From Candle to Torch
“Stand firm in the faith;
act like men; be strong.”
1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV)
Bishops Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley are fastened together in history primarily because they were fastened to the same stake on October 16, 1555, on the north side of Oxford. But Latimer and Ridley share more than a martyrdom. The bishops also join each other on the list of England’s most influential Reformers — men and women whose allegiance to Scripture and the glory of Christ transformed England from a Catholic kingdom to a lighthouse of Reformation.
On October 16, 1555, after spending eighteen months imprisoned, Latimer and Ridley met at an Oxford stake. The two men talked and prayed together before being fastened to the wood.
Ridley was the first to strengthen his friend. “Be of good heart, brother, for God will either assuage the fury of the flame, or else strengthen us to abide it.” As the bundle of sticks caught fire beneath them, Latimer replied, “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”
Latimer’s words proved prophetic. Three years later Bloody Queen Mary’s reign ended and her half-sister Elizabeth, a Protestant, ascended to England’s throne. Latimer and Ridley’s candle proved to be a torch as the Protestant Reformation swept England.
Charlie Kirk’s life and death lit a torch for Christ. Kirk shone the light of Christ into the darkest of places and gave his life in the process. He stood firm in the faith; acted like a man; and challenged others- especially young men- to do the same. Once when asked how he wanted to be remembered, Kirk responded, “I want to be remembered for my courage and my faith.” At his memorial service last Sunday, Charlie Kirk was remembered by thousands for both.
Charlie Kirk understood four foundational truths for living covenantally:
God is our reference point
His Word is our authority
His Glory is our purpose
His presence is His promise (Matthew 28:20)
In her tribute to her late husband, Erika Kirk recalled seeing Charlie at the hospital following his death. Poignantly, she recalled seeing one strand of gray hair and a faint half-smile on his face. Erika said that smile assured her that Charlie was killed instantly and didn’t suffer. Charlie Kirk died as he lived, doing what he loved to do best: debate, persuade, and present a case for Christ and Truth.
Some people probably consider Erika Kirk’s “faint smile” remarks as wishful thinking, but I had the same experience with my Daddy’s death twenty years ago. Daddy had been in the hospital for weeks following a massive heart attack. Our family had finally agreed to remove his life support. Providentially, Daddy surprised us all and continued to breathe on his own for two more days.
I was privileged to be with Daddy the night he died. Sleep eluded me as I lay in the darkness on a cot next to his hospital bed. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I listened to his shallow breathing and prayed for mercy. Suddenly the words, “Count it all joy” (James 1:2) came to my mind and heart. As I repeated those words, I felt God nudging me to do just that and count this suffering joy.
Initially I prayed, “Lord, I don’t think I can!” But somewhere over the next few minutes that prayer changed to “Lord, help me to count this all joy.” During the next hour I finally drifted off to sleep.
Ninety minutes later, a kind African American nurse shook me gently and said, “Honey, get up. Your Dad has just passed.”
When I got up I was amazed to see my dad’s countenance. His furrowed brow had eased, his body was still, and there was just the slightest smile on his face. Daddy looked so peaceful and years younger. All his hard work was over, and Daddy was finally home.
“Your Dad was a believer, wasn’t he?” the kind nurse asked softly.
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied. “But how did you know?”
“Oh, honey! The ones that know Jesus, they go with a smile on their face. The ones that don’t; they go kicking and screaming!’
Charlie Kirk knew Jesus and went to Glory with a smile on his face. Those who know Christ as their Lord and Savior will do the same. Until then, we are called to be what Christ says we already are: “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:16).
Latimer, Ridley, and Kirk: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”. Tertullian (160 AD-240 AD)