John Huss was born … in Bohemia, about the year 1380. … In 1398, Huss commenced bachelor of divinity, and was after successively chosen pastor of the church of Bethlehem, in Prague, and dean and rector of the university. In these stations he discharged his duties with great fidelity; and became, at length, so conspicuous for his preaching, which was in conformity with the doctrines of Wickliffe, that it was not likely he could long escape the notice of the pope and his adherents[.]1Eventually he was arrested, tried for heresy, and cruelly mocked when he would not recant. He was burned at the stake, 6 July 1415.
But why should we remember John Huss AND the other hundreds-of-thousands (if not millions) who have given their lives in standing2 for truth (as they understood it through prayer, study, and obedience to the Word of God)?
Perhaps we should remember for these reasons:
▪ because, in these latter-days, we seem too content to subsist on “likes”, worldly pursuits, skimmed milk,3 and “smooth things”;4----------------------/
▪ because we seem unaware that there have been innumerable martyrs and that their stories can help prepare us to stand strong in our own convictions. (Read: John Foxe’s, Fox's Book of Martyrs Or A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant Deaths of the Primitive Protestant Martyrs)
▪ because in our distractions, pursuits, and entertainments, we seem devoid of the depth and conviction that carried so many martyrs through tortures and death;
▪ because we don’t seem to be preparing for prophetic fulfillments:
And I saw the woman [BABYLON THE GREAT] drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: (New Testament | Revelation 17:6)▪ because we don’t seem to care enough about the lessons and déjà vus of history;5
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; (New Testament | Revelation 20:4)
▪ “… lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear. And that ye might escape the power of the enemy, and be gathered unto me a righteous people, without spot and blameless—” (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 38:30-31)
▪ because fear is the forerunner of deception, impulsivity, confusion, violence, and chaos;
▪ because we shall fear if we do not have the Word of God firmly planted in our minds and hearts, to give us the peace and assurance that we can endure all things in Christ:
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Old Testament | Isaiah 41:10-13)▪ because too many of us seem to live as if we shall inherit all things on the wings of Babylon.
1. Foxe, John, Fox's Book of Martyrs Or A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant Deaths of the Primitive Protestant Martyrs (Kindle Locations 2981, 2984-2987). Public Domain Books. Kindle Edition (2009-10-04). See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Hus
2. As in standing before idols instead of bowing down as exemplified by Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-nego; as in the Savior’s words: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (New Testament | Matthew 24:15)
3. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2010/10/skimmed-milk.html
4. Old Testament | Isaiah 30:8-11 ~ Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
5. Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:77-82 ~ And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom. Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms— That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you. Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor. Therefore, they are left without excuse, and their sins are upon their own heads. [Bold emphasis added.]
