The book traces the lives of two orphan brothers of the Spanish nobility from childhood to early manhood. When they are young, they find an inscription from there father's hand in one of the windows of their castle which said, " "El Dorado, Yo he` trovado." I have found El Dorado." They took it to mean that their father had literally found a city of gold and now lived in it waiting for them to come to him. They made it their life long aim to find the city and be reunited with their father at last.
Through the course of time, as they grew up, each choose a profession because, though of noble birth, they were very poor. Carlos, the younger brother, was to be a Roman Catholic priest and Jaun a solider. Before Carlos actually entered the priesthood he was given a Spanish New Testament and became a believer in the true faith.
The rest of the book goes on to detail the persecution of the church in Spain by the Inquisition and the lives of some of the most famous martyrs in Spain as they intertwine with they lives of the young men. In the end they discover that their father found the only true golden city, though not of this world, and both realized the preciousness of that city themselves.
All through out the book the main theme is the sufficiency of Christ is all things. He was the sacrifice for our sins and he can completely satisfy us on earth, even through the most difficult of circumstances. Nothing can compare to the love wherewith he had loved us, and that should, in turn, awaken such a love in our hearts that can do "all things through Christ who strengthens me", for "the joy of the Lord is out strength". The love that the men and women in the book showed for Christ was so inspiring and their love for each other was scarcely less so. Of all the Christians put to torture only a very few could be brought to witness against their fellow believers. They endured all so as not to endanger each other or deny the Lord. When the time came for some to be burned they would encourage each other even to the stake.
As I look back in history and see the way that the saints endured through good and bad, living and dying, hope and fear, I am greatly encouraged in my own walk with the Lord. He has proved himself faithful to all his servants in the past and he will remain faithful through all eternity to come. He had the power to keep his children through all trials either of mind or of body. God be praised for his wonderful goodness to the children of men!
"The personal love of Christ to you, felt, delighted in, returned, is factually, truly,
simply, without exaggeration, the deepest joy and the deepest feeling that the heart
of man or woman can know. It will absolutely satisfy your heart. It would satisfy
your heart if it were his will that you should spend the rest of your life alone in a
dungeon." The Spanish Brothers
No comments:
Post a Comment