truth that the Lord had sent His angel and delivered him from the hand of cruel Herod.

The perils of the apostolic church are most truly and graphically delineated by Paul in relating his own experience: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I

have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” 2 Cor. 11:24–27.

Yet, while contemplating these hardships, the great apostle to the Gentiles could say, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24.

Later in life, when nearing the close of his career, this faithful herald of the Gospel was enabled thru God’s grace to say: “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Tim. 4:6, 7.

And so, rejoicing in tribulation, did the twelve apostles bear witness to the truth, and one after another sealed their testimony with their blood. But the faith for which they died could not be extinguished; it lived in thousands of humble, pious hearts, who followed meekly in the footsteps of their dying Lord.

AUGUSTA W. HEALD.