Another day as Brendan was traversing the ocean, he saw an island near him, hideous, dark, mountainous, and rocky, with a rugged summit, without trees or herbs, but full of houses like forges. When the holy father Brendan saw this, he said to the brethren at that time: “Dear brothers,” said he, “I am much afeared of this island for you, and it is not my will to go there if we could avoid it; but the wind is driving us straight to it.”
– The Life of Brendan of Clonfert
And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
– Acts 14.21, 22
Dark encounter
In his own journey, following the course he supposed Brendan must have followed, Tim Severin concluded, from Brendan’s descriptions, that the dark and threatening island to which the wind was directing them must have been Iceland. People in Brendan’s day knew nothing about this place or its population. Nevertheless, as they sailed on, Brendan began to have a bad feeling about this island.
The writer wants us to experience the darkness that descended on Brendan and his crew and the fear that rose within them as they approached “The Isle of the Demon Smithey”, as our medieval writer chose to name the place. We’ll see why in our next installment. The island was dark, hideous, rugged, without any living plants or trees, and studded with homes from which billowing black smoke emerged, suggesting a place of black-smiths or iron workers. Rough people who probably didn’t have much time for faith and such.
We can suppose that not every place where Brendan and his crew stopped on their journey would have been as welcoming as the island of the Ailbe monastery or that of the hermit Paul. Brendan sensed that would be the case with this island, and he earnestly desired not to go there.
But the winds that carried him forward on his journey were of another resolve, and they were pushing Brendan’s boat right into the midst of trouble. Sensing this, the writer tells us, great fear seized everyone on board.
Affliction as gift
In Revelation 1 John identified himself to the seven churches in Asia Minor as “your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ” (1.9). To John’s matter-of-fact mention of tribulation and Paul’s heads-up that affliction comes with the turf in the Kingdom of God, add Jesus’ plain promise, “In the world you will have tribula-tion” (Jn 16.33). Each of these spoke, not only from their knowledge of God’s Word and will, but from their own experience as well. Sometimes, to get us into the arena where affliction awaits, the Holy Spirit has to drive us (Mk. 6.12), blowing like an irresistible wind to bring us a place we would prefer not to be.
Through affliction—trials, tribulations, setbacks, disappoint-ments, injuries, illness, and more—we may expect to enter more deeply into the Kingdom of God. That is, if we embrace such things with faith. We are conveyed into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ when we first believe in Him (Col. 1.13). But that event is like, I don’t know, coming through the turnstile gate into the first floor of a spectacular athletic venue. There is much of beauty, excitement, joy, and exhilaration ahead, but we need to climb a few more levels and pass through another gate or two before we enter that larger arena where we begin to share in our home team’s glory. It will be a long walk, but not too demanding.
In the Christian life, however, deeper and wider access to the glories of the Kingdom of God is through one or another kind of affliction. The Spirit directs us into these for the purpose of helping us get through them to greater heights of Kingdom living. In that sense, all affliction is a gift of God and must be received as such to gain the benefit it portends.
But there are lessons that must first be learned, as we shall see.
For Reflection
1. What afflictions and tribulations have you experienced in your journey with the Lord Jesus?
2. How have these benefitted you in your walk with and work for the Lord?
Psalm 139.23, 24
(Ripley: Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul)
Search my heart, O LORD, and know me,
as You only, LORD, can do.
Test my thoughts and contemplations,
whether they be vain or true.
Let there be no sin in me, LORD,
nothing that Your Spirit grieves.
Lead me in the righteous way, LORD,
unto everlasting peace!
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast is focusing on realizing more of our great salvation. Our current ReVision series, “The Kingdom Economy”, examines the role of commerce for the glory of God. And new in our bookstore, our workbook, The Ongoing Work of Christ, shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
Thank you.
Many of you are faithful and generous in praying for and supporting Crosfigell and The Fellowship of Ailbe. Thank you. May I encourage all our readers to seek the Lord about becoming a supporter of The Fellowship of Ailbe? It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal or Anedot, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
