BE STRONG AND PLAY THE MAN!
Oct. 1555 Two men refusing to recant their personal faith in Jesus Christ, would die a terrible death. They would be burned at the stake. Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley…
As their executioners lit the fire Hugh called out to his friend, “Be of good cheer, Ridley. Play the Man! We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace…as I trust shall never be put out.”
There is no doubt that these two men knew of the story of Polycarp. Polycarp (70-156) came to Christ through the ministry of the Apostle John, the last of the Apostles. Polycarp would eventually serve as the Bishop of Smyrna.As the Roman persecution increased the Romans came for the old Saint and publicly pressured him to recant his faith. Upon his refusal they ordered him to be burned at the stake. As they were dragging him to the stake there came a voice from heaven saying, "Be Strong Polycarp, Play the man."As his executioners lit the fire the witnesses say that the flames did not touch the flesh of Polycarp. It was as if a cool breeze keep the flames away from him. Being frustrated by their failure the executioners ran him through with a sword. As the story goes, some say his gushing blood extinguished the flames of the fire.I am convinced that Hugh and Ridley were encouraged by this story. And thus knew that God's Presence would empower them to withstand the flames of their own death.A few years ago I was reading scriptures and found these words, "Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: "I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man." (1 Kings 2:1-2).I wonder if the Apostle John looked into the eyes of his young convert, Polycarp, and reminded him to "Be strong, and Play the man." I wonder as Polycarp was being lead to the stake if he recognized that voice, and remembered those words?"BE STRONG POLYCARP.... PLAY THE MAN"
Hugh and Ridley were in fact killed by other Christians. Other believers in Christ who thought that their perspective of Christianity was the right one and that all others were evil. People are being torched because of their faith, daily! Criticism, judgmentalism, legalism is the fuel of the fires that are ignited every day. Though in our culture there are no public burnings there are many private barbecues!
No one truly notices when another brother or sister is burned by the criticisms of another believer. But the fires burn just as hot today as ever.
To each of you that feel the flames of the executioner... Hear me shout out to you "Be of Good Cheer.... you are a light, a candle of the Lord and your life is an inspiration to us all"
BE STRONG AND PLAY THE MAN (OR WOMAN)!