Tuesday March 27, 2007
Here is Iain Murray writing on the death of the great Scottish preacher Robert Bruce:
Bruce was now some seventy-five years of age, his wife had been dead for several years and he was also ready for home. “I wonder why I am kept here so long,” he would say to friends. The following year, while having breakfast, his daughter, Martha, was about to prepare him another egg when he said, “Hold, daughter, hold; my Master calleth me.” He then asked that the house Bible, the Geneva Version, be brought. Unable himself to read it, he said, “Cast me up the 8th of Romans,” and he began to recite much of the second half of the chapter until he came to the last two verses: “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” “Set my finger on these words,” he asked. “God be with you my children. I have breakfasted with you, and shall sup with my Lord Jesus this night. I die believing these words.”
This was taken from A Scottish Christian Heritage
Comments (13) »
1. McWilliams
March 27, 2007
2:18 PM
What a great and blessed exit from here to glory! I’d so love to go the same way!
Thanks for sharing that Tim!
2. Travis
March 27, 2007
2:18 PM
Wait. What happened? Did he die?
3. Tim Challies
March 27, 2007
2:19 PM
“Wait. What happened? Did he die?”
No. Turns out he just had a cramp.
Just kidding. Yes, he died.
4. Ray Fowler
March 27, 2007
2:34 PM
Wow, that is awesome. Thank you for sharing those encouraging and inspiring words. I think I even choked up a little at: “God be with you my children. I have breakfasted with you, and shall sup with my Lord Jesus this night. “
5. Josh Rives
March 27, 2007
4:13 PM
That’s the way to go. Either that or some type of heroic yet painless death.
I heard an older pastor say that when he become too old to preach every Sunday, he will just have them ship him off to a country where they kill you for the Gospel. Then he’ll prop himself up in the middle of town and preach till someone takes him out.
6. david
March 27, 2007
4:55 PM
That’s one of the books I got for my birthday. Now you’ve got me itching to get started in it.
Funny, when I began reading this post, I was thinking of Robert the Bruce, contemporary of William Wallace. I didn’t think he was a preacher, and I know he didn’t have a Geneva Bible!
7. Sam
March 27, 2007
5:35 PM
I might argue that while catching the largest fish ever in a mountain stream would be as close to heaven as possible on earth…
Well, right up to the point that the Grizzly whacks your head off and you are present with the Lord.
That would be the way to go.
8. afrikaner
March 27, 2007
5:53 PM
Post 5, I’m sorry to say, is really offensive. In fact it is tragic.
Many in my family have died neither as heroes or in painless ways. Some have died awful deaths - some as believers, some as unbelievers. Yes Robert Bruce died in a way we could say is a blessing. He had a glorious vision and contemplation of both his life with his family and an anticipation of meeting with his Lord. Yet no death is natural and comes from the fall and is ugly. It only through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that death has lost it’s sting.
As far as being a heroe at one’s death - I’d rather think of my life as being a servant. There is only one hero - Jesus who is really a servant King. What ever my Lord does at the end with my body will be right.
To suggest that a preacher would deliberately have himself killed (“someone takes him out” - what an awful phrase) when he is unable to preach any longer is suggesting that assisted suicide is ok and that there is no value in life other than preaching. He has given you the wrong message.
Please Josh revisit what you have said here. It just does not accord with sound biblical thought.
9. Josh
March 27, 2007
6:29 PM
afrikaner, sorry if you were offended. I am just quoting what he said. I have to say though that I still admire his desire to fulfill the Great Commission even to his death. By his preaching he takes away the controlling fear of death.
10. donsands
March 27, 2007
6:49 PM
“Hold, daughter, hold; my Master calleth me.”
Wow! There are some of God’s servants who have such a closeness to the things of eternity; and in such a genuine way.
Great examples to us all.
I fear we all need to set our minds on the things above a bit more. At least I know I do.
Thanks for this marvelous quote from Iain Murray.
11. Josh
March 28, 2007
11:01 AM
Thanks Tim. Would that we could all be that faithful
It was very considerate—and slightly humorous, not sure why—of him to say don’t bother with the other egg.
Josh
“…the word of God is not bound.”
—2 Timothy 2:9
12. Tim Challies
March 28, 2007
11:13 AM
“It was very considerate—and slightly humorous, not sure why—of him to say don’t bother with the other egg.”
He was a Scot. He wouldn’t want it to go to waste… :)
13. Jenn
March 29, 2007
2:22 AM
Wow, that is absolutely beautiful and quite inspiring.