The Power of the Truth

For the past week and a half I was on a golfing vacation in Scotland with my dad and two of my brothers. I have been playing golf for the past 43 years. Not only do I enjoy playing the game but I appreciate the rich history of the sport. Going to Scotland is going to the birthplace of golf. We played the Old Course in St. Andrews and it was exciting to be in a place with such a significant past.

But what impacted me the most in St. Andrews was not playing the links of the Old Course. What impacted me the most was standing next to what you see pictured here. These are the initials PH which are in the walkway right outside of St. Salvator's Chapel on the campus of St. Andrews Universtiy. They are the initials of Patrick Hamilton whose story stirred my heart.

Patrick Hamilton was born in a noble Scotttish family and he became a distinguished young man in his own right. He traveled to Germany to study at a university in Marburg. While Hamilton was there he became acquainted with the teaching of Martin Luther. The impact of this teaching along with Hamilton's own zealous study of Scripture convinced him of the truth that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone based on Scripture alone. Hamilton then desired to return and preach these great truths to his own countrymen.

After preaching in Scotland for some time, Hamilton was invited to come to St. Andrews to have his teaching examined there by some church leaders. What happened next is recorded for us in Foxe's Book of Martyrs. "But his enemies could not stand the light, and finding that they were unable to defend themselves by argument, resolved upon violence and revenge." Hamilton was then imprisoned, tried, and sentenced to death. The initials in the walkway mark the spot where Patrick Hamilton was burned at the stake. He was 24 years old.

Wow! It was a humbling experience to stand there at that spot and realize that in 1528 this young man was a martyr for the truth. Hamilton's death was not in vain however. The power of the truth he proclaimed punctuated by his fearless death sparked the reformation in Scotland. As a believer in America today I benefit from the godly heritage of men like Patrick Hamilton. In fact, there is a large monument less than 100 yards from the first tee of the Old Course which is simply called the Martyrs Monument for all the faithful Scottish believers who gave their lives for the truth.

What am I giving my life for? Moments like this are a motivation to examine my own life and realize how much effort and time I can put into things that really don't matter and how much I can neglect the one thing that really does matter - the truth. It would be easy to leave St. Andrews inspired by the memories of Old Tom Morris, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and many other great golfers, but I left moved and encouraged by the example of a young man that many have never heard of. The initials of Patrick Hamilton served as a great reminder to me of the power of the truth. What a privilege to give our lives away for the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.