THE inspired Word speaks of the Lord Jesus as the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valleys, thereby proclaiming His supreme excellence as a Saviour. In virtue of their union with Him His people are lilies also, for the Church is compared to a lily among thorns in the Song of Solomon (ii. 2).
The late Flora McAskill, daughter of Mr and Mrs Malcolm McAskill, formerly of Ebst, and now at Lynedale, Skye, was one of Christ’s tender lilies, and was born some nineteen years ago in Glendale. She came to Portree to attend the secondary school about five years ago, and after being there some time she became unwell and returned home. While at Portree she attended the means of grace regularly, and was at times impressed with what she heard, some portions of the Word coming home to her with power, especially Isaiah (xxxii. 2):—”A man shall be as an hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” These impressions were no doubt gradually leading her to realise her needs as a sinner and causing her to see that it is in Christ alone there is hope for the guilty. Being well trained in her own home she felt hurt when she saw the Lord’s Day profaned, although still unconverted, and this showed her tenderness of conscience.
It was a discourse by one of our ministers on the wise and foolish virgins that led to her conversion, according to her own testimony, and then the Lord Jesus was revealed to her as an all-sufficient Saviour, and, like the disciples of old, she could say: “We beheld His glory as the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.” Some time after she returned home from Portree in ill-health she heard conversation in the home on the need of being prepared for eternity, and remarked that they would need to have Christ to be prepared for the next world. She was asked if she had Christ herself, and her reply was: “Yes.” It was, we believe, her personal sense of His fellowship that led her to make this confession. Some, in the excitement of man-made revivals and the stirring up of natural feelings, may be led to shout and to say readily that they believe on Christ, but they soon show that their religion is the result of their emotions being moved for the time being, and, like the stony ground hearers, they bring forth no fruit.
Her health being still unsatisfactory, she went to Glasgow for a change, and was under medical treatment in her sister’s nursing home. From Glasgow she went to Bridge of Weir, and while there she manifested her complete submission to the Lord’s will by the reply she gave to one of our ministers who asked her whether she would prefer, if she had her own will, to be taken away or to live. “His will be done,” she said, meaning that she was leaving herself entirely in her Lord’s hands. Naturally she wished at length to be taken home from Bridge of Weir, and this wish was gratified. In due course she arrived home and gradually became weaker.
One of the marks of the people of God stated in the Word is: “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren.” This appears to have been true of her in a marked degree. On one occasion she heard men speaking in her presence of another person, and she at once said that she did not like their talk. But they said: “We are not saying anything bad, we are simply repeating what we heard.” “It does not matter,” she said; “I believe he is one of the Lord’s people, and I don’t wish to hear anything against him.” This shows she had a real love for those whom she saw in any measure bearing the image of Christ.
When writing to a friend in Glendale, in view of an approaching Communion season, she spoke of the believer’s happiness in Christ, and declared that there was no joy in this life comparable to that which is imparted to the soul by a faith’s view of the Redeemer. The love of Christ had constrained her and made all things to her as nothing in comparison with Jesus. His matchless worth was the subject of her thoughts, and it is therefore no wonder that she found abiding satisfaction of soul in her glorious Redeemer. Her sister at home used to read and sing to her, and in these exercises she seems to have taken great pleasure. Where grace reigns praise will be in the heart even if the voice cannot sing. King David himself, when very despondent and low in his feelings, could not help composing psalms calling upon himself to still trust in God for he would yet praise Him.
Like a dutiful daughter she would wish if it were the Lord’s will to be of some help to her parents in this life, but at the same time she desired to be with her Saviour. The process of sanctification was being carried on rapidly in her soul by the Holy Spirit. Of this she gave evidence in the many wise remarks she made to her mother, who nursed her to the end patiently and lovingly. When the young are called away it is a loud warning to others to be prepared for their latter end. This young Christian sought the Lord early and found Him, rejoicing like the merchant who found the pearl of great price, and who, when he found it, sold all that he had and bought it. May the young who read this be led to realise that Christ is their greatest need, and that apart from Him they cannot be saved.
Flora gradually became weaker, and at last passed peacefully away to be with her Lord. Our desire is that her parents, brothers, and sisters may all be made partakers of the grace that saved her, that so in the end they may, like her, glorify Jesus the adorable Saviour of the lost.—D. M. M.