While we were in Scotland, I took time to learn more about the Scottish branch of my family. My grandfather's middle name was Simpson, named after his grandmother's maiden name. Her family had come originally from the area called Morayshire in Scotland, where we decided to go camping. I traced the family back to 1671, to a little village called Alves and a ruined church whose bells were moved to the "new church" built in the mid 1800's.
The people who lived next to the new church had keys and let me in to wander around. I found the old bells–made in 1637 and 1639 by a Dutch craftsman. They would have been hanging in the old Alves church when my ancestors were baptized, married, and buried there. These little bells were over a hundred years older than the Liberty Bell (cast in 1753). The little bell's inscription reads: "1637 Michael Burgerhuys Fecit This Bel For the Pearis of Awas"; and the words on the big bell read: "Michael Burgerhuys 1639 Soli Deo Gloria." Soli Deo Gloria is Latin for "Only for God's Glory".
In the stillness of that church, all alone, I dared to ring the little bell once… and listened to the sweet peal of sound filling the air and dying away. Then I left, locked up the church and turned in the keys, heading back to our campsite. In some ways the echo of that bell has not died, as I have reflected on it as a small symbol of Christianity. A bell tolls to call people to come, to hear important news. Bells ring for weddings, for wartime victory, for warning in case of danger.
Jesus preached the good news of the gospel, life for dying sinners. His message and mission was to call people to himself, and trust Him as their Saviour. "Come to me…" The echo still is heard, like the tolling of a mighty bell, in our world today. Repent of your badness. Repent of your goodness which you tried to produce without me. Repent of blending my dream for you with the American dream, or any other dream you have, which truly owns your heart. Come to me, all you who are weary of yourselves, and heavy laden with guilt. Come find peace. Come, come.
This is a bell of grace, and it tolls every day for you and me. But it is not about us; it is for us to experience the freedom that comes from a living relationship with God, to be satisfied with Him. It is not for our glory, it is to marvel at His glory, the "glory of the One and Only" who came to earth to bring us light and liberty. This is the real Liberty Bell, for it means nothing in this life can hold us captive again. We have found true liberty in the one who died for us; and the truth shall set us free.
Soli Deo Gloria. And thanks for the bells, Mr. Burgerhuys.
–Brian
