Now This Eternal Life

King Henry VIII of England claimed to be a Christian, but in many cases he made laws that went against God’s law. He also demanded that his religious and political advisers agree with him. Those who chose to obey God rather than the king were often killed. John Fisher, a close friend of the king, chose God’s law above Henry’s. He was sentenced to die. On the day of his execution, he asked to be brought his best clothes. “This is my ‘wedding day,’” he explained, “and I ought to dress as if for a holiday.” Carrying his New Testament, he was led to the execution platform. There he prayed, “Lord, grant that I may find some word of comfort so that I may glorify You in my last hour.” The first words he saw as He opened the Scriptures were these: “Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). “That will do,” he said. “Here’s learning enough to last me to my life’s end.” Within minutes, he was dead.

Family Walk, February, 1995, p. 20